In spite of his continuing role as a political commentator for the mainstream media, former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan now increasingly advances an anti-Semitic, racist, and anti-immigrant ideology. Many of the views he holds are identical to those of self-declared “white nationalists.” Buchanan repeatedly demonizes Jews and minorities and openly affiliates with white supremacists. Among his frequent claims is that the sovereignty of the United States is being undermined by Israeli control and Mexican incursion, a belief which he disseminates on mainstream cable and network television and in his prolific writings. Buchanan releases a book nearly every two years, many of which take the view that non-white immigrants destroy Western culture.

Buchanan's recent activities illustrate his beliefs. From 2007-2009 alone, he discussed “Israel's Fifth column” within the United States, appeared on a white supremacist radio show, and met privately with leaders of a stridently racist and xenophobic Belgian political party. In 2009, Buchanan:

• Defended an accused Nazi war criminal, whom he likened to Jesus Christ.



• Exploited the H1N1 outbreak, which he referred to as the “Mexican swine flu,” to demonize undocumented immigrants as disease carriers.



• Suggested that the very survival of the nation is in jeopardy with the rising presence of “Hispanics” in the United States, an argument he made on national television.



• Used his American Cause group to co-fund a reception staged by Youth for Western Civilization, an anti-immigrant, student group whose leadership has ties to racists and border vigilantes.



• Used the American Cause to stage a panel of speakers at the National Press Club which featured racist and anti-immigrant figures.



• Predicted, on national television, that President Obama will appoint “a minority, a woman and/or a Hispanic” rather than someone who has “real stature [and] impresses people,” to fill the impending vacant Supreme Court seat.

Buchanan's ideological leanings are not new—ADL has previously reported on his hateful views and statements: in 2004, about his book entitled Where the Right Went Wrong; in 1993, with a report exposing his “unrelenting defense” of accused Nazi war criminals and in 1991, with a report entitled, “Anger on the Right: Pat Buchanan's Venomous Crusade.”

Buchanan, however, has been given license by some in the mainstream media to escalate his hateful campaign. He has recently intensified his anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and racist rhetoric, and his activities demonstrate an increasing embrace of extremist causes. In fact, Buchanan's Online forum was home to several statements promoting Holocaust denial before it was taken down due to media exposure. The growing anti-Semitism and bigotry behind Buchanan's mainstream façade is cause for renewed concern.

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