Ezola Foster in The Washington Post


On Civil Rights: Homosexuality is biologically & psychologically damaging

Q: You have publicly stated that you believe that Pat Buchanan is not homophobic. But how can you support that claim?

A: To say that you do not believe in homosexuality is not to say that you hate the person who practices it. There are many homosexuals out there who would prefer to do what they do in private. But this homosexual movement is obtaining special rights for a particular group. You look at what is happening to the Boy Scouts. They have lived according to their oath, now they are under unrelenting attack, because even though the courts have ruled in favor of the Boy Scouts, leaders of the homosexual movement are encouraging corporations to withhold funding.

My own personal feeling is that homosexuality is biologically, physiologically, and psychologically damaging. In schools where there is talk of safe v. unsafe sex, some of the unsafe sex acts are acts that our children would never dream of indulging and which parents would definitely want their children introduced.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Civil Rights: Racism is out of govt; now focus on people

Q: What is your stand on racism, both white and black?

A: The problem is how you fight racism. Our country has come a long way in terms of [removing] policies that encourage racism. In terms of individuals that continue to promote racism, we have to change the hearts and the mind of the people. To do that, we must reject different groups and organizations who have a vested interest money wise to keep the flames of racism burning. We must recognize an individual’s rights and responsibilities.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Education: Focus on Constitution: feds out of school funding & control

Q: What about education?

A: We need to go back to our Constitution. There is no place in our Constitution where the federal government has authority to fund, influence or control education and so we would eliminate the US Department of Education and terminate funding and subsidies to ideological advocacy groups that use our tax dollars to advance their political, religious and cultural agendas. We believe that the control of schools should be in the hands of the parents and local communities.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Environment: Eliminate EPA; businesses can take care of themselves

Q: Why would you eliminate OSHA and EPA? Would you not agree that EPA has done some beneficial things, such as removing lead from gasoline and improving the health of people in every part of this country?

A: I believe that businesses can take care of themselves and I believe there is too much government involvement in that. Businesses are out there to succeed and to succeed they need to take care of their communities. I think that we have enough wise Americans who can make those decisions. I am very concerned with the government dictating policy to our businesses and our families. I feel it’s time to trust the American people with our businesses and our families. We have so much government regulations that we have said goodbye to the mom and pop stores. It’s very hard for people to start their own businesses anymore. I think that with government regulations they stifle the creativeness and ambitions of our people.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Government Reform: Government should stop meddling in people’s lives

Americans are becoming too dependent on government telling them how to run their lives. In some countries it may take a village to raise a child, but in America it takes parents whose authority is not undermined by a meddling socialist government which is what we have today and which is what will grow under a Republican or Democratic administration.
Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Gun Control: Focus on Constitution: No infringement of gun rights

Q: Where does the Reform Party stand on gun control?

A: We go back to our Constitution. We support the right to keep and bear arms which is guaranteed by the Constitution. The federal government is prohibited from infringing on that right in any way. I have more lady friends now that are carrying concealed weapons to protect themselves. The criminals will always have a means to perform their criminal acts. The Second Amendment is to protect citizens and to allow citizens to protect themselves.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Health Care: Portable and private affordable Medicare solutions

Q: What is the Buchanan/Foster plan for seniors on Medicare?

A: We want to protect seniors who are already on Medicare as well as getting Social Security. We want to take a look at that entire system and we will decide the best means to helping the people in most need whether they are seniors or young families. There is a way to help people without causing dependency. We support portable and private affordable solutions. We would guarantee benefits already promised to seniors and we would stop the raid on the trust fund and we would encourage employees to devote part of their earnings to Social Security alone. We would work with Congress to secure the system while allowing workers to transition to individual retirement accounts.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Principles & Values: Left Democrats & GOP because of differences of belief

Q: Mrs. Foster, what compelled you to leave the Democratic Party?

A: I left the Democrats and GOP because they did not promote my strong beliefs

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Principles & Values: In the race to win

Q: Are you running to win the presidency, or to raise certain issues?

A: I’m in the race the win. Pat Buchanan and I are here to win the election so that we can represent the American people so that we can maintain a strong, free, independent America. A lot of people say we can’t win. We can win. What does it take to win but a vote. We’re told that we can’t win the electoral votes. Again, the people vote for us, we get the popular vote, we get the electoral vote. And then we’re told even if Pat Buchanan wins he won’t have the support of a Democrat and Republican Congress. To that I say, Congress is to be a watch dog for the American people not a lap dog for any president. So I am hoping the people will not let fear deter them from voting for their country, their family, and their future.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Principles & Values: Encourages attending John Birch chapter meetings

Q: Can you provide me a brief history about the John Birch Society’s fundamental views?

