July 23, 1988

Convention Dull, Effective

Democrats have wound up their national nominating convention at Atlanta with UNITY - something they haven't had for many moons. Whether this will translate into victory come November 8 depends on how well Republicans project their record of prosperity and peace.

The convention was milk-gravy, and we do not say this deprecatingly. Conventions long on spe- cifics and burning issues are short on electoral votes: Elections are won by candidates who make the middle-road majority feel good. The old Democrat strategy of, "afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted" has run out of gas as gains in real personal income for the average voter has gone up.

Thus, the Atlanta love feast marked a turning point in American politics. The convention did what conventions are supposed to do - charge the batteries of party leaders, nothing more.
TV viewing polls indicate the four-day event was "boring." Audience ratings fell off 70 per-cent. However, there was much to interest political observers. Examples:

• Rev. Jesse Jackson made the best speech with his pulpit cadence. His family was articulate and attractive in the introduction of their father. Unfortunately the speech became maudlin at the end with personal references to hardships and obstacles.
  
• Michael Dukakis' unceasing stroking of Jack-son's painful ego went too far. Jackson was not the best second-place loser in history and had no inherent right to the vice-presidency or that much recognition.
  
• Dukakis made the second best speech despite his oft repeated disclaimers of modest oratorical ability. It was an hour or glittering generalities of what all Americans want for their country, but it contained no promises to haunt him in the campaign. He repeated the word "America" 31 times and delivered portions of his address in Spanish.
  
• Lloyd Bentsen, vice-president candidate, joined the chorus of "I come from more humble beginnings than thee" by disclosing an ancestor who lived in a homesteader's sod house. Despite this, Bentsen managed to "make his way to Atlanta."
  
• Senator Teddy Kennedy's speech asking "Where was George?" was a big mistake. It wowed the delegates, but raised the mental response among television viewers of "Where was Teddy while Mary Jo Kopechne was drowning?" It also is an invitation for George Bush to reply, "I was in the Air Force fighting for my country, in the Senate making laws, in the CIA keeping tabs on the Soviet Union when it was most belligerent, out in the field fighting drugs, etc."
  
• Worst speech was that by Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton nominating Dukakis. It dragged on for 35 minutes, killing prime time, as he ignored pleas on his teleprompter to shut up. His "In conclusion" brought embarrassing cheers.
  
• More than 400 political dignitaries crowded the podium for a victory wave with Dukakis. Conspicuously absent were Teddy Kennedy, labor union leaders, and Convention Chairman. Jim Wright now under fire for his own "sleaze" acts.
  
• Also noticeably absent were the traditional red, white and blue podium colors. Instead there was made-for-TV salmon, eggshell and azure.
  
• Party Chairman Paul Kirk stole some of the best Republican convention tactics - the balloon drop, massed American hand flags on acceptance night and the traditional GOP closing song, "Battle Hymn Of The Republic."

It is expected that the Republican convention will be a similar coronation. After that, however, the general campaign should be barn-burner.

Author: Lindsey Williams