Politics 88 : Jackson Urges Voice for Minorities

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, campaigning in and around Los Angeles on Sunday, shifted his focus beyond Tuesday’s final round of primaries and demanded his party take a series of steps aimed at giving its minority groups a greater voice.

Meanwhile, two of his top lieutenants--California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) and Assemblywoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles)--said that Jackson should be offered the second spot on the Democratic ticket if Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis wins the party’s nomination as expected. Waters also said she will refuse to vote for the Democratic ticket in November if she is not convinced that the party has treated Jackson fairly.

Although he has virtually no chance of winning the nomination, Jackson has significant leverage over his party. He will carry more than 1,000 delegates to the Democratic convention, and could be a major force in bringing blacks to the polls to support Dukakis in the fall.

Hints at Future Demands

Speaking at Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church, Jackson hinted at the demands he is likely to make at July’s Democratic convention in Atlanta.

“In Atlanta, the Democratic party must make a commitment to empowerment--in the platform, in the party, on the ticket,” Jackson said. “We have struggled too long and too hard to expect blacks, Hispanics, women to support white males--with no reciprocal support for their candidacies.”

Although Jackson expressed his desires in strong tones, he later insisted that his comments should not be construed as a threat that he will disrupt the Democratic convention or withhold his support from the ticket. “Every valid concern for fairness and equity must not be seen as a fight,” he told reporters.

Jackson noted that Sunday was the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. “In Atlanta, we must ensure that the party’s rules reflect the example of Dr. (Martin Luther) King, the inspiration of Robert Kennedy,” he said.

Registering by Mail

He urged that the party support several specific measures, including legislation that would allow voters to register right up until Election Day, and to register by mail.

Meanwhile, Waters and Brown, respectively his state and national campaign chairmen, said Jackson should be offered a spot on the national ticket.

Interviewed on ABC-TV’s “This Week With David Brinkley,” Brown said: “I think Mr. Jackson said it best, and that is, if he wins the nomination, Mr. Dukakis deserves consideration, and if Mr. Dukakis wins the nomination, Mr. Jackson deserves consideration. It will be up to one or the other to determine whether they accept if that consideration is extended.”

Brown said: “Consideration means, literally, extending the opportunity to go on the ticket. Then it will be up to Mr. Jackson to determine whether or not he wishes to accept it.”

Waters, speaking to reporters on Jackson’s campaign bus, agreed: “He should be offered the vice presidency. I think he’s earned it.” Asked whether Jackson should take the job if offered, she said: “That’s up to him.”

Waters also said she “certainly will” refuse to vote for the ticket if she believes Jackson is treated unfairly.

Asked several times later in the day to define what she meant by fairness, Waters said she did not have time to discuss the issue. Jackson distanced himself from her comments, saying she was entitled to her opinion, but “I hope everybody will be at the polls in record numbers.”