Dr. Benjamin Carson
Dr. Benjamin Carson

Ben Carson has reportedly been seeking to tone down his message. After a few missteps, it seems as if he may finally be succeeding. The likely presidential candidate spoke at a convention for Al Sharptonโ€™s National Action Network. In an essay for the National Review, Carson affirmed that he and Sharpton โ€œhave the same goal: to build a brighter, stronger America that provides equal opportunities and access to the underserved and forgotten.โ€

Of course, they disagree on how to achieve that goal. Regarding Carsonโ€™s presence at the conference, Sharpton said, โ€œI think Dr. Carson and I donโ€™t even agree today is Wednesday. Weโ€™re going to show we can listen and we make intelligent decisions.โ€

In addition to comparing himself (in a very qualified way) to a left-wing icon, Carson has also toned himself down by seeking out lighthearted subject matter. He wrote an essay for the Washington Post decrying the โ€œnarcissismโ€ of selfie culture โ€” a good dose of non-partisan pessimism. And then when Business Insider asked for a selfie, he obliged.