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SUPPORT FOR BUCHANAN
STRONGER THAN REPORTED
Date: April 22, 1999
To: The Fargo Forum
I was not surprised by the less than charitable editorial cartoon in The Forum, March 22, about Republican presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan. I have learned to expect such propaganda by the Forum's socially leftist editorial staff against any candidate who truly represents the interests of America's working class and social conservatives - many of which are Democrats.
This cartoon was a direct attack at a candidate who is, in fact very popular as evidenced by his strong showing in the early primaries of the 1996 presidential campaign. In 1996, Buchanan won the Alaska, Louisiana, and prestigious New Hampshire primaries and caucuses and came in a close second to Bob Dole - in Dole's (then a senator from Kansas) backyard, Iowa.
Be aware, the liberal media's goal is to get the most liberal Republican candidate possible. It's called damage control. If the radically liberal Democrat candidate falters, they want a moderate (read socially liberal) Republican as their backup.
Don't be fooled. Keep in mind, Buchanan came to North Dakota through what looks to be our last blast of winter. On his way to Fargo, he sat out most of the afternoon in an airplane grounded by blizzard conditions in the Minneapolis airport. The time and location of the meeting wasn't listed in The Forum and television and radio stations reported that Buchanan's flight to Fargo was cancelled. Still there were nearly 100 people who showed up at 8 a.m. to hear him speak, and they did that despite the challenging road conditions from the previous day's snowstorm.
Don't discount Buchanan. He is one of the most experienced candidates and says what he means and means what he says. His supporters in North Dakota are as loyal and committed to Buchanan as he is to the United States and its people. Buchanan draws support from Reagan Democrats and conservative Republicans, and farmers, who - pressed by low market prices for their crops - are listening to his "protection for farmers" message.
Perhaps that is the reason for the early attacks against him. They realize Buchanan, a social conservative, has a realistic chance to win the Republican primary in 2000.
Kathryn Lindgren
Horace, North Dakota
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