President Ronald Reagan’s former Treasurer of the United States, Bay Buchanan, addressed the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) conference Thursday to discuss leadership, where she encouraged young people to remain true to their convictions and get involved in the political process.
Buchanan is the sister of former presidential candidate and conservative political columnist Pat Buchanan.
The focus of Buchanan’s speech was to tell young people that they need to show leadership on the many conservative issues we face today, and she encouraged young people to jump into this year’s election in order to make a difference in the outcome.
“I don’t care if you call yourself a conservative,” Buchanan said. “What is really important is you determine what you believe. It doesn’t matter what I believe, it doesn’t matter what your folks believe or what your teachers believe,” said Buchanan.
She followed up with: “This country needs every one of you.”
Buchanan said that young people cannot just sit and wait until they are “established” to try to make a difference. She said young people should be out trying to make a difference now.
Buchanan said the American Left has bullied their opinions into the mainstream. They not only have wanted to preach tolerance, but now they expect acceptance of their views.
She said more people should stand up to their leaders, whether they are from the same party or not. She used the example of former President George W. Bush and Congressional Republicans.
Republicans in Congress had the votes to stop Medicare Part D, but Buchanan argues that they did not because they were persuaded by President Bush.
“We need more [leaders] to stand up on what’s right and not to fold when the pressure hits. And that is what I am asking every one of you to be. Somebody who will stand up for what is right.”
YAF’s National Conservative Student Conference (NCSC) is an annual gathering of conservative supports, speakers and students in Washington, D.C.
