Politics 88 : Dukakis Displays Irritation as Jackson Presses Own Agenda

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis expressed annoyance with the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Sunday, only eight days before the Democratic National Convention opens in Atlanta, and the Chicago civil rights leader responded that their differences were causing “creative tension.”

Asked here if he thought Jackson should concede the nomination in the face of Dukakis’ seemingly insurmountable lead in pledged delegates, the Massachusetts governor replied testily:

“Jesse Jackson can do anything he wants to do. I’m going to go to this convention and I’m going to win it.

“And then I hope he and good Democrats and independents and more than a few Republicans are going to be part of this effort.”

Jackson’s insistence on pursuing his own agenda next week is throwing a potential obstacle into Dukakis’ hopes for a harmonious, smooth-running convention. The activist clergyman, who said Sunday that he and his supporters “must maintain the right to challenge” the party, has threatened to force heated platform debates, pushing them into prime television time.

Told of Dukakis’ remarks Sunday, Jackson responded, “As long as you have unresolved differences, you have creative tension.” He suggested for the second day in a row that they should meet.

One sensitive point between the two Democrats has been Jackson’s insistence that he be considered for the vice presidential nomination, something that most political observers believe he has virtually no chance of getting.

Sees No Harm to Party

At a news conference in Ft. Worth after a church meeting with delegates, Jackson maintained that he and Dukakis do not have a bitter relationship and that their differences will not harm the party.

“Healthy debate and deliberation stir the soul of democracy,” Jackson told reporters as supporters looked on. He vowed to press the party on matters including apartheid in South Africa, the military budget and policies in the Middle East and Central America, saying they “will be debated on the floor.”

Jackson said that at past Democratic conventions, tensions “were much more destructive.”

He said that “Gov. Dukakis and I have not experienced any kind of personal hostility or rancor” but added that they do represent “different wings of our party.”

Jackson supporters appeared enthused by his stance.

As an example, Armando Gutierrez, Jackson’s Texas campaign manager and national Latino coordinator, spoke to the delegates before Jackson’s address and reminded them that “Mr. Dukakis is not the nominee” and will not be until selected at the convention.

Gutierrez urged supporters to “maximize Rev. Jackson’s strength” at the convention by backing his platform demands.

Dukakis, in commenting on the potential for a contentious convention, stressed the need for party unity in the long run.

“If people want to go to the convention and debate these issues, they are free to do so,” Dukakis said. “That’s what democracy is all about. But when it is over we are going to come out of that convention with a solid platform and with, I hope, a winning ticket and with a united party.”

Dukakis also continued his attacks on his expected Republican opponent, Vice President George Bush, over taxes, which Bush has pledged not to raise.

Claims Tax Hike Support

“I want the vice president to stand up and tell the truth--which is that he and the President supported a $6-billion tax increase to pay for needed health care for the elderly,” Dukakis said at a press conference. “And when Congress gives them the new trade bill, they’ll support another tax increase, this time an excise tax on imported goods to pay for training and retraining American workers.

“I happen to be for that, too, and so are they. So much for no-tax pledges.”

Dukakis accused the Reagan-Bush Administration of dragging its feet in solving the acid rain problem.

Saying that the Northeastern governors were going to provide cleanup funds by raising utility prices, Dukakis added: “To clean up acid rain in this country there is going to be a cost. . . . If Mr. Bush doesn’t understand that he shouldn’t be running for President.”

Dukakis ended a Western campaign swing Sunday by touring Rocky Mountain National Park, where he assailed the Reagan Administration’s policies on national parks.

He said that the Administration tried to block release of a report by its own Commission on America’s Outdoors because the panel, chaired by a Republican, former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, was critical of some Reagan policies.

“Our economic future is bound up in our environmental future and anybody who does not understand that should not be running for the presidency of the United States,” Dukakis said.

Keith Love reported from Estes Park, Colo., and Lee May reported from Ft. Worth.