Darel Taylor, Kitchen remodeler, Newcastle

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"I like him. He's moral, upstanding -- he brings some integrity to the campaign. He appears to be a straight shooter... There's resistance to him on all sides, and especially on the liberal side, and especially to his position on women's rights. But I think he's really focusing on what concerns people and on what's wrong with America... And I think women's rights -- abortion -- has a lot to do with that. I think that Roe v. Wade has caused enough pain... I like Dole, but Buchanan stands out because of his moral standing. Powell would've been great -- exciting even -- but that didn't happen."

Sheryl Batt, Student, Kirkland

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"Well, I know that I wouldn't vote for him. To tell you the truth, I haven't really been following the news stories all that closely. But from what I've learned, he's sort of a racist -- like with the Jewish community, and comments he's made about not wanting homosexuals in his office. That's what I hear... I go to a community college and I also know that people like him because he's addressing points about unemployment, and that's been something that's attracting people to him... Even though I don't believe everything I read, these are my impressions from the media. I think the media uses what's given to them. If there's an impression that's made, then Pat Buchanan's given it. The main points that come out definitely have reason behind them."

Michael Pagan, Chartered accountant, Woodinville

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"I admire his honesty -- he says what he thinks. He's sincere and truthworthy. I've not followed him extensively, but this is the impression I've had of him for some time... The liberal media are the primary cause of the raw deal he's getting. Liberals, particularly liberal fascists, have an agenda which is to demonize Pat Buchanan just as they have demonized Newt Gingrich. And liberals are not interested in facts or the truth. They're only interested in their liberal agenda... I'd recommend that Buchanan contest the liberal media's attempt to blacken his reputation head-on, and refute the claims that they make at every possible opportunity... Liberals believe the ends justify the means, and they will tell any lie to propagate their point of view, to achieve their agenda... It shall be interesting to see what comes of this. I'd like to see him get the nomination."

Larry Gallagher, Housing rehabilitation, Seattle

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"I guess, from what I hear personally, that in the flesh he's very companionable. But I think that even he would be extremely shocked if he were to receive the nomination and be elected president because his role has always been as a policy influencer... It doesn't surprise me that people are for him. There are so many levels of frustration -- it's a complex society, a complex world, and people are frustrated -- and he's quite good with words. He taps into the frustration and he pushes the right buttons... I really don't think he's electable, but with everything churning around with Bill and Hillary, who knows?"

Sydney Thorne, 10th grader, Bellevue

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"Wow. Well, I know my mom likes him. And I think he's probably one of the more honest candidates, and one of the best ones. And he has a lot of good views. But I don't really like anyone who is running. I think they're in it for their egos and they don't really care what's going on with us, and with kids my age, 16, and we're going to be the ones running the country in a couple of years... The way I've seen Buchanan on TV, he seems like he's not totally into the media, and what he's saying isn't b.s. But it's hard for me to care because none of them seem to care."

Liz Brittle, Business administrator, Redmond

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"You know, I'm still researching him because I'm not sure. I've been trying to figure him out -- his values, what he stands for -- because I'm tired of voting for people and they don't come through... I'll be reading what he's written and also commentaries by people who I think, most of the time, are honest in their opinions... To be honest, I don't believe the media because I think things tend to be slanted toward their own agenda. Actually, everything's kind of slanted, and it's hard to research anything... For the most part, average people like myself have to muddle through all the garbage to find the truth."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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