PoliticsHillary Clintonben carsonmuslim president

Hillary Clinton Shuts Down Ben Carson Comments On Muslim President Eligibility

"Now let's move on."
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By 

Politics Social Media Editor, HuffPost

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joined the chorus of 2016 hopefuls criticizing neurosurgeon Ben Carson for saying he would not support a Muslim becoming president.

Clinton, like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), invoked the Constitution in a tweet Monday, debunking Carson's point that Islam is incompatible with the Constitution and the American presidency.

Carson's comments came Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." He told host Chuck Todd he "absolutely would not agree with" putting a Muslim candidate in the White House. He immediately faced criticism, as Republican candidates Cruz and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Carson, simply, was wrong.

Graham tweeted that the doctor "is not ready to be Commander-In-Chief. America is an idea, not owned by a particular religion."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), also pursuing the Democratic nomination for president, took to Twitter to call out Carson, too.

"You judge candidates for president not on their religion, not on the color of their skin, but on their ideas, on what they stand for," he said.

Declared 2016 Presidential Candidates
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) -- Announced March 23, 2015(01 of22)
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Cruz dropped out of the race May 3, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) -- Announced April 7, 2015(02 of22)
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Paul announced he was suspending his campaign on Feb. 3, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton -- Announced April 12, 2015(03 of22)
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(credit:Andrew Burton via Getty Images)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) -- Announced April 13, 2015(04 of22)
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Rubio suspended his campaign March 15, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) -- Announced April 30, 2015(05 of22)
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(credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ben Carson -- Announced May 4, 2015(06 of22)
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Ben Carson officially suspended his campaign March 4, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Carly Fiorina -- Announced May 4, 2015(07 of22)
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Fiorina suspended her campaign Feb. 10, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) -- Announced May 5, 2015(08 of22)
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Huckabee announced he was suspending his campaign on Feb. 1, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) -- Announced May 27, 2015(09 of22)
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Santorum suspended his campaign on Feb. 3, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former New York Gov. George Pataki (R) -- Announced May 28, 2015(10 of22)
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Pataki dropped out of the race on Dec. 29, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) -- Announced May 30, 2015(11 of22)
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O'Malley announced he was suspending his campaign on Feb. 1, 2015, the night of the 2016 Iowa caucuses. (credit:Alex Wong via Getty Images)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) -- Announced June 1, 2015(12 of22)
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Graham dropped out of the race on Dec. 21, 2015. (credit:Jessica McGowan via Getty Images)
Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (D) -- Announced June 3, 2015(13 of22)
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Chafee ended his campaign on Oct. 23, 2015. (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) -- Announced June 4, 2015(14 of22)
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Perry announced he was ending his campaign on Sept. 11, 2015. (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) -- Announced June 15, 2015(15 of22)
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Bush suspended his campaign Feb. 20, 2016. (credit:Darren McCollester via Getty Images)
Business Mogul Donald Trump (R) -- Announced June 16, 2015(16 of22)
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(credit:Christopher Gregory via Getty Images)
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) -- Announced June 24, 2015(17 of22)
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Jindal dropped out of the race on Nov. 17, 2015. (credit:Darren McCollester via Getty Images)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) -- Announced June 30, 2015(18 of22)
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A spokesman said on Feb. 10, 2016, that Christie was suspending his campaign. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) -- Announced July 2, 2015(19 of22)
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Webb announced he was ending his campaign on Oct. 20, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) -- Announced July 13, 2015(20 of22)
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Walker announced he was dropping out of the race on Sept. 21, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) -- Declared July 29, 2015(21 of22)
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Gilmore suspended his campaign on Feb. 12, 2016. (credit:Darren McCollester via Getty Images)
Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (L) -- Announced Jan. 6, 2016(22 of22)
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Johnson will seek the Libertarian Party's nomination. (credit:Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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