Jackson Seeks ‘Signals of Sensitivity’ From Dukakis

The Rev. Jesse Jackson refused Sunday to concede any lack of fervor in his support for the Democratic national ticket headed by Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, but he said he needs “signals of sensitivity that reflect the urgency of now.”

Jackson, who ran second to Dukakis in the race for the Democratic nomination, said the party “must keep expanding beyond the present Democratic base with an intense voter registration campaign,” but it has yet to put one in place. He also called for “more inclusion at the senior policy positions” to assure “more sensitivity around Gov. Dukakis.”

Failed to Show Awareness

Jackson pointed out that Dukakis spoke recently in Philadelphia, Miss., without showing any awareness that three young civil rights workers were murdered there in 1964.

“Maybe a wreath should have been laid with blacks and Jews at the site where they were found. That would have sent a profound message for and to the New South,” Jackson said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week With David Brinkley.”

Jackson commended Dukakis for his talk on Saturday to the Washington demonstration marking the 25th anniversary of the huge civil rights demonstration led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but voiced regret that there was no mention of the campaign for statehood for the District of Columbia, where a majority of residents are black.

Although he conceded that there is an agreement to include members of his staff in the Dukakis campaign organization, Jackson objected that “we have not yet put a senior policy person that we recommended at the highest level inside the campaign.”

Jackson said he believed Dukakis is committed to support goals shared by the black community, but he urged “the kind of staff sensitivity that will keep him more focused.”

Needs of Blacks

The activist clergyman called for attention to the needs of blacks in such areas as employment, higher education, affirmative action and enforcement of voting rights and civil rights legislation. Asked if Dukakis would be helped or hurt politically if he took a strong stand on these issues, Jackson avoided a direct reply. He said the Democrats should strive for the support of low-paid working women, and work to enroll unregistered voters, poverty-level citizens and farm workers.

Jackson denied that he was charging Dukakis with ignoring blacks, but said Democrats must “expand our base.” It is “the right thing to do” for Dukakis and his running mate, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, to appeal for “Reagan Democrats” to return to their historic party, Jackson said. At the same time, he found “no contradiction” between that approach and “addressing those who have been the victims of economic abandonment.”