Ben Carson at Regent: 'I'm Not in This for Myself'

Presidential candidate Ben Carson spent part of the day before Super Tuesday speaking to an evangelical crowd at Regent University.

In his opening statement, he said if he wanted to destroy this nation, he'd divide it.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand," he said, quoting Jesus and Abraham Lincoln. He added that this is where the nation is today and it needs to change.

Ben Carson talks about elimating the ban on Christianity in public schools as a means to return to the virtues held by our Founding Fathers. Watch below:

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Despite trailing in the polls, he said he's staying in the race because he's not in it for himself but for the nation.

The retired neurosurgeon spoke to Christian conservatives Monday as part of Regent University's Executive Leadership Presidential Campaign Forum.

In his opening remarks at Regent, Carson talked about Obamacare.

"You may remember a few years ago the government came along with the so-called Affordable Care Act and said, 'We don't care what you the people think, we're shoving this down your throat and if you don't like it, too bad,'" Carson said.

"That is a total departure from the original intent, which was to have the people at the pinnacle, with the government there to help facilitate life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Carson concluded.

Carson explains how "health empowerment accounts" would be offered in place of Obamacare if he were president, Feb. 29.

After his opening remarks, Carson was interviewed by Regent Founder and Chancellor Pat Robertson. Robertson asked him to describe the pulse of the nation after traveling it on the campaign trail.

"I think people in America are frightened, and I think they're angry," Carson replied.

"They're frightened because they recognize there are global, radical, Islamic terrorists who want to destroy us, and they don't get the impression that our government recognizes the seriousness of the situation," Carson said.

Robertson asked him why President Barak Obama won't call a terrorist a terrorist and what he believes motivates Obama's thinking.

"Last week the media was all over me because I said Barack Obama did not grow up with the typical African-American experience," Carson replied, referring to a story out of last week's headlines.

"I said, he grew up in Hawaii, he had white grandparents who were very affluent, went to private school, spent his formative years from 10 to 14 in Indonesia with his white mother. Do you think that's a typical African-American experience?" Carson asked.

"But, you know, during those formative years, who knows what was going through his head? And when he came back here, was mentored by Frank Marshall Davis, a card-carrying communist. So it's very hard to understand what his motivations are and what he thinks," Carson concluded.

Robertson also asked him his stance on immigration.

"I would provide them, if they have a clean record, a six month window to get registered as guest workers. They have to have a job, they have to pay a back tax penalty. They have to pay taxes going forward. They do not vote, they do not become American citizens," Carson replied.

He added if they wanted citizenship, they'd have to go through exactly the same thing everyone else has to go through.

After chatting with Robertson, Carson took questions from the audience fielded by CBN News Chief Political Correspondent David Brody. 

He answered one question submitted via social media about helping return virtue to America's youth.

"If I were president, I would work to lift the ban on Christianity in public schools," Carson said.

Another audience question dealt with what he believes is important in selecting Supreme Court nominees.

"I think you have to look at their entire life," Carson answered. "What they have done througout their life will tell you a lot more than an interview."

A CNN/ORC survey released Monday found that 49 percent of likely Republican voters support GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Trailing him are Sen. Marco Rubio with 16 percent, Sen Ted Cruz with 15 percent, Carson with 10 percent, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich with 6 percent.

Carson said he will not bow to pressure from the Republican Party to drop out because he offers voters a choice.

"I refuse to play by Washington's political rule book, or subjugate myself to the whims of the political class," Carson told Fox News.

He insists that his campaign is about gaining support and that he intends to stay in the GOP presidential race as long as his campaign has money. He told Robertson that he believes he will pick up delegates on Super Tuesday.

Speaking at a conference of religious broadcasters in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Carson said that if Trump were to surround himself with the right advisers, "it might not be the total disaster that we anticipate."

"Let's pray that it can work for America" if Trump becomes the GOP nominee, said Carson.

Carson's appearance is the fifth of Regent University's forums this season. The forums launched in October with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, followed by Kasich in November, and Trump and Cruz last week.

Carson's appearance is the fifth of Regent University's forums this season. The forums launched in October with former Florida Gov.  Jeb Bush, followed by John Kasich in November, and Trump and Cruz last week.