AmericanRhetoric.

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PatrickJ.Buchanan
RepublicanNationalConventionCultureWarAddress

Delivered17August1992

AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio

Whataterrificcrowdthisis.Whataterrificcrowd. ThismayevenbelargerthanthecrowdIhadinEllijay,Georgia.Don'tlaugh.Wecarried Ellijay. Listen,myfriends,wemayhavetakenthelongwayhome,butwefinallygotheretoHouston. AndthefirstthingIwanttodotonightistocongratulatePresidentGeorgeBushandto removeanydoubtaboutwherewestand.Theprimariesareovertheheartisstrongagain andtheBuchananbrigadesareenlistedallthewaytoagreatRepublicancomebackvictory inNovember. Myfriends,likemanyofyoulastmonth,IwatchedthatgiantmasqueradeballupatMadison SquareGarden,where20,000liberalsandradicalscamedressedupasmoderatesand centristsinthegreatestsingleexhibitionofcrossdressinginAmericanpoliticalhistory. Onebyonetheprophetsofdoomappearedatthepodium.TheReagandecade,theymoaned, wasaterribletimeinAmerica,andtheysaidtheonlywaytopreventworsetimesistoturn ourcountry'sfateandourcountry'sfutureovertothePartythatgaveusMcGovern,Mondale, Carter,andMichaelDukakis.Wheredotheyfindtheseleaders?Noway,myfriends.The Americanpeoplearenotgoingtogobacktothediscreditedliberalismofthe1960sandthe failedliberalismofthe1970s,nomatterhowslickthepackagein1992.

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Youknow,themalcontentsofMadisonSquareGardennotwithstanding,the1980swerenot terribleyearsinAmerica.Theyweregreatyears.Youknowit.AndIknowit.Andeveryone knowsitexceptforthecarpingcriticswhosatonthesidelinesofhistory,jeeringatoneofthe greatstatesmenofmoderntime:RonaldReagan.RememberthattimeoutofJimmyCarter's daysofmalaise,RonaldReagancraftedthegreatestpeacetimeeconomicrecoveryinhistory: threemillionnewbusinesses,and20millionnewjobs.UndertheReaganDoctrine,oneby one,itwastheCommunistdominosthatbegantofall.First,GrenadawasliberatedbyU.S. airbornetroopsoftheU.S.MarineCorps.Then,themightyRedArmywasdrivenoutof AfghanistanwithAmericanweapons.AndtheninNicaragua,thatsqualidMarxistregimewas forcedtoholdfreeelectionsbyRonaldReagan'sContraarmy,andtheCommunistswere thrownoutofpower.FellowAmericansyououghttoremember,itwasunderourPartythat theBerlinWallcamedownandEuropewasreunited.ItwasunderourPartythattheSoviet Empirecollapsed,andthecaptivenationsbrokefree. YouknowitissaidthateveryAmericanPresidentwillberememberedinhistorywithbuta singlesentence.GeorgeWashingtonwasthefatherofhiscountry.AbrahamLincolnfreedthe slavesandsavedtheUnion.AndRonaldReaganwontheColdWar.Andisjustabouttimethat myoldcolleagues,thecolumnistsandcommentators,lookingdownonustonightfromtheir skyboxesandanchorbooths,gaveRonaldReaganthefullcredithedeservesforleading AmericatovictoryintheColdWar.Mostofall,myfriends,RonaldReaganmadeusproudto beAmericansagain.Weneverfeltbetteraboutourcountryandweneverstoodtallerinthe eyesoftheworldthanwhen"theGipper"wasatthehelm. Butweareheretonight,myfriends,notonlytocelebrate,buttonominate.AnAmerican Presidenthasmanyroles.Heisourfirstdiplomat,thearchitectofAmericanforeignpolicy. Andwhichofthesetwomenismorequalifiedforthatgreatrole?GeorgeBushhasbeenU.N. Ambassador,DirectoroftheCIA,envoytoChina.AsVicePresident,GeorgeBushcoauthored andcosignedthepoliciesthatwontheColdWar.AsPresident,GeorgeBushpresidedoverthe liberationofEasternEuropeandtheterminationoftheWarsawPact.AndwhataboutMr. Clinton?Well,BillClintoncouldn'tfind150wordstodiscussforeignpolicyinanacceptance speechthatlastedalmostanhour.Youknow,aswassaidofanotherDemocraticcandidate, BillClinton'sforeignpolicyexperienceisprettymuchconfinedtohavinghadbreakfastonceat theInternationalHouseofPancakes. Letuslookattherecordandrecallwhathappened.UnderPresidentGeorgeBush,more humanbeingsescapedfromtheprisonhouseoftyrannytofreedomthaninanyotherfour yearperiodinhistory.Andforanymanletmetellyoutocallthisarecordoffailureis thecheappoliticalrhetoricofpoliticianswhoonlyknowhowtobuildthemselvesupbytearing Americadownandwedon'twantthatkindofleadershipintheUnitedStates. Thepresidency,myfriends,isalsoanofficethatTheodoreRooseveltcalledAmerica's"bully pulpit."HarryTrumansaiditwas"preeminentlyaplaceofmoralleadership."GeorgeBushisa defenderofrighttolife,andachampionoftheJudeoChristianvaluesandbeliefsuponwhich Americawasfounded.

