Using Fake Tocqueville to Defend Accused Child Molester

In Defying the Odds, we discuss congressional elections as well as the presidential race.





At a rally for accused child molester Roy Moore, homeschooler Jennifer Case (at about 12:40 in the video) said: "He is the closest thing that any of us have observed to a founding father in our times. DeTocqueville said: `America is great because she is good.  If she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.'"

Tocqueville said no such thing. This quotation is fake. As I have been pointing out for 22 years, Tocqueville never wrote any such thing. Many politicians -- including Bill Clinton and Ben Carson -- have used the fake quotation. Hillary Clinton alluded to it in her acceptance speech.

h/t Carl

Carson Uses Fake Tocqueville Again

Timothy Meinch reports at The Des Moines Register:

Carson campaign organizers say two staffers are dedicated full-time to pastors and church outreach. His bus, “the Healer Hauler” (which has its own Twitter account), shows up with volunteers to serve free lunch at congregations, even when Carson, a Seventh-day Adventist, is out of state.

Carson’s swings through Iowa regularly include private meetings with clergy and guest appearances at Sunday morning services.

However, earlier this month during a chat with The Des Moines Register between campaign stops, Carson said he avoids targeting specific groups for votes.

The conversation was punctuated by a series of dropped phone calls, due to poor cell service on rural back roads, that campaign staff had arranged with a bishop in Birmingham, Ala. Carson ultimately passed off the phone and said others should follow up with the bishop.

Asked about his focus on pastors and churches, Carson quoted French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville: “America is great because America is good.”

The Tocqueville quotation is fake.  He never said any such thing.

Carson has been using the fake quotation for years.  (See here, too.)