Ben Carson Defends Comments on Islamic State, Founding Fathers

Retired neurosurgeon and potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is receiving criticism for recent comments he made regarding patriotism and the Islamic State.

While speaking at the Republican National Committee luncheon in San Diego, California this week, Carson discussed the issue with America's "political correctness," saying that unlike the country's founding fathers, modern Americans aren't willing to fight for their beliefs.

"A bunch of rag tag militiamen defeated the most powerful and professional military force on the planet. Why? Because they believed in what they were doing. They were willing to die for what they believed in," Carson said, referencing independent fighters during the Revolutionary War. "Fast forward to today. What do we have? You've got ISIS. They've got the wrong philosophy, but they're willing to die for it while we are busily giving away every belief and every value for the sake of political correctness. We have to change that."

Carson was quick to note that some press may misconstrue his comments to say that he is likening the U.S. to the Islamic State, but he was quick to shoot down such claims.

"Now I recognize that there's press here and some of the press will say, 'Carson said that ISIS is the same as the United States,'" he said. "They are just so ridiculous, so ridiculous."

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus defended Carson's comments in a statement to NBC, saying he didn't find the potential presidential candidate's comments to be odd, arguing that Carson was simply saying that Americans need to stand up for what they believe in.