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To: cothrige

Good point. There really is a mindset here with Buchanan though that can’t be denied. Maybe it is more geared to an opposition to the state of Israel and is not classic anti semitism. I really don’t know what Pat’s problem is with Israel....but it is there.


74 posted on 01/09/2009 5:18:42 PM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: penelopesire
There really is a mindset here with Buchanan though that can’t be denied. Maybe it is more geared to an opposition to the state of Israel and is not classic anti semitism. I really don’t know what Pat’s problem is with Israel....but it is there.

You may be right. He often seems unsympathetic to Israel, that is true. However, I have often heard him speak in defence of Israel as a state and their right to protect their own borders. Therefore I would not be comfortable saying he is anti-israel. I think his great sin, as far as the modern "conservative" movement, has been his unwillingness to concede our interests in preference for those of Israel. While he has clearly recognized that our interests are sometimes shared, even saying we should help Israel to defend their borders, he has also been very harsh regarding how much influence Israel and pro-israel organizations have over our agenda and policies, going so far as to describe the Congress, IIRC, as "Israeli occupied territory." So, it has always seemed to me that he is overall pro-Israel, but is critical of the influence brought to bear on our government on the issue.

It seems to me that Pat Buchanan has committed no outrage beyond taking a classically conservative position and seeking the interests of the USA before those of others. Here is a powerful voice supporting life, gun rights and traditional Christian values and the right wing attacks him again and again because he isn't virulently pro-israel. How ridiculous is that? And that position is twisted to try to insinuate he is a bigot, regardless of the fact that he has never, to my knowledge anyway, said anything truly anti-semitic. Israel is a political state, with political views, and we have to be grown up enough to quit acting like criticism of a political position is an act of bigotry against some minority group.

76 posted on 01/09/2009 8:23:58 PM PST by cothrige (Ego vero Evangelio non crederem, ni si me catholicae Ecclesiae commoveret auctoritas.)
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