Ben Carson makes no secret of the fact that his Christian faith is a big part of his life. Which is fine. I’m a Christian, too, though unlike Dr. Carson, I don’t try to mix my religious beliefs with politics by trying to legislate the morality of others.

Earlier today on Meet the Press, the former neurosurgeon and 2016 GOP Presidential candidate said that a President’s faith is a big deal, it matters, and for that reason Muslims need not apply for the job.

Meet the Press host Chuck Todd specifically asked Carson:

“Should a president’s faith matter?”

To which Dr. Carson replied:

“I guess it depends on what that faith is. If it is inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter.”

Can you sense what Carson is really trying to say? Can you read between the lines and see the ever-so-subtle dig at President Obama, who has been accused of being a Muslim even though he’s a Christian?

Todd’s follow-up question was right to the point:

“Do you believe that Islam is consistent with the Constitution?”

Here it comes. Get ready. Carson said:

“No, I do not. I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not.”

Yet almost in the next breath Carson said he would consider voting for a Muslim who was running for Congress, because that’s “a different story.”

So in Ben Carson’s world, Christians are the only ones who need bother to run for the White House. Would he also exclude members of the Jewish faith? Hindus?

This tells us all we really need to know about today’s GOP: If you do not conform to their religious litmus test, they have no use for you. Is it any wonder they are fast becoming irrelevant in this country?

Watch the Interview With Ben Carson

This article was originally published by the same author at LiberalAmerica.org.