Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Buchanan: Nation needs a 3rd party
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — As president, Pat Buchanan would give America's jobs, economy, schools and campaign contributions back to working Americans.
But before that can happen, the Reform Party candidate knows he must campaign to give American voters a third choice this fall for president.
“We are going to turn this into a three-way race,” Mr. Buchanan said during a press conference shortly before a speech at the Solid Rock Church in Monroe.
“We are in this to win the presidency and to build a third party that will give Americans a real choice.”
The former Republican presidential candidate is now campaigning to win Reform Party delegates in Ohio and other states.
It was Mr. Buchanan's first foray into Ohio this presidential campaign. He was met by an enthusiastic crowd of more than 400 at the church, just east of Interstate 75 in Warren County.
The former aide to Presidents Nixon and Reagan hit on familiar themes — abortion; states' rights; independence from global economic, political and legal organizations — addressed during his previous presidential runs as a Republican.
His conservative agenda includes protecting American industries and workers, reducing immigration, abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and eliminating so-called “soft
money” political contributions to remove large corporations and unions from buying undue political influence.
Last year Mr. Buchanan left the Republican Party to join the Reform Party, created by Texas billionaire and former presidential candidate Ross Perot.
A former newspaper columnist and TV commentator, Mr. Buchanan told the audience that he eventually realized that the well-financed Republican power structure proved to be “too rich for my blood.”
His previous campaigns for the nation's top office also taught him that “I cannot defeat the Republican establishment from the inside.
“They have too much money. Their structures and money ... goes behind the established candidate,” he said in reference to Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush.
“The way to reform Washington, D.C., is to come from the outside,” he said in explaining his shift to seeking the Reform Party nomination.
Should Mr. Buchanan win the Reform Party nomination during its summer convention, he would be eligible to receive $12.5 million in federal matching funds. Moreover, a significant showing in the polls would allow him to participate in any presidential debates.
He hammered away at both Mr. Bush and Vice President Al Gore for their lack of ideological difference on key issues such as supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement and backing most-favored trade status for China. Mr. Buchanan opposes both positions.
Mr. Buchanan is well-suited for an independent campaign, said Gene Beaupre, who teaches political science at Xavier University.
“He is a maverick and mavericks are allowed to talk in extremes. When you are a mainstream party candidate, you have to be worried about keeping your base supporters,” said Mr. Beaupre.
This year's early Super Tuesday primary date is leaving a longer time between the primary and November election. It's a lull that Mr. Buchanan can exploit by grabbing the interest of voters who may grow apathetic waiting for the fall election, Mr. Beaupre said.
“It leaves a long, open field for a candidate like Pat Buchanan,” he said.
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