Coughlin was an isolationist who found Zionist banker conspiracies in everything. His anti-semitic views led to the Church ordering him to cease his radio broadcasts. Buchanan's father was a big Coughlin supporter. Given that Buchanan's isolationist and anti-semitic views are identical to Coughlin, the fruit didn't fall far from the tree. Buchanan still argues that Hitler didn't want war with the U.S...and places the blame on FDR and the Jews for American involvement in the war in Europe.
A bit over the top, dontcha think? I think Pat's wrong about a lot of things but blanket anti-semitism is the same sort of exaggeration on your part that you fault him for. I do believe that some anti-Israel liberals are truly anti-semitic (Israel is racist etc.) but really, Buchanan's quarrel with Israel has to do with Israel's policies and the US policy toward Israel, not with Jews per se. Yes, of course, he believes that leading Jews in the United States have had undue influence and that's why we have a bad Israel policy--but again, is that truly anti-semitic?
As to Coughlin's anti-semitism, I have no opinion. The word is thrown around so loosely that I'm inherently suspicious of but it's certainly possible that Coughlin was flat-out an anti-semite. But it's simply not possible for Buchanan to be "identical" to someone who was operating in a different context and different times. So, just as a friendly amendment, would you be willing to put the kabosh on "identical"?
I know that to ask you to drop the "anti-semite" label in favor of "anti-Israel" for Buchanan would be more than a request for friendly amendment, so I won't ask that of you--not that I imagine it makes any difference to you anyway. I do think we ought to be careful with the label because it can function as a cheap way to evade grappling with the real issues--in this case, is our Israel policy good for the US. I think it is and Pat's wrong, but I don't try to refute his policy disagreements by calling him names. That really never helps.
Your mommy wants you back at DU. She's going to play old reruns of Crossfire so you can cheer for Braden and Kinsley.