Patrick Buchanan:  WMUR Debate

PATRICK BUCHANAN (R), Presidential Candidate: Thank you, Carl. I
told you not to invite Gordon Liddy into the press corps and that's
why you had your black out, my friend. Let me talk now to the
people of New Hampshire and not only New Hampshire, but the
country. This nation desperately needs a new leadership of courage
and conviction to replace that consummate politician in the White
House. 
     Under Bill Clinton, the biggest tax increase in American
history has been imposed upon the American people. Racial quotas
have been imposed on every single cabinet department of government.
The right to an abortion has been made federal law by executive
order. And worst of all, I think in the judgment of a lot of us,
something like 200- excuse me, we have a $200 billion merchandise
trade deficit for the United States- the greatest trade deficit in
American history, which translates into four million lost jobs,
manufacturing and production jobs which are the future of America's
young. Our factories and jobs are going overseas and we're losing
them. 
     Let me tell you what we need. We do not need to replace their
set of professional politicians with our set of professional
politicians. We need a leader of vision and courage who is not part
of the system in Washington, D.C. Because I am not part of that
system, let me tell you what I can do. I can impose term limits or
have them imposed on Congress. We can clean up the corrupt politics
in Washington by insisting that every senator and congressman raise
funds in his own district for his campaign. We can put an end to
those trade deficits. We can reverse Mr. Clinton's executive
orders.  We can do much, my friends. We can do much with new
leadership.
     Let me tell you why I believe you can rely upon me for that
leadership, because I'm not a professional politician and even my
critics in Washington will tell you Pat Buchanan's a man who says
what he means and means what he says, a man you can trust. Count on
it. 

CARL CAMERON: Thank you very much, Mr. Buchanan. First jobs, I
think it's a position we'll start on many of the candidates
tonight. In New Hampshire, there are something like 30,000 plus
jobs directly dependent on foreign trade and exports in New
Hampshire and in much of your America First trade policy, you've
opposed GATT and NAFTA. What do you say to those folks in New
Hampshire who are concerned about the future of their foreign trade
jobs when they might consider that you put them in jeopardy?
 
PAT BUCHANAN: I would say this, Carl. We used to have the largest
trade surpluses in the world. We're now running the greatest trade
deficits in history, $200 billion merchandise trade deficits
translates into what- four million lost production manufacturing
jobs. I will use the leverage of the President of the United
States, as a trade hawk to bust open foreign markets and guarantee
that America's products get a fair shake in Japan and China. And I
will tell them this. `Look, you're running huge trade surpluses at
our expense, $100 billion between the two of you. Either you open
your markets to American goods or you're not getting the free and
easy access to America's goods and America's markets.'

CARL CAMERON: In the context of your opening remarks you talked
about racial quotas and in the wake of the O.J. verdict, in the
wake perhaps of some of the comments from the Pope last week,
talking about a need to love thy neighbor and be more concerned for
the poor, do you believe that racial division in this country and
issues relative to the poor will be an important thing to focus on?
 
PAT BUCHANAN: I think there is no more important issue on which the
next president's going to have to focus, Carl. And let me tell you
this, we've got to get away from this idea of hyphenated
Americanism. We've got to get away from the idea, by identifying
ourselves by our color, or religion, all the rest of it. We are all
Americans. And I think if we do away with these racial
entitlements, quotas, set aside, affirmative action, it's the only
way we can move forward and become one nation, one people and one
family again. And all of us, black and white, I believe, generally
want that in their hearts.
 
CARL CAMERON: Recently, a teacher in New Hampshire lost her job in
an issue charged with intolerance. She says it's necessary to teach
tolerance in high schools, specifically, tolerance to gay and
lesbian lifestyles. Do you think tolerance should be taught in high
schools to avoid homophobia and/or racial issues?
 
PAT BUCHANAN: I think your question is charged, Carl, and I think
it's inaccurate. I believe this. I don't believe that the
homosexual rights agenda should be promoted in high school. I don't
believe it should be taught as something good and decent. I do
believe, however, this. These decisions on what is taught and not
taught in public schools should be made by teachers and parents in
that public school district. They shouldn't be made in Washington,
D.C., by the Department of Education, which is the first department
that our Republican Congress ought to shut down. 
CARL CAMERON: The Pope's challenge last week to help the poor has
made a number of people take another look at potentially
congressional budget cuts to items for the poor and you were quoted
as potentially disagreeing with the Pontiff. Can you explain the
meaning of that? 

PAT BUCHANAN: Yeah. I think all of us have obligations in charity
to help the poor. I do as a Christian and a Catholic and I make my
contributions in my way. But I will say this. The worst thing to
happen to America's poor is the welfare state. It may have been
begun out of compassion, but it's the most destructive enterprise
to inner-city families and rural families of anything this country
has ever done and Republican efforts to change that welfare state
are to be commended and the Contract With America, I think, is the
right way to do it. 

CARL CAMERON: Mr. Buchanan, you now have a minute and a half for a
closing statement. Thank you.


PAT BUCHANAN: Thank you very much, Carl. Let me just say this. I
have travelled across this country and I sense an apprehension and
fear on the part of my fellow Americans that they're losing the
country we grew up in.  But, we're not going to lose that country.
We're going to keep that country. We're going to win this battle
for the heart and soul of America.  And, I'm telling you, I see an
America where the federal government is back under the Constitution
and the 10th Amendment, where the Congress of the United States has
term limits imposed. In addition to that, those congressional
pensions are done away with and they're put on Social Security. I
see an America where the dream of equal justice for all and special
privilege for none has become a reality. And, I can see an America
-excuse me - where jobs are coming home, and they are not being
sent abroad again.
     And, this is the kind of America I'm working for and fighting
for, and with your help, we can make that dream a reality. There is
no reason for Americans to despair. All we need is a new leadership
of courage and vision for this country, and we will get the job
done. 

CARL CAMERON: Mr. Pat Buchanan - thank you very much.

PATRICK BUCHANAN: Thank you.