Jackson Makes Amends, Echoes Dukakis’ Name

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  The Rev. Jesse Jackson--who neglected to mention his party’s standard-bearers by name on his first outing for the Democratic ticket--rectified that today, saying he stands with Michael S. Dukakis because he is for the common people.

Addressing a fund-raiser by his Rainbow Coalition, Jackson said Dukakis, the Democratic nominee, sees “government as a tool for public service,” while Republican Vice President George Bush, the certain GOP nominee, sees it “as a tool for private interests.”

On Monday night, in his first speech on the road as a self-described “volunteer” for the ticket, Jackson implied that people should vote for Dukakis but did not mention Dukakis by name, or Dukakis’ running mate, Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen.

Addressing a packed church convention at the Charlotte Civic Center on Monday night, the preacher-politician extolled the virtues of “Jackson action” and his own “politics of inclusion,” urging the predominantly black audience of about 5,000 to “keep hope alive.”

Repeatedly Invokes Name

Today, Jackson repeatedly invoked Dukakis’s name and his own support of the presidential nominee.

“I stand with Dukakis because his side of history is for the common people,” Jackson said.

“Dukakis supports same-day voter registration and that is the kind of leadership we should be for,” Jackson said.

“I support Dukakis because he believes in public education,” Jackson said. He denounced Bush, saying the vice president favors “privatization of the Justice Department . . . privatization of foreign policy . . . privatization of education.”

Jackson, speaking before about 200 local officials and supporters, said, “since he (Bush) likes so much privatization, I want to send him back to private life.”

Jackson demanded and won an undefined “major role” in the campaign during July’s Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. He also obtained inclusion for his supporters in the party’s hierarchy.