A: The John Birch Society is nothing more than a group of American citizens of every race, ethnicity, religion, political persuasion who all believe in one thing and that’s maintaining the sovereignty of America and they work towards that goal. I would encourage people to attend a local chapter meeting. Their chapters are open, there’s nothing secret about it and learn for themselves about the organization.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Principles & Values: No rift in Reform Party; no change in platform

We have not changed the party’s platform. The Reform Party actually emphasized more foreign policy issues & trade issues. They were aware of Buchanan’s stand on social issues and how important the right to life is to the Buchanan-Foster ticket. As far as the Reform Party stand on trade, Buchanan was their answer. So we have not caused a rift in the party at all. It’s just a small group who would rather see the demise of the party than to have Pat Buchanan as their candidate.
Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Social Security: Help people without dependency: transition to IRAs

Q: What is the Buchanan/Foster plan for seniors on Medicare?

A: We want to protect seniors who are already on Medicare as well as getting Social Security. We want to take a look at that entire system and we will decide the best means to helping the people in most need whether they are seniors or young families. There is a way to help people without causing dependency. We support portable and private affordable solutions. We would guarantee benefits already promised to seniors and we would stop the raid on the trust fund and we would encourage employees to devote part of their earnings to Social Security alone. We would work with Congress to secure the system while allowing workers to transition to individual retirement accounts.

Source: (X-ref Health) “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Tax Reform: End taxes on income, capital gains, gifts, & inheritance

Q: What government programs do you intend to cut or eliminate? What form of tax relief do you propose?

A: In terms of the tax relief, we would eliminate federal taxes on income, capital gains, gifts, inheritance. We would eliminate the Department of Education, OSHA, the EPA, and we would take a look at all the existing organizations that we feel is not serving a good purpose for the American people.

Source: Interview on “Free Media”, Washington Post Aug 29, 2000

On Foreign Policy: American sovereignty is extremely important

Buchanan and Foster signaled that they intend to look to the twin issues that have helped drive European right-wing parties to new heights of power and political success: immigration and a call to protect cultural, political and ethnic sovereignty. “American sovereignty is extremely important,” said Foster. “What issue will mean anything if we lose our sovereignty?”
Source: Thomas Edsall, Washington Post Aug 13, 2000

On Free Trade: Bush & Gore both favor free trade; Buchanan/Foster don’t

Buchanan and his running mate, black conservative Ezola Foster, see an opening created by the stances of Bush and Gore in favor of immigration and free trade. These shared stands leave anti-immigration, anti-free trade views largely unrepresented by either major party. In Europe, the pro-immigration and internationalist stands of the major parties have created an opening for a surge in right-wing political strength in several countries, including Austria, Norway and Switzerland.
Source: Thomas Edsall, Washington Post Aug 13, 2000

On Civil Rights: Supports display of Confederate flag in southern states

Asked about disputes in Southern states over display of the Confederate flag, Foster said: “We had both sides in the war... the Confederate flag represents a side that is part of our history. It is to be honored as part of our history... It’s not a racial issue.”
Source: The Washington Post Aug 12, 2000

On Civil Rights: Against racial preferences

Foster declared her opposition to racial preferences and her conviction that immigration policy “cease being stupid” and begin to “protect American people.”
Source: The Washington Post Aug 12, 2000

On Crime: Defends police action in Rodney King beating

In a 1993 interview with the Chicago Tribune, she defended police in the Rodney G. King beating case, saying “They were acting according to the training they received from the police department... They were acting in the line of duty. Of course, viewing the videotape, it does seem to go too far, but not far enough that they should receive the kind of sentencing and the loss of their livelihood they way that this has occurred.”
Source: The Washington Post Aug 12, 2000

On Homeland Security: Sovereignty of nation is a primary concern

“American sovreignty is extremely important”, said Foster. “What issue will mean anything if we lose our sovreignty?”
Source: The Washington Post Aug 12, 2000

On Immigration: Immigration policies should protect Americans

Foster declared her opposition to racial preferences and her conviction that immigration policy “cease being stupid” and begin to “protect American people.”
Source: (X-ref Civil Rights) The Washington Post Aug 12, 2000

The above quotations are from Media coverage of nationwide political races in The Washington Post.
Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of nationwide political races in The Washington Post.
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Page last updated: Feb 15, 2019