Senator Susan Collins Briefly Appears to Oppose Ben Carson, Quickly Corrects Story

When Donald Trump named Ben Carson as his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, many wondered exactly what Carson’s qualifications were for the job. For a brief time, it looked as though Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, was among those wondering. It appeared as though Collins had broken ranks with her fellow Republicans in order to oppose Carson’s appointment, as Pat Callaghan, a Maine news anchor and reporter suggested.

“Sen. Collins says Carson is ‘uniquely unqualified’ to run the agency. #mepolitics,” Callaghan tweeted. Unfortunately, Callaghan quickly realized that he had made a mistake, deleting his tweet and replacing it with the following clarification:

BREAKING: I made a huge error in saying @SenatorCollins opposes Carson as HUD sec. That was @chelliepingree quote. My apologies to all.

— Pat Callaghan (@PatCallaghan6) December 5, 2016

Senator Collins also weighed in, promising that she looks forward to working with Carson after he is confirmed.

Internet rumor untrue- I have great respect for Dr. Carson and look forward to talking with him.

— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) December 5, 2016

Collins elaborated in a statement on Carson’s nomination, in which she ensured supporters that she was wholly enthusiastic about his running the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Senator Collins’ statement on the nomination of Dr. Ben Carson: https://t.co/hy20dEsNVPpic.twitter.com/TdI42Eq1qA

— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) December 5, 2016

For a second there, it looked like Collins might be ready to take a firm stance against one of the more ill-advised-seeming appointments president-elect Trump has made to his cabinet. Alas, our hopes for a rational politician were quickly dashed.