Watch: Ben Carson holds firm on his position ... to stand in a hallway
Those who chose to watch the GOP presidential primary debate the night before Super Bowl Sunday were almost immediately rewarded with some “Saturday Night Live”-worthy material.
As ABC moderators called the debate participants onstage one by one, things got confusing and the candidates began to back up in the hallway opening onto the stage. The televised hallway. It began with Ben Carson, who stopped short of stepping onstage after being introduced. Oblivious to this, he stood patiently in the wings of the stage, hands characteristically folded at his waist. A producer popped out from behind the curtain, gesturing frantically for him to head out onto the stage. But Carson would not budge.
Soon Ted Cruz walked past him, shaking his head and smiling at the neurosurgeon. Donald Trump was up next, and he graciously decided to keep Carson company. Next came Jeb Bush, who barreled past their water cooler party with a quick pat on Trump’s shoulder.
Even when the moderators finally convinced Carson and Trump to come out to their podiums, someone was still missing.
“What about [John] Kasich?” Chris Christie piped up. “Can I introduce Kasich?”
The Ohio governor scurried onstage.
Either this was a genius trick by ABC producers to secretly evaluate which candidate is a *true* leader, or the gaffe gods were smiling on us tonight.
