Pat Buchanan says outspoken conservatives 'ought to be more careful in the future.' Buchanan: Tone down rhetoric

Former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan — known for his fiery speeches — called on Sarah Palin and others to “tone down the rhetoric” and steer clear of violent metaphors.

“I’d give everybody the advice to tone down the rhetoric and to get away from the military or the armed metaphors,” he said Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”


The host, former Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.), asked Buchanan whether outspoken conservatives ought to apologize for the violent imagery they’ve used in the past.

Buchanan said conservatives “ought to be more careful in the future” but said it is wrong to scapegoat Palin, who is taking heat for having “targeted” Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on her website in what appear to be cross hairs.

“I do think it is the effort to sort of draw in Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann into something that is a real tragedy, when what we’re hearing out of Arizona is it had absolutely nothing to do with this individual who, for some reason, is obsessing.”

Buchanan himself has made frequent use of military metaphors in the past.

In his speech at the 1992 Republican National Convention, Buchanan sparked controversy with his claim that there was a “religious war” and “culture war” for the “soul of America.”

“They hear the shouts of the peasants from over the hill. All the knights and barons will be riding into the castle pulling up the drawbridge in a minute. All the peasants are coming with pitchforks,” Buchanan said.