Deukmejian Accused of Flip-Flop : Bradley Turns Tables With Allegations on South Africa

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Bradley, lifting a page out of his opponent’s book, has accused Gov. George Deukmejian of political flip-flopping on the issue of sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid-dependent government.

The Los Angeles mayor repeatedly has been painted by his Republican gubernatorial foe as a waffling, indecisive candidate, and Friday, speaking before more than 200 labor officials, Bradley clearly relished turning the tables on Deukmejian.

Bradley’s opportunity arose when the governor suggested Thursday that the University of California Board of Regents consider adopting a tougher divestiture policy against the Pretoria government. Last year, Deukmejian and other regents rejected pleas that the university system divest its holdings in corporations that do business in South Africa, opting for a more conservative approach, a case-by-case review of investments.

Recalls His Action

“Only yesterday did the governor suddenly discover the repressive government of South Africa?” Bradley asked incredulously. He reminded his supportive audience that the Los Angeles City Council last year, at Bradley’s request, ordered that city funds be withdrawn from companies that do business in South Africa.

“You’ll notice he did not come up with a plan of his own,” Bradley said of the governor.

“How long . . . do you think it takes to understand that that is an immoral, racist, repressive government and the rest of the world is going to have to force that government to take all kinds of appropriate action?”

Deukmejian’s suggestion that a stronger anti-apartheid stance might be called for came after the South African government declared a national state of emergency and seized hundreds of activists in pre-dawn raids.

Would ‘Take the Lead’

Bradley said that as governor he would insist that California “take the lead” in speaking out against apartheid. He challenged Deukmejian to “stand up and be counted” and urged the governor to call on President Reagan to “get on the ball” and adopt stiffer policies toward the white minority government.

Bradley’s move to pounce on a change of heart by Deukmejian marked a decisive role reversal by the candidates.

For months, the Deukmejian campaign has pointed to Bradley’s differing opinions on such issues as gun control and oil drilling in Santa Monica Bay as indicating that the mayor is lacking in consistent leadership.

Deukmejian himself made some of his sharpest attacks on Bradley on primary election night, June 3, when he called Bradley “the original Los Angeles Dodger.

“He slipped, he slid, he ducked, he waffled and he wavered,” the governor said.

Mimics Deukmejian

Bradley mimicked Deukmejian on Friday, calling the incumbent and front-runner “Mr. Double-Talk.”

“He’s the one who bobs and weaves and ducks,” Bradley declared. “He’s the one who hems and haws. He’s the one who contradicts himself over and over again. This man has more secret lives than Walter Mitty.”

Specifically, Bradley charged that in the areas of education, the spiraling insurance crisis and the handling of toxic waste, Deukmejian has taken no decisive action of his own and has vetoed legislation meant to cure problems. But now, as a candidate for reelection, Bradley said, Deukmejian is scrambling to address the issues.

To emphasize his point, Bradley repeatedly referred to Deukmejian as “Double-Duke”--Deukmejian the governor and Deukmejian the candidate.

An Election Year

“Duke the candidate has realized he’s now in an election and he’s going to have to try to fool the people, try to cover up that record of the past 3 1/2 years,” Bradley said.

Bradley also attempted to bait Deukmejian into agreeing to debates before the November election. Bradley earlier proposed a series of 14 debates between the two candidates, but Deukmejian has thus far refused to commit himself.

“I understand why Deukmejian does not want to debate me,” Bradley said to cheers from members of the state Building Trades Council, which represents construction workers.

“The reason for it is he is so busy, the one Duke debating the other, that he’s worn out with the exercise.”