Avoid Racism in Campaign, Panel Urges

Warning of rising racial tensions, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights asked President Bush and Democratic congressional leaders Monday to take concrete steps now to keep race-based political attacks out of 1992 election campaigns.

“We urge that you act decisively . . . to prevent the use of irresponsible campaign tactics that only serve to divide the nation along racial lines,” the eight-member commission said in a letter to Bush and top Democrats.

The independent agency proposed a “summit conference” of major federal, state and local officials, private citizens and media representatives to consider the issue of campaign race baiting and to prepare guidelines to deter it.

“We have a profound sense of concern over signs of growing racial division in the nation,” the commission said. “Signs of racial tension in our schools, in the streets and on the job appear to be increasing. Every day, we are confronted with examples of hate crimes and racial incidents.”

In making public the letter at the National Urban League convention in Atlanta, Commission Chairman Arthur A. Fletcher said that it was intended to stop “destructive, divisive racial stereotyping . . . especially in political campaigns, by having our national leaders take the high moral ground on this issue without delay.”

It called for adoption of a new campaign standard that “consciously avoids even unintentional linkages of social problems with a particular racial or ethnic group if such linkage would be unfair or misleading, or inflammatory.”

Democrats have been accusing the Bush White House of exploiting racial fears to win votes by refusing to compromise on civil rights legislation and denouncing a House-approved version of the civil rights bill as a measure that would require racial quotas. The President’s Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas, a black conservative who has strongly opposed affirmative action programs, also was viewed by some Democrats as divisive.

In its letter, the Civil Rights Commission said that it had made its proposal now because contenders for the presidency are beginning to emerge and campaign strategy now is being discussed.

The commission suggested two principles for consideration in establishing new guidelines to prevent racial politics.

First, it said, every candidate should avoid even the appearance of using racial tactics in the campaign so that his or her actions and the actions of staff aides “cannot be perceived as having the effect of injecting racial bigotry into a campaign.”

Secondly, the panel added, candidates should advise staff members they will be held personally accountable for any attempted use of race baiting tactics.