Abonie Blount

CAP POTUS Op-Ed

6 June 2019

My Final Opinions on the 2020 Presidential Election

Dear Editor,

Recently I have been more quiet than usual. I have laid low and under the radar because it
seems the public always has their criticisms. I will be honest, the job I do is hard and my day-to-
day tasks are often very complex so everything I do is done to the best of my ability. This past
week was the Innovative Housing Showcase. It was a five day event, co-hosted by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Association of Homebuilders.
It featured new building technologies and housing solutions that are making housing more
affordable for American families and homes more resilient during natural disasters. The
showcase included panel discussions, on stage interviews and demonstrations with exhibitors,
lawmakers and leaders in the housing industry. Since I have been working on this so diligently
for a while now, my attention has not been centered around politics. But as this presidential race
heats up, I feel the need to contribute to the conversation.
As a conservative Republican, people automatically assume all of my support is behind
Senator Tim Scott, and it is, but in the beginning of the race I did have trouble backing him.
Scott and I have had many differences in the past and I originally felt some of his policies were
too moderate. I was very hesitant on endorsing anyone because I did not want to draw anymore
unwanted attention to myself, but when Senator Lindsey Graham announced his candidacy for
president I was glad to publicly endorse him. He’s a man that knows what’s right and he would
have led this country in the right direction. We planned to work together crafting legislation and
policy as well as making sure the people got out to vote, but sadly, due to his low numbers in the
polls, he felt it was best to withdraw his candidacy.
During the speech in which Graham withdrew, he told his supporters that this was only
the beginning and called on them to back Scott through his candidacy. He said that he and the
Senator had a private meeting and talked policy. Together they strengthened Scott’s immigration
policy as well as went over potential plans to help the environment. With these adjustments Scott
is embodying true Republicanism, and I think he is a man that I can support. If Graham believes
Scott is the right choice, Scott must be the right choice.
I am ending my streak of silence to say that I will be voting for Tim Scott in the 2020
election. As I cast my vote on Tuesday I am confident that he will lift this county upward and
forward and be the leader that we all need.

Sincerely,
Secretary Ben Carson of Housing and Urban Development