Buchanan Addresses Bob Jones University

G R E E N V I L L E, S.C., Sept. 18 -- Pat Buchanan, like Bob Jones University,is a maverick who “cares more for truth than for his own image,”university President Bob Jones III told a crowd of 2,000 who hadgathered for the presidential candidate’s campaign kickoff.

“We make no apology for being outside of the mainstream,”Jones said today at the on-campus gathering.

Buchanan made the campaign stop in the hopes of reviving hislow-budget presidential campaign.

The Reform Party nominee said he didn’t want to lecture theschool, which is known for fundamentalist religious views,anti-Catholic rhetoric and an interracial dating ban that was ineffect until this year.

His stop at the school brings instant, free visibility toBuchanan’s presidential effort after it got a $12.6 million shot inthe arm with federal campaign money last week.

Standing With His ‘Friends’Buchanan, a Catholic, said he wants to “stand with my friends”and talk about the social and moral and cultural issues that havebeen absent from the presidential race.

“These folks were very good to me and friendly to me in twocampaigns and I think they’ve been beat up and piled on unfairlyand unjustly by the national media,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan defended the university, which was at the center of GOPwrangling earlier this year when Republican presidential candidateGeorge W. Bush drew fire for not criticizing some of the school’spolicies during his appearance there in February.

“Why should we run away from our friends simply because you’re under attack from the national media who by and large are notfriends of the things I believe in?” Buchanan said.

Democrats said they relish Buchanan’s Bob Jones visit becausethe former Republican presidential hopeful is returning to a placethat meant trouble for Bush six months ago.

“Apparently, Buchanan didn’t learn from Junior’s mistake,” South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian said.