Ben Carson compares abortion to slavery

Ben Carson compared abortion to slavery during an interview on Sunday.

Speaking to Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press,” Carson—who has surged to the head of the Republican presidential field in recent weeks—said he doesn’t support abortion rights in just about any circumstances, though he said he would be willing to “discuss” whether to allow them if the mother’s life is in danger.

But he also made a lengthy analogy with slavery to suggest that it was abhorrent to support abortion rights.

“During slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to the slave,” he said. “Anything that they chose to do. And you know, what if an abolitionist had said, you know, ‘I don’t believe in slavery. I think it’s wrong. But you guys do whatever you want to do?’ Where would we be?”

Watch video of Carson’s comments below.