"I think if we give somebody, you know, an extra nod, it should be based on their circumstances. So, for instance, let’s say I have a son who’s applying to Yale, and he's got a 4.0 average, and 1600 SATs, and is the best thing since sliced bread, and then there's a kid from Appalachia whose father was killed in the coal mines when he 5 years old, he's been all that time, but still has managed a 3.85 grade point average, and 1500 SATs, I think I would perhaps like to give him a little extra consideration. It shouldn't have anything to do with race It should have everything to do with consideration. We have always rooted for the underdog. We have always given them an extra leg up, and that's going to help to strengthen our society if we find ways to give them extra consideration... I don’t think affirmative action is appropriate, but I do think that compassionate action is. And of course, you know, it may vary from time to time who benefits the most from it, obviously, whichever group happens to be most disadvantaged would probably be the ones that would benefit the most."

Source: Ian Hanchett, "Carson: Replace Affirmative Action with 'Compassionate Action,' Approach Immigration with 'Eyes Open,'" www.breitbart.com, Sep. 11, 2015