In a recent interview, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked potential 2016 presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson if he would serve as the U.S. surgeon general if nominated by President Obama. His response: No way, no how. The problem, he explained, is that those who serve in the Obama administration are "constrained" to follow the administration's political agenda.

Hewitt: If President Obama called you up right now and said, “Dr. Carson, we need a Surgeon General who would command respect and will generate calm, would you please serve?” Would you accept that?

Carson: No. No, because if I would, if I were going to serve in that position, I would have to serve under someone that I trusted.

Surprised by the force of Carson’s response, Hewitt pressed him again:

Hewitt: If he said I will not interfere with the guidance you give, we need someone to rally the country around being calm and appropriately prepared—you’d really, you’d say no to the president of the United States?

Carson: Yes, absolutely.

Hewitt: I’m shocked.

Carson: Well you shouldn’t be. Because… I look at some of the other people—and I know them—who are speaking on behalf of the administration, and I feel that they are being constrained in what they’re saying.

Hewitt then specifically asked Carson about his opinion of CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden.

Hewitt: Do you have confidence in Dr. Frieden?

Carson: I think if Dr. Frieden were 100% free to say what he wanted to say I think he’d be saying some different things … I think he’d be saying, of course, banning flights coming from infected areas makes sense.

Carson has been vocal in his support of banning flights from Ebola-stricken areas, something the administration has thus far refused to do, saying either politics or ignorance is behind the administration’s stance.

Full audio above via “The Hugh Hewitt Show” (H/T The Blaze).