Buchanan Unites Conservatives on Moral Issues in Bush Speech - Essay Sample

Introduction

Buchanan focuses on the third leg on religious conservatives. Although Patrick Buchanan criticized George Bush on taxes, he omitted economics in his speech and instead concentrated on motivating conservatives on moral relativity and equivalence. He associated social issues with spiritual decline dividing American populace into two competing camps - one that was liberal, deviant and radical, and another that was patriotic, conservative, and traditional. He suggested that a vote for George H.W. Bush was a vote for the latter while a vote for William Jefferson Clinton was a vote for the former. In the speech, Buchanan argued that if the Americans were to regain their spiritual decency the nation was founded on, they needed to vote for the Republican ticket.

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Buchanan dismissively referred the Democratic National Convention as "that giant masquerade ball," and proceeded by saying "20,000 liberals and radicals came dressed up as moderates and centrists in the greatest single exhibition of cross-dressing in American political history" (4). To this point, Buchanan outlined the accusation that took the form of an anti-gay slur, blaming the Democrats for social deviance. He suggested that "The American people are not going to go back to the discredited liberalism of the 1960s and the failed liberalism of the 1970s, no matter how slick the package in 1992" (6).

When Buchanan uses the "they" he referred to the environmental extremists, militant homosexuals and radical feminists appealing to his audience with nostalgic traditionalism. After complimenting Bush for being "a defender of right-to-life and a champion of the Judeo-Christian values and beliefs upon which America was founded" (16), Buchanan criticized the Clintons advocacy for opposition to state funding for religious schools and abortion. He declared that Clinton headed up "the most pro-lesbian and pro-gay ticket in history" (19).

Issues Buchanan Supporters Would Object in Trump Administration

Same-Sex Marriage

In his speech, Buchanan accused the Clintons of advocating for homosexual rights. After the Obama administration being soft on same-sex relationships and marriages, President Trump has failed to maintain conservatism advocated by his Republican predecessors regarding the subject. He became the first Republican president in American history to recognize the LGBT Pride Month celebration. Trump administration is leading efforts in decriminalizing homosexuality around the world (Rogers 2).

Siding With "Enemies"

While Ronald Reagan, a man who receives much praise in Buchanan's speech, called on Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall", as he reaffirmed the role of America as the leader of free world, Trump's decision to side with Vladimir Putin over the country's intelligence agencies would not be welcomed by Buchannan's supporters.

One Position Buchanan Supporters Would Agree with Trump Administration

Abortion

The similarities between Trump and Patrick Buchannan are bare. They both reject the GOP economic doctrines from advocating for free trade to inclusive immigration laws. They are hostile to globalism in whichever manner. However, one agenda in the "Culture war speech" recently evident in Trump administration is the fight against abortion. Buchanan accused the Clintons of advocating for "abortion on demand" (23). Just like his Republican presidential predecessors, Trump administration does not tolerate abortion regardless of the circumstance. Much to the delight of the Buchanan's supporters, the Trump administration has taken the war on abortion worldwide cutting off US funding to any country where there are clinics or organizations involved in providing abortion services or counseling women about the same. This requirement also includes situations where these clinics or organizations get funding from its government or have a donor from another country (The Guardian 1).

Works Cited

Rogers, Katie. "Trump's celebration of LGBT rights is met with criticism." 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/us/politics/trump-lgbt-rights.html

The Guardian. "Trump takes the war on abortion worldwide as policy cuts off funds." 2019, www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/17/trump-takes-war-on-abortion-worldwide-as-policy-cuts-off-funds