AVONDALE, La. (AP) -- Republican Presidential hopeful Pat
Buchanan called for a bigger, stronger U.S. Navy fleet on Monday at
the start of a two-day campaign sweep across Louisiana.
Standing outside of B.R.'s Restaurant, with the Avondale
Shipyard at his back, Buchanan called for the country "to replace
and rebuild the U.S. Navy so that it is closer to what it was when
Ronald Reagan left office."
Buchanan, who said he chose to speak in front of Avondale
because it "is one of the premiere shipbuilders in America," said
without a larger fleet, America cannot carry out the increased
commitments it has made to other countries.
"In my view, we should begin pulling down those commitments,"
Buchanan said. "But as long as you have them, you ought to have
the power to defend them."
Midway through Buchanan's speech, five organizers from the New
Orleans Metal Trade Council assembled behind him, carrying signs
demanding workers' rights.
"It's time for justice at Avondale," said one sign, signed by
the Metal Trade Council of the AFL-CIO, which is trying to
represent 6,000 union workers at Avondale.
The other sign made reference to a recent federal appeals court
ruling that ordered the union to hold a new election because the
one in 1993 was "fatally flawed." The ruling could become moot
once a merger between Avondale and Litton Industries is complete.
Litton owns Ingalls Shipyard, which has a unionized force of 11,500
workers, with which Avondale workers could merge.
"The party you are in scares me," union organizer Lyle Grimes
told Buchanan.
Buchanan dismissed the fears, telling Grimes he supports unions
that organized legally and that he, himself, is a member of a union
-- the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Buchanan
has an on-and-off role as co-host of CNN's "Crossfire" talk show.
"My best states are cross-over states, when union workers and
non-union workers can cross over" political lines to vote,
Buchanan said.
Another union organizer, Lee Jones, pounded Buchanan with
questions on worker's rights, workplace safety and politics in
general, but in the end said he could support Buchanan if Buchanan
supported unions.
"I can support anyone who supports workers," Jones said.
Buchanan also planned to stop in Houma, Morgan City, Franklin
and Alexandria on Monday. On Tuesday, he was expected to speak in
Baton Rouge and Mandeville.
Buchanan said he scheduled the campaign sweep through Louisiana
because he intends to run in the Louisiana Republican Caucus.
"We intend to fight and to make a presence here," Buchanan
said.
