Friday, July 26, 1996

MTV's bus stops in Dallas for interview with Ross Perot

By KATIE FAIRBANK
Associated Press

DALLAS - Climbing aboard MTV's leopard-carpeted campaign bus, Ross Perot offered this advice Thursday for the youthful crowd: don't take drugs or have sex, but do learn "to love, to care, to share."

And for any adult voters who might be watching, the funding father of the Reform Party declared, "Politics is nothing but acting."

"Never forget, the American voter is easily manipulated," he said, sitting ramrod straight in his pin-stripped suit and tie.

Perot, who won 19 percent of the vote when he ran for president in 1992, announced two weeks ago that he would seek the nomination of his Reform Party this year. Former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm also is running.

Perot hasn't actively campaigned and on Thursday he didn't want to talk about Lamm, GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole or President Clinton.

"I won't talk about other candidates," the Texas billionaire declared. "I just talk about how to solve problems."

In his traditional button-down suit, Perot was initially taken aback by the bus' colorful interior decorations, including deep maroon-fabric covered walls with gold stars. Glittery tassels hung from the ceiling. Purple, green and deep blue chairs with harlequin diamond patterns, throw pillows and a carpet of gold-and-black leopard spots completed the picture.

"The colors are so dull," Perot joked. "I may fall asleep. You all better come back and let me jazz this up."

The cable music channel is attempting to mix music with a message by touring the country, registering voters and interviewing politicians, in its slogan-and-shrink-wrap covered "Choose or Lose" bus.

The shrink wrap gives the outside of the bus a red, white and blue appearance. The slogans are meant to inspire young voters, including this from rapper Run DMC: "Got the right to vote and will elect."

During his interview with MTV's Tabitha Soren, Perot peppered his comments with Southern sayings and gave a verbal finger-wag to young people who take drugs or have irresponsible sex.

"Somehow we've forgotten the only cure is don't do it," he said when asked about his drug policy. "The best solution is don't touch it."

Perot advocated tougher punishment for those involved in drugs.

"We need to be a whole lot tougher on drug dealers," he said. "The government can't make you good, it can only punish you if you're bad."

Without prompting by a question, Perot also said abortion should be "a moral, personal issue between a woman and God."

"If you don't want a baby, don't get pregnant," he said.

Bringing along his charts, Perot offered his vision for the future.

"It is human nature to keep things as they are until after a crisis develops ... With the debt, we are approaching crisis," he said, comparing the country's finances to an alcoholic's liver.
"You know his liver is going, you don't know when."

Perot said everyone keeps calling the country's finances, "wunnerful, wunnerful, wunnerful," quoting Lawrence Welk, a band leader who years ago had a television following of over-30 viewers.

But he said statistics showing a reduction in the national debt are being manipulated. "Figures don't lie, but liers can sure figure," he said.

Perot, 66, said young people should care about his message and his campaign because he cares about them. "You come into the world selfish, you're a little animal. You have to be taught to love, to care, to share."

As for older voters, Perot accused the media of putting out "propaganda" in 1992, suggesting the press ruined his chances.

"Politics is nothing but acting. Watch through the fall," he said. "Never forget the American voter is easily manipulated."

Whether he'll be able to reach young voters through his MTV interview, scheduled to air over the next week, is another question.

Christine Paris, 42, who worked at a nearby building was one of a handful of people who came out to watch the campaign bus action.

"There's a message," she said. "I'm not sure what it is."

Greg Moss, 17, working in a nearby building, was curious but not about Perot. "I like videos. I'm into all that stuff," he said, "but I prefer sticking to videos."