Dr. Ben Carson raised eyebrows from commentators both left and right with his recent comments on homosexuality, but his exploratory committee insists that the criticism won’t derail Carson from telling the truth and that America is desperate for real leadership.

Appearing on CNN on Wednesday, March 4, Carson said that he doesn’t think gay marriage is protected by the Constitution. BH he also courted controversy by saying he feels that homosexuality is sometimes a conscious choice.

Carson initially said that marriage should be left up to the states and that it isn’t a federal issue. But he continued with comments that brought him some harsh criticism.

“Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight–and when they come out, they’re gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question,” Cason said.

After his comments were broadcast, several commentators from opposite ends of the political spectrum criticized Carson for his interview.

From the right, Carson’s comments brought a sharp rebuke on Thursday from conservative commentator Glenn Beck.

On his own show, Beck said that Carson’s comments made him sound “like a lunatic” and that his aspirations for the White House were “over.” Beck went on to say that Carson’s comment was “the dumbest thing” he ever heard.

From the left, gay rights extremist Dan Savage attacked the possible presidential candidate for his claim that homosexuality is a choice.

In his usual profane way, Savage jumped into the controversy sarcastically inviting Carson to “suck my d*ck” to see if the Republican would turn gay.

In a open letter to the likely GOP candidate, Savage wrote:

Dear Dr. Carson,

If being gay is a choice, prove it. Choose it. Choose to be gay yourself. Show America how that’s done, Ben, show us how a man can choose to be gay. Suck my dick. Name the time and the place and I’ll bring my dick and a camera crew and you can suck me off and win the argument.

Very sincerely yours,
Dan Savage

Peter Beinart, columnist at the left-wing The Atlantic, also criticized Carson for his CNN comments. But Beinart also claimed that Carson’s non-politically correct persona was a concerted campaign strategy.

As far as Beinart is concerned, Carson is “not offering a governing agenda; he’s fighting the culture war.” He went on to say, “the more fiercely he fights it, the more excited conservatives are to have him on their side.”

Carson himself has apologized for some of his comments, saying that his “choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues.” But a spokesman for his exploratory committee made it clear that the nascent candidate isn’t apologizing for everything.

In an exclusive comment to Breitbart, Carson’s spokesman said that the attacks won’t deterCarson from being his own man.

Dr. Carson has a very deep well of support across this country, and he’s in the process of gauging its strength and potential. We recognize there are many challenges, and one comment cannot and will not derail Ben Carson from answering the many American voices desperate for real leadership. His position on gay marriage is nearly identical to all the possible candidates. He just did something very un-Washington; he told a reporter the truth about the right of states to determine their own laws reflecting the wishes of their own citizens. He apologized for his prison analogy but not for his position on gay marriage.

Dr. Carson recently ranked as the fourth choice in this year’s straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held a at the end of February in National Harbor, Maryland.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com