Carson: Citizens, not federal government can solve problems

CEDAR RAPIDS - Ben Carson's campaign against a federal government that 'insinuates itself into every aspect of our lives” seemed to gain supporters at his Family Festival on May's Island Saturday.

The retired physician challenged the attitude of the political class that 'believes that they know what you want even if it isn't what you because you just haven't come to their way of thinking yet.”

'That's such stupid thinking,” the Detroit Republican told a crowd of hundreds that was not deterred by a sprinkling of rain throughout his 30-minute speech.

His audience welcomed his call for a return to the 'can-do” attitude that made American a world leader than the 'what can you do for me” attitude that too many people have adopted as the federal government has replaced individual decision-making with policies and regulations.

'We don't need a bunch of bureaucratic politicians to solve our problems. We solve our own problems,” said Carson, 63, one of 17 Republicans seeking their party's 2016 presidential nomination.

Lindsey Talsness of Cedar Rapids, who came to the festival that featured Christian music, face-painting, good and game after she started reading Carson's book, 'One Nation,” likes the way Carson treats voters.

'He spoke to us like we are intelligent, thoughtful people,” she said. 'He seems not to be afraid to talk in more than sound bites.”

She's trying to see more candidates before making a decision which one to support.

'That's part of the privilege of being Iowans,” Talsness said. 'But I'm definitely interested in learning more about him and I'd like to see him as a viable candidate, to go from being a long shot to being in the mix.”

Carson addressed one of the most frequent criticisms leveled at him - his lack of experience in elected office.

'I get so sick of people saying ‘You don't have any political experience,'” Carson said. 'Like those people have solved our problems.”

It's absolutely a bunch of crap” to think only the president can solve your problems, he said.

Erin Clausen of Cedar Rapids, who said she is 'leaning his way,” isn't concerned by Carson's lack of political experience.

'He will pick the correct people to work with him,” Clausen said.

The mother of four said she's attracted to Carson because 'he can direct people to make better decisions on how they want to live their lives.”