Monday, June 10, 1996

Democrats end convention; Morales takes off in truck

By PEGGY FIKAC
Associated Press

DALLAS - The ink was barely dry on Texas Democrats' new "mainstream," streamlined state platform as their U.S. Senate nominee, Victor Morales, took off for more campaigning in his trusty pickup.

"I'm excited. I think I have a very, very good shot ... I feel the attacks will be coming on harder. That just kind of proves my point. The harder they attack, the better I'm doing," Morales told congregates after Sunday's service at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. He was headed out on a 66-city, three-week, 2,500-mile tour of East, South and Central Texas.

Morales, who trucked across Texas to secure his party's nomination, can look forward to a national pulpit later this summer: State Democratic Chairman Bill White says Morales will be invited to speak at the party's national convention in August in Chicago.

A spokesman for Republican U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, whom Morales faces in November, said Morales should address his wife's delinquent student loan.

"Maybe he can tell the country how it is that ... the perfect Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. Senate is a guy who owes the taxpayers and won't pay," said Gramm spokesman Larry Neal. "That's a Democrat if I ever saw one."

Three Texas A&M Republican students calling themselves the "Dead Beat Patrol" stood near the church during services Sunday and said they plan to hound Morales about the loan while he's on his statewide tour.

One of the students, Glen Janik of Mesquite, said: "When people don't pay back their loans it's kind of like they're cheating the next generation."

Morales has said the federal government made it difficult for the couple to resolve the issue. He said they never refused to pay, but wanted to be treated with respect. He says he believes anyone who has "fought city hall" would understand.

He told the three students he had no problems answering their questions, but would like to speak to a large forum to tell all the problems that he and his wife have encountered with the loan.

He also said he would not make a promise not to raise taxes.

"Promises ... look to another politician to give you that," he said.

The Democrat says he's confident of his chances against Gramm, who he says has "abused" his Senate seat by "being close-minded, not reaching out to everyone, not bringing people into the United States government."

Neal said, "He's concerned that we haven't brought more people into the United States government. He's got us exactly right. Phil Gramm believes in less government and more freedom."

Morales also has been criticized by Neal and others who say he hasn't defined himself on the issues.
But in a state convention speech, Morales cited his support for such issues as abortion rights, welfare for those in need, an assault weapons ban, the Brady gun control measure and, as a priority, education programs including Head Start.

Ironically, Texas Democrats, in their drive for a "mainstream" party platform, on Saturday rejected putting gun control in the document laying out their party positions.

Neither the new slimmed-down party platform, which gives general positions, nor detailed issue papers that accompany it mention an assault weapon ban or the Brady Bill. Both measures are supported by President Clinton.

White said the decision to leave out gun control was in the interest of unity.

"It's a very divisive issue, and the planks we have on criminal justice address the meat of how we make our streets safer, and that is more important to average Texans than the various legislative remedies of gun control," he said.

The two-page platform lists "core values" - opportunity, responsibility, family and community, security, freedom and fairness. Accompanying documents go into detail about key issues.

The criminal justice issue paper, for example, expresses support for such items as preventing early release of felony prisoners.

Asked what the Democratic Party is saying to Texans as its convention closed, White said, "We are a younger party with more new people ... new leadership, and the party is growing.

"We have more of a mainstream focus, both in the values we espouse and our policies. And ... we're united as we never have been before."