Bye-bye, Buchanan

Pat Buchanan is a man with few real sympathizers, thanks in large part to his grab-bag approach to political consistency. While his noninterventionist views fit nicely with most libertarians, his rhetoric against trade, immigration, and free markets places him solidly in opposition territory.

But some recent comments about his decision to leave the GOP for the Reform party show that, despite his renegade status among many Republicans, they'd prefer he stick around and take his lumps. Last month, The New York Times quoted Robert T. Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, as saying, "This is like a spoiled little kid who picks up his marbles and goes someplace else because he doesn't get his way," anticipating Buchanan's yet-to-come defection. After Buchanan's announcement, Bennett was parroted by the former first lady mom of current GOP presidential front-runner George W. Bush, who said, "He's like a whiny child who picks up his marbles and leaves."

It's obvious that this name-calling has its roots in political expediency. With Buchanan staging a publicity campaign with a rival party, GOP presidential votes are compromised. Yawn. But these comments should offend everyone who benefits from freedom of association. The liberty to associate with whomever you want is one of the best aspects of a free society. When an organization no longer supports your values, having the ability to leave is a good thing. So pardon me if I give a polite nod to Buchanan as he takes his marbles and leaves. Assuming he still has all his marbles to take. —Eric D. Dixon

(Printed in Liberty, January 2000 issue.)