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Clearly, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson forgot that fifth-graders operate without filters.

But the flagging Republican presidential candidate got a reminder during a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when he asked private schoolers to identify the worst student.

He began the conversation by saying, “As a fifth-grade student, I was a horrible student. Anybody here in fifth grade?,” Carson asked.

Reports The Des Moines Register:

The question, in a crowd of about 500 people at a Thursday campaign rally, prompted immediate finger-pointing toward one student from more than half a dozen classmates at Isaac Newton Christian Academy.

The exchange, which Carson prompted to describe how he felt in elementary school, quickly went viral on social media with a flood of criticism before the event concluded.

The targeted 10-year-old, who initially turned red in the face, ultimately shrugged off the exchange with a sense of humor. His mother, Robin Blackford, who was not present but learned about it through a teacher, said it was unfortunate but seemed mostly harmless.

Carson jokingly told the newspaper he thought the kids would point out different students they “didn’t like.” And he assured the singled out student, identified as Seth, that he would grow up to become a brain surgeon.

Well-played, Mr. Carson.

SOURCE: The Des Moines Register | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO CREDIT: Inform

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