Small businesses in America are under attack, presidential candidate Pat Buchanan argues, and for 30 minutes Monday an Essexville store was his Exhibit A.
The Republican contender brought his conservative, America-first campaign to Marquiss Quality Furniture, 644 W. Center Road, during a campaign swing through mid-Michigan.
The 60-year-old, in his third run for the White House, spoke about eliminating capital gains taxes and inheritance taxes on small, family-owned businesses - such as Marquiss Furniture.
"I believe small business is a vital component of the American dream," said Buchanan, who called the state and federal taxes "an assault" on that dream.
"That's what America is all about. It's about working very hard, leaving something behind for your children ... leaving your name behind."
Founded in 1949, the store sells only American-made furniture. It is owned by LeRoy Marquiss, a Republican who made a failed bid for the Bay County Board of Commissioners in 1996.
Buchanan visited Gladwin earlier Monday morning before greeting the 30 or so supporters waiting for him in a light rain in Essexville.
"Where's Governor Engler to greet me?" Buchanan joked as he opened the store doors that boasted eight National Rifle Association stickers.
Buchanan, a political commentator and former co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," wants to close the gap between himself and GOP race leader Gov. George W. Bush of Texas.
Curious on-lookers with souvenir cameras and placards sporting "Buchanan 2000 for President" crowded the muggy showroom, jostling for a spot among the broadcast and print media.
A supporter shouted, "By God, we need you!" - to which he jokingly replied, "We got all the unemployed folks here just like me."
Walking a bit stiffly with his wife, Shelley, by his side, the conservative stuck steadfastly to his America-first policy.
"This is precisely the kind of business that we want to preserve in the community," Buchanan said. "The idea that the family business, that you should be able to pass it on to your heirs, that's as American as apple pie."
He also criticized the use of U.S. peacekeeping troops in Kosovo. Two U.S. soldiers died Sunday in an area two miles northeast of Gnjilane when their armored personnel carrier overturned.
"I think the Europeans have more money than we do, more soldiers than we do, and it's in their back yard," Buchanan said.
Buchanan faces his own troubles at home.
Bush, son of former President George Bush, seems to be the anointed nominee of the GOP and will likely face Buchanan in the primary, according to political pundits.
"We are the most formidable challenger that Governor Bush has in this race," Buchanan said.
On Thursday, Bush's campaign reported it has raised more than $37 million in campaign funds, but Buchanan seemed unfazed.
"I don't think the Republican nomination can be bought, that the presidency of the United States can be bought," Buchanan said. His campaign has raised $2.4 million since March.
Buchanan ran in 1992 against Bush's father, but the elder Bush went on to win the GOP nomination and lose to Bill Clinton in the general election.
"He (Bush) has not said a great deal on the issues, and when he's said something, he sounded an awful lot like Bill Clinton," referring to Bush's "compassionate conservative" campaign message.
"When we've Xeroxed Bill Clinton, that's the way we lost the last two elections," Buchanan said.
