Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Pragmatic marriage links Jackson, Clinton Date: Mon, 2 Nov 92 15:45:13 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \HD Pragmatic marriage links Jackson, Clinton \BY J. Jennings Moss \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The stormy political relationship between Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson calmed in the closing weeks of the 1992 campaign as the black leader campaigned for the Democratic Party throughout the country - and away from the national spotlight. But analysts predict the truce is temporary because the differing political philosophies and personalities of the two are like oil and water. "While this is not a love fest . . . it is a marriage of pragmatism," said Avis LaVelle, national press secretary for the Democratic presidential nominee. "He's [Jackson's] done more than come around. He's been a good soldier." Even though he decided not to make a third run for the White House this year, Mr. Jackson was treated much like a presidential aspirant by the media and leaders of his party. He sometimes gained more press attention than Mr. Clinton's primary rivals and became the subject of such questions as "What does Jesse want?" From the beginning, the two men have been at odds. Mr. Jackson is the ultimate representative of the poor, minorities and the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Mr. Clinton is the "different kind of Democrat" who tried to steer the party in a more moderate direction, focusing more on the middle class than the lower class and attempting to reclaim white suburbs and Reagan Democrats. Ironically, Mr. Jackson has taken the spotlight in an anti-Clinton independent ad campaign that notes Mr. Clinton supports statehood for the District of Columbia and then asks voters if they want Mr. Jackson elected senator. Early in the year, Mr. Clinton reacted angrily and bitterly into an open microphone when told erroneously that Mr. Jackson was going to endorse another Democrat. In June, Mr. Clinton used a meeting of Mr. Jackson's National Rainbow Coalition to criticize rap artist Sister Souljah, prompting complaints from many black leaders that it was a high-profile publicity move aimed at the white middle class. Mr. Jackson, for his part, withheld an endorsement of Mr. Clinton until the Democratic convention was under way and even then barely mentioned Mr. Clinton's positives. Since Mr. Clinton became the nominee, Mr. Jackson has avoided hitting him with the kind of public criticism he periodically levels at other prominent Democrats, often costing them votes in the black community. He has done few national interviews. Instead, in a joint project with the Democratic National Committee, Mr. Jackson has traveled to 32 states on a voter-registration and get-out-the-vote drive. On the road, Mr. Jackson more often criticizes the Bush administration than heralds Mr. Clinton, though he does speak strongly of the need for change. "I challenge you to strike a blow and heal and rebuild America. . . . It's been a long and difficult journey for the men and women that cared and sacrified," he said last week in Pine Bluff, Ark. "Nobody has worked harder than Jesse Jackson to help elect Bill Clinton and Al Gore and Democrats all over this country. Jesse Jackson has been working 18 hours a day, seven days a week," DNC Chairman Ronald H. Brown said yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Ronald Walters, a professor at Howard University and an expert on Mr. Jackson's political career, described the current Clinton-Jackson relationship as a "temporary political marriage of convenience." "I don't think there's been a real meeting of the minds because they represent two different wings of the party," Mr. Walters said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM