The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 13, 1984, Page Page 4, Image 5
Page 4 - June 13, 1984 W131111 Oil THE GAMECOCK -
Jesse Jackson
moves mountains
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in me eariy i^ous, singer \^ariy aimon nau one 01
her biggest hits by declaring she didn't need her
lover in the catchy chorus,4 * Jesse, I won't cut fresh
flowers for you."
The Democratic Party used to sing that song,
too. But that was a long time ago, back when John
Glenn was still a presidential contender, before a
black preacher from South Carolina became more
than a one-issue candidate.
Yes, Jesse, the party should buy youbouquetsof
roses these days.
As a oresidential candidate, the Rev. Jesse
Jackson has far surpassed what anyone expected of
him when the primary system began.
He's negotiated for the release of Navy Lt.
Robert Goodman from Syrian prisoner-of-war
status.
His appeal has earned him matching federal
funds that have carried him through the campaign.
He's lasted through the bitter end of a tough
primary season that saw serious contenders such as
Glenn, Alan Cranston and Fritz Hollings admit
earlv Heffatc
He's largely responsible for doubling voter turnout
and registration in several Southern states.
And most important ? he's earned 372.2
delegates to the national convention, according to
the Associated Press delegate count.
Numbers like that mean power. He may not be
near a high-level national office, but the 42-year
old who was considered a political joke, interested
only in civil rights issues, has won himself a piece of
the Democratic Party pie.
4'My role would be to expand our party, not to
divide it," Jackson has said. And expand it he has.
It's widely assumed that Jackson's legion of support
includes the nation's disinherited, tho&e voters
who don't normally make it to the polls.
So the Greenville, S.C., native can show up at
the convention with a whole new support base to
cive the Democratic Partv. He exnerts in return
o J' ?" ?- ?-that
his more extreme concerns ? reduction of
military buildup in Europe; recognition of the
PLO; and changes in the primary electorate system
? will be given a sympathetic ear.
- v. _ A- _ 1 _ _ _ _ /* . n
mat remains 10 oe seen, ine majority 01 tne
Democratic Party is not interested in most of
Jackson's policies and will bend only slightly when
considering them in the party platform.
How Jackson deals with the convention will be
interesting. He's won himself potential power, but
he could lose it just as quickly by refusing to yield
on key issues.
If the Democrats are to have a hope of giving
Reagan a contest in November, they must call on
every base of support they've got. To deny
Jackson's influence would be a costly mistake.
Unless the reverend gets ornery come convention
time, he should be in a position to give a significant
gift to the Democratic Party. And in Election '84,
that's enough to make the folks who sang the old
Carly Simon song quit giggling about Jesse Jackson
and change their tune ? fast.
Gamecock
Editor in Chief
Leslie J. Dunson
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5
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vvHal o wrun
Election disputes, election disputes,
election disputes. Everywhere we turn,
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tions and election returns.
Although Christian Democrat Jose
Napoleon Duarte won the election in
El Salvador, his opponent, rightwinger
Roberto d'Aubuisson, refused
to acccpt the election results.
D'Aubuisson cried about invalid
votes, called the election "a farce" and
claimed he would be the actual winner
li tne mvaiia votes were cast out. bure,
Roberto.
And then there's Panama.
rauaiua a mai ^i^diuuiuai uctuuii in
16 years resulted in a breakout of gunfire
that killed one demonstrator and
injured 40 others who were waiting to
cop the election results. And still there
is no proclaimed winner because of
Panama's slow, irregular vote
counting system.
Think that sounds bad? How about
the Philippines? Pre-election violence
there tied in with illegal "vote-buying"
tactics has claimed several hundred
lives already. There is even a crazy
"ink controversy*' boiling.
American-made indelible ink was
supposed to stain a voter's finger to
combat the possibility of multiple
voting. But ? you probably guessed it
already ? a little rubbing alcohol and
plhnu/ orpacp qr*H nrpctnl Int't all nnna
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and back to the voting booth. Politicians
are accusing each other of importing
the ineffective ink. Now, there is a
campaign to boycott the Philippines
elections.
Even here at home, right on our own
campus, we have an election dispute.
Former Student Senate member Dan
Berglund, who ran for the senate
presidency in the April 24 and 25 elections,
has filed grievances against win
ner iNeai Denton and his ticket.
We are sitting here asking ourselves,
"What is really going on?" What is
going wrong in all of these
"democracies?"
A democracy is supposed to be
government "by the people," complete
with leaders who are chosen by
the people.
But how can a democracy exist when
the political leaders who run in the
elections won't even accept the results
of those elections?
With the C.I.A. pumping money into
campaigns to sway voters in Central
America, military regimes that topple
the elected governments if they don't
like them and governments who
murder their opposition, we don't
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understand how any of these countries
can call themselves democratic states.
The Post
Ohio University
The primary scuffle has run its
course, but the real battle has yet to
come. As the initial smoke clears,
Mondale emerges the apparent victor.
But there is still snmp fioht lf?ft in hie
worthy opponents. The Chrirnson
White believes that Hart and Jackson
should wade right back into the fray.
Hart and Jackson both claimed victories
after last night's returns came in.
Hart outraced Mondale in New Mexico
and South Dakota and swept the
California primary, leaving Mondale
12 delegates short of the 1.967 needed
for nomination.
Jackson has claimed victories on the
basis of consistent third-place
showings.
Mondale and his supporters should
learn something from the strength of
his opposition.
It is time for a change in the
Democratic party, mondale represents
the old line Hemnrrat u/hncp etrpnoth
lies mainly in labor backing. The
stigma of his association with the weak
Carter administration also could sway
independent voters toward the more
flamboyant Reagan.
Hart represents new ideas and a new
vision for the Democratic party and
for America. The strength of
Jackson's showings indicate that a
large Democratic section is dissatisfied
with old line tactics.
Although there is some concern that
continued infighting may hurt the party
and weaken its bid to topple the
Reagan administration from office,
Hart and Jackson should dig in and
fight for their beliefs.
Mondale cannot capture the imagination
of the american public the
way that Hart can. Hart's rise in status
from darkhorse candidate to contAn/^ar
io ^^ .1 * - *
iviiuvi 10 iiiuii-auvc i11s appcail IU II1C
voting public.
Jackson's constituency can only
benefit from his continuing battle. By
shifting his delegate support to either
Hart or Mondale, he could effectively
cnange me outcome ot the race.
In return for throwing his support
behind either of the candidates, he
could win strong concessions to his
beliefs and those of his constituents.
Mondale's support rests with the
more conservative Democrats who
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recognition and the belief that he is the
only candidate with a solid chance of
defeating Reagan.
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mocracies?
Hart's supporters have taken the
more radical tact of not accepting the
lesser of two evils. Voters that have the
ronraof tn take a rhanrp have fnrmenrl
the bedrock of Hart's constituency.
The Democratic party had a harsh
lesson to learn from the humiliating
Carter/Reagan battle of 1980. Apparently,
looking to Mondale's continued
support, quite a few have not
gotten the message.
Hart and Jackson have indicated
that they are ready to fight the old line.
That is a good sign for Democrats and
for the country.
Mondale should not rest on his
laurels. It ain't over 'till it's over.
Crimson White
Alabama
It's too bad when the Democratic party
must debate whether or not to select
a woman as a vice presidential candidate.
it has taken over 200 years for
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inv |/usoiuiinjf v/i a nwiuan 111 uui nation's
second highest office to evolve
to the point of serious consideration,
and the Democrats behave as if the
idea surfaced only yesterday.
What is worse is the thought that if a
woman is picked to fill the second spot
on the Democrat's fall line-up, it may
be done as a mere political ploy, to appeal
to the voting conscience of
women, who comprise over 50 percent
of the electorate in America. At this
rate, it may take 200 more years before
a woman is chosen by merit for a spot
on a national ticket.
The Democratic Party could
strengthen its role as the party of the
common man if it demonstrates
enough collective wisdom to give the
vice presidential nod to a woman in
1984. Unfortunately, none of the top
three Democratic hopefuls is likely to
name a woman as his running mate in
juiy.
The point of all this is the fact that
the Democrats need not feel they have
painted themselves into a corner when
it comes time to pick a vice presidential
candidate. There are more than
enough qualified prospects, and
women are high on -the list of those
qualified.
Someday, a woman will occupy the
White House, in a role besides that of
First Lady. She may tie a Democrat,
she may not be. And one decision she
will have to make is whether or not a
man would make a suitable running
mate.
The Indiana Student
Indiana University