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Mr.Clintonhowever,hasadifferentagenda.Atitstopisunrestrictedabortionondemand. WhentheIrishCatholicGovernorofPennsylvania,RobertCasey,askedtosayafewwordson behalfofthe25millionunbornchildrendestroyedsinceRoevWade,BobCaseywastold therewasnoroomforhimatthepodiumatBillClinton'sconvention,andnoroomattheinn. Yetamilitantleaderofthehomosexualrightsmovementcouldriseatthatsameconvention andsay:"BillClintonandAlGorerepresentthemostprolesbianandprogayticketin history."Andsotheydo.BillClintonsayshesupports"schoolchoice"butonlyforstaterun schools.ParentswhosendtheirchildrentoChristianschools,orprivateschools,orJewish schools,orCatholicschools,neednotapply. Electme,andyouget"twoforthepriceofone,"Mr.Clintonsaysofhislawyerspouse.And whatdoesHillarybelieve?Well,Hillarybelievesthat12yearoldsshouldhavetherighttosue theirparents.AndHillaryhascomparedmarriageandthefamily,asinstitutions,toslavery andlifeonanIndianreservation.Well,speakforyourself,Hillary.This,myfriends,isradical feminism.TheagendathatClinton&ClintonwouldimposeonAmerica:abortionondemand, alitmustestfortheSupremeCourt,homosexualrights,discriminationagainstreligious schools,womenincombatunits.That'schange,allright.Butthat'snotthekindofchange Americaneeds.It'snotthekindofchangeAmericawants.Andit'snotthekindofchangewe canabideinanationwestillcall"God'scountry." ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesisalsoAmerica'sCommanderinChief.He'sthemanwe authorizetosendfathersandsonsandbrothersandfriendsintobattle.GeorgeBushwas17 yearsoldwhentheybombedPearlHarbor.Helefthishighschoolgraduationhewalkeddown totherecruitingofficeandhesigneduptobecometheyoungestfighterpilotinthePacific war.AndMr.Clinton?AndBillClinton?I'lltellyouwherehewas.I'lltellyouwherehewas. WhenBillClinton'stimecameinVietnam,hesatupinadormitoryroominOxford,England, andfiguredouthowtododgethedraft. Letmeaskthequestiontothisconvention:Whichofthesetwomenhaswonthemoral authoritytosendyoungAmericansintobattle?Isuggestrespectfully,itistheAmerican patriotandwarhero,NavyLieutenantJ.G.GeorgeHerbertWalkerBush!Myfellow Americans,thiscampaignisaboutphilosophy,anditisaboutcharacterandGeorgeBush winshandsdownonbothcounts.Anditistimeallofuscamehomeandstoodbesidehim. Ashisrunningmate,Mr.ClintonchoseAlbertGore.ButjusthowmoderateisPrinceAlbert? WellaccordingtotheNationalTaxpayersUnion,AlGorebeatoutTeddyKennedy,twostraight years,forthetitleof"biggestspenderintheU.S.Senate"andTeddyKennedyisn'tmoderate aboutanything.I'mnotkidding.I'mnotkiddingaboutTeddy.Howmany60yearoldsdoyou knowwhostillgotoFloridaforspringbreak? YouknowupatthatgreatbigcostumepartytheyheldupinNewYork,Mr.Goremadea startlingdeclaration.Henceforth,AlbertGoresaid,the"centralorganizingprinciple" ofgovernmentseverywheremustbe:theenvironment.Wrong,Albert.Thecentralorganizing principleofthisrepublicis:freedom.

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AndfromtheancientforestsofOregonandWashington,totheInlandEmpireofCalifornia, America'sgreatmiddleclasshasgottostartstandinguptotheseenvironmentalextremists whoputbirdsandratsandinsectsaheadoffamilies,workers,andjobs. Oneyearago,myfriends,IcouldnothavedreamtIwouldbeheretonight.Iwasjustoneof manypanelistsonwhatPresidentBushcalls"thosecrazySundaytalkshows."ButIdisagreed withthePresidentandsowechallengedthePresidentintheRepublicanprimaries,andwe foughtasbestwecould.FromFebruarytoJune,PresidentBushwon33ofthoseprimaries.I can'trecallexactlyhowmanywewon.I'llgetyouthefiguretomorrow. ButtonightIdowanttospeakfromthehearttothe3millionpeoplewhovotedforPat BuchananforPresident.Iwillneverforgetyou,orthegreathonoryouhavedoneme.ButI dobelievedeepinmyheartthattherightplaceforustobenow,inthispresidential campaign,isrightbesideGeorgeBush.ThisPartyismyhome.ThisPartyisourhomeand we'vegottocomehometoit.Anddon'tletanyonetellyouanydifferent. Yes,wedisagreedwithPresidentBush,butwestandwithhimforthefreedomtochoose religiousschools,andwestandwithhimagainsttheamoralideathatgayandlesbiancouples shouldhavethesamestandinginlawasmarriedmenandwomen.WestandwithPresident forrighttolifeandforvoluntaryprayerinthepublicschools.Andwestandagainstputting ourwivesanddaughtersandsistersintocombatunitsoftheUnitedStatesArmy.Wealso standwithPresidentBushinfavoroftherightofsmalltownsandcommunitiestocontrolthe rawsewageofpornographythatsoterriblypollutesourpopularculture.Westandwith PresidentBushinfavoroffederaljudgeswhointerpretthelawaswritten,andagainstwould beSupremeCourtjusticeslikeMarioCuomowhothinktheyhaveamandatetorewritethe Constitution. Friends,thiselectionisaboutmorethanwhogetswhat.Itisaboutwhoweare.Itisabout whatwebelieveandwhatwestandforasAmericans.Thereisareligiouswargoingoninthis country.Itisaculturalwar,ascriticaltothekindofnationweshallbeastheColdWaritself. ForthiswarisforthesoulofAmerica.AndinthatstruggleforthesoulofAmerica,Clinton& Clintonareontheotherside,andGeorgeBushisonourside.AndsototheBuchanan Brigadesoutthere,wehavetocomehomeandstandbesideGeorgeBush. InthesesixmonthsofcampaigningfromConcord,NewHampshiretoCalifornia,Icameto knowourcountrybetterthanIhaveknowniteverbeforeinmylife,andIgatheredup memoriesthataregoingtobewithmetherestofmydays. TherewasthatdaylongridethroughthegreatstateofGeorgiainabusVicePresidentBush himselfhadusedin1988calledAsphaltOne.Therideendedina9:00PMspeechinatiny towninsouthernGeorgiacalledFitzgerald.TherewerethoseworkersattheJamesRiver PaperMill,inNorthernNewHampshireinatowncalledGrovetontough,heartymen.None ofthemwouldsayawordtomeasIcamedowntheline,shakingtheirhandsonebyone. TheywereunderathreatoflosingtheirjobsatChristmas.AndasImoveddowntheline,one toughfellowaboutmyagejustlookedupandsaidtome,"Saveourjobs."

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ThentherewasthelegalsecretarythatImetattheManchesterairportonChristmasDaywho camerunninguptomeandsaid,"Mr.Buchanan,I'mgoingtovoteforyou."Andthenshe brokedownweeping,andshesaid,"I'velostmyjobIdon'thaveanymoney,andthey're goingtotakeawaymylittlegirl.WhatamIgoingtodo?" Myfriends,thesepeopleareourpeople.Theydon'treadAdamSmithorEdmundBurke,but theycomefromthesameschoolyardsandthesameplaygroundsandtownsaswecame from.Theyshareourbeliefsandourconvictions,ourhopesandourdreams.Thesearethe conservativesoftheheart.Theyareourpeople.Andweneedtoreconnectwiththem.We needtoletthemknowweknowhowbadthey'rehurting.Theydon'texpectmiraclesofus, buttheyneedtoknowwecare. TherewerethepeopleofHayfork,atinytownupinCalifornia'sTrinityAlps,atownthatis nowunderasentenceofdeathbecauseafederaljudgehassetasideninemillionacresforthe habitatofthespottedowlforgettingaboutthehabitatofthemenandwomenwholiveand workinHayfork.AndtherewerethebravepeopleofKoreatownwhotooktheworstofthose L.A.riots,butstilllivethefamilyvalueswetreasure,andwhostilldeeplybelieveinthe Americandream. Friends,inthesewonderful25weeksofourcampaign,thesaddestdayswerethedaysofthat riotinL.A.,theworstriotinAmericanhistory.Butoutofthatawfultragedycancomea messageofhope.Hoursafterthatriotended,IwentdowntotheArmycompoundinSouth LosAngeles,whereImetthetroopersofthe18thCavalrywhohadcometosavethecityof LosAngeles.Anofficerofthe18thCavsaid,"Mr.Buchanan,Iwantyoutotalktoacoupleof ourtroopers.AndIwentoverandImettheseyoungfellows.Theycouldn'thavebeen20 yearsold.Theycouldnothavebeen20yearsold.Andtheyrecountedtheirstory. TheyhadcomeintoLosAngeleslateintheeveningofthesecondday,andtheriotingwasstill goingon.Andtwoofthemwalkedupadarkstreet,wherethemobhadburnedandlooted everysinglebuildingontheblockbutone,aconvalescenthomefortheaged.Andthemob washeadedin,toransackandloottheapartmentsoftheterrifiedoldmenandwomeninside. Thetrooperscameupthestreet,M16sattheready.Andthemobthreatenedandcursed, butthemobretreatedbecauseithadmettheonethingthatcouldstopit:force,rootedin justice,andbackedbymoralcourage. "Greaterlovethanthishathnomanthanthathelaydownhislifeforhisfriend."Herewere 19yearoldboysreadytolaydowntheirlivestostopamobfrommolestingoldpeoplethey didnotevenknow.AndasthoseboystookbackthestreetsofLosAngeles,blockbyblock, myfriends,wemusttakebackourcities,andtakebackourculture,andtakebackour country. Godblessyou,andGodblessAmerica. John15:13

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