THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

There is an old adage that says "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging". All too often, people in power, like politicians, make mistakes and their attempts at correction just make matters worse or to put it another way, they keep digging. One of our latest diggers is Ben Carson, former brain surgeon and Republican presidential candidate, who having stumbled when he proposed using armed drones at the US-Mexican border tried to correct what he said.

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson on Sunday called for using drones to beef up surveillance along the U.S.-Mexico border and destroy caves used by those who smuggle people and drugs, but said he did not support strikes aimed at people.

Carson, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," dismissed reports that he had suggested using drone strikes to target people trying to cross into the United States as a "total lie" and blamed media reports as irresponsible.

"Read my lips. I said there are caves that they utilize. Those caves can be eliminated. I'm not talking about killing people," the retired neurosurgeon told CNN. “In no way, did I suggest that drones be used to kill people.”

Carson suggested greater use of drones to patrol border areas after a tour of the region last week. He said local authorities told him they were completely outgunned and receiving little assistance from federal authorities.

Immigration has become a contentious issue for Republicans seeking the presidency in the November 2016 election. Donald Trump, the party's front-runner, and other contenders have called for amending the Constitution to end of the right of automatic citizenship for all people born in the United States.

Carson reiterated his support for deporting families who come to the United States expressly to have children and ensure them U.S. citizenship. Critics call those children "anchor babies," but others view it as offensive.

Carson said he did not view the term as racist and dismissed such objections as "silly political correctness."

No doubt he will tell anyone in those alleged caves to leave before he drops a little Hellfire on them. Maybe he had a good reason to retire from brain surgery.