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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1992)
~ -— News Digest Edited by Roger Price . Michigan, Illinois elections to test candidates Tsongas vows to stay in race until convention CHICAGO — Democrat Paul Tsongas, lagging in pre-primary polls in Michigan and Illinois, vowed Monday to stay in the Democratic presidential race and offered himself as “the only alternative” to front runner Bill Clinton. The candidates, scrapping for last minute votes on the eve of Tuesday’s primaries in the two slates, kept up the testy lone that has overtaken the campaign in recent days. Clinton said Jerry Brown “should be ashamed” of himself for attac k ing Clinton’s deal ing with his w ife’s law firm. Brown renewed his at tacks over w hat he called the “scan dal-a-wcck” stories about the Arkan sas governor. Brown said Clinton was employ ing “bush-league politics” for trying to paint the governor’s wife. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as the victim of attacks that were in tael aimed at Clinion. Tsongas said he would fare heller lhan Clinion in a general election bailie with President Bush and sought to fashion himself as the only alterna tive to Clinton. The former Massachusetts senator said he would press his campaign to the next primaries in Connecticut and New' York even i I he docs as poorly in the Rust Bell primaries on Tuesday. Clinion led polls in both Illinois and Michigan: Brown was threaten ing to upend Tsongas for second place in Michigan. “We’re in this campaign until the convention,” Tsongas said as he campaigned in Moline, III. “At the convention there will be one ques tion. Who can beat George Bush? Who is electable? . . . That is the question. I am the answer.” In two Chicago debates over the weekend, Tsongas passed up oppor tunities to attack Clinton’s character, although he continues to make subtle digs at the Arkansas governor by (jucstionim? his cJcctabilitv. Even before Illinois and Michigan polls close on Tuesday, Tsongas is heading to Connecticut to start his push for that state’s March 24 pri mary. New York is the next big test after that, on April 7. Clinton, beset earlier in the cam paign by allegations of extramarital affairs and draft dodging, came under attack this weekend over conflicl-of intcresl questions regarding his wife’s legal work. Brown unleashed a vicious attack on Clinton during a Sunday night debate, accusing him of funncling money to his wife’s law firm, which represents clients before state agen cies run by Clinton appointees. Clinton, still visibly angry at Brown’s attacks, denied the claims Monday and said he would not allow his campaign to be sidetracked by the charges. “Anyone who would do that is not cut to be president and ought to pack up his tent and go home,” Clinton said. Democrats try to win back Reagan supporters WARREN, Mich. — Erna Gilbertson was bragging about how she convinced her husband to vote for Democrat Walter Mondale in 1984 when he leaned back in his chair, winked, anti sheepishly shook his head. Walter Gilbertson, once an “Adlai Stevenson Demo crat,” says he voted for Jack Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter — and then Ronald Reagan, never mind what his wife says, and George Bush. He doesn’t like the label, but Gilbertson is a Reagan Democrat — one of those folks who mostly vote for Democrats but delect every four years to pick a Republican in the presidential race. “It just seems the Democrats got lost there for awhile,” the retiree says. “1 like to think of myself as a Demo crat, but I can go either way.” It was in 97-percent white, largely ethnic Macomb County that the Democratic Parly first took lime to study disaffected or Reagan. Demo crats. The county is a favorite labora tory for Democrats trying to craft a message that will win back the While House. In theory, as Macomb County votes, so vote the suburban, middle-class Americans across the country who arc the swing voters in presidential elections. Interviews with two do/en Ma comb County residents in advance of Tuesday’s presidential primary offer ample evidence of a turbulent and testy electorate that has little taste for PresKlent Bush’s handling of the economy and nagging doubts about the men who want to replace him. Most of all, they’re not sure any one is really listening to them. Ask 28-year Chrysler worker Ed Sosnowski what the issues ought to he in this year’s election ami he doesn’t hesitate. “Everything George Bush said he was going to be but isn’t,’’ said Sosnow ski, pulling the economy, education, environmental protection and national health care high on his list. “The American dream — that’s gone now,” Sosnowski sakl. “You used to be able to go to one of the local factories and make a decent living.” He won’t get any argument from Bob Culhane, a retiree who labels himself an independent. “The need to change is so appar ent,” said Culhane. “People are start ing to think of government as unreli able, as ineffective, or worse as half crooked.” Voter Turnout Percentage of registered voters who cast ballots in 15 primaries so far and the number of delegates at stake. 0= Democratic R - Republican State, Delegates Feb 23 New Hampshire, 18D, 23R Feb. 25 South Dakota*, 150, 19R UPUJ~25~9% l Mar 3 Colorado, 47D, 37R_ 125.5% "l Georgia, 76D, 52R_ 35.2% | ', 67D, 42R 41J* i Utah, 23D, no R primary ■4.0% | Mar 7 South Carolina, 43U, Jt>n m^203% ~1 Mar. 10 Florida*, 148D. 97R 390, 33R — I | Oklahoma, 450. 34R Rhoda Wand*, 220. 15R ~i mo. 680. 33R 22-5* l I960, 121R " l 15-S' TE TOTAL 31 6% 1 *S®/as that resect voeng in a parly s primary id voters regstered in that party Remamng states aHow independent vo»s or at voters to cast a ballot m any party s primary. AP Kerrey says he won’t back any Democrat OMAHA — Nebraska Sen. Bob ' Kerrey, who dropped his bid lor the While House this year, said Monday he will slay neutral in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination until the party has a nominee. Brian SheNita/DN Kerrey, visiting students at the Laura Dodge Elemen tary School, said he has turned down requests for endorsements from Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and former Mas sachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas. ”1 don’t think it would help them a great deal,” said Kerrey, who ended his bid for the nomination March 5 after failing to pick up any delegates in several early contests. Kerrey’s sole victory was in the South Dakota primary. Kerrey said it looked like Clinton will be tough to slop in his drive for the nomination. Kerrey said he probably won’t endorse any of his former Democratic rivals but he intends to support the parly’s nominee. Kerrey also said it is likely he will seek re-election to the Senate in 1994. When Kerrey dropped out of the race, he told supporters in Omaha that he would not rule out running for president again in 1996. Russia creates own military MOSCOW — Russian Prcsideni Bons Yeltsin on Monday ordered the formation of a Russian defense ministry and Ka/akhsian's president created a republican guard, widening the mili tary rift in the former Soviet Union. The moves greatly reduced the chances that the Commonwealth of Independent Slates can hold together the powerful, far-flung and deeply dcmorali/ed Soviet army. Commonwealth leaders repeatedly have pledged to maintain strict, unified control over nuclear w eapons, and Yeltsin’s decree does not alter that agreement. Russia and Ka/akhsian, the two largest for mer Soviet republics, had been strong support ers of a united military. They appear to have decided that the break up of conventional armed forces, led by Ukraine, is inevitable. . All 15 republics now arc likely to create their own armies. Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Mold ova, Belarus and the three Baltic states already have started doing so. Yeltsin named himself Russia’s interim defense minister and ordered his new ministry lo prepare proposals for a Russian army. Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazar bayev, decreed the formation of a republican guard, which the Kaztag news agency cal led "a special military force” under his personal con trol. The size of the guard was not disclosed. The moves help clarify the future of lnx>ps who have been in the demoralizing position of serving a country that no longer exists. Divid ing up the .3 million-member Soviet army also could worsen conflicts among the republics, .experts in Moscow told The Associated Press "The West should be concerned. We need to avoid the creation of an arms race between the republics,” said Alexander Konovalov, a de fense specialist at Moscow’s prestigious Insti tute of the USA and Canada. Yeltsin's decree had no immediate impact on the commonwealth’s armed forces. Vice Premier Sergei Shakhrai, one of Yeltsin’s close advisers, said the Russian president had assumed “the temporary functions of minister of defense” lo quiet a debate about who would fill the post. Nebraskan Editor Jana Pedersen, 472-1766 Night News Editors Adeana Left In Managing Editor Kara WeHs John Adklsson Assoc News Editors Chris Hoptensperger Wendy Mott Kris Karnopp Tom Kuni Diversions Editor Dtonne Searcey Publications Board Chairman Bill Vobefde, 472-2588 Photo Chief Michelle Paulman Professional Adviser Don Walton, 473-7301 FAX NUMBER 472-1761 The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144 080) is published by the UNI Publications Board. Nebraska Union 34. 1400 R St , Lincoln. NE. Monday through Friday during the academic year, weekly during summer sessions Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9am and 5pm Monday through Fnday The public also has access to the Publications Board For information, contact BiH Vobetda. 472 2588 Subscription price is 850 for one year Postmaster Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan. Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St .Lincoln, NE 68588-0448 Second-class postage paid at Lincoln. NE ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1992 DAILY NEBRASKAN , , Judge cancels castration order HOUSTON — A judge withdrew his approval Monday for a child rape suspect’s request to he castrated rather than stand trial. The judge said a doctor could not he found to perform the surgery . Suite District Judge Michael McSpadden agreed March 6 to let Steven Allen Butler he castrated after Butler asked to undergo the procedure rather than stand trial on charges he raped a 1.3-year-old girl. The judge had said Butler would he placed on a form of probation for 10 years if he underwent the surgery. If he stands trial and is convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison. McSpaddcn had said a doctor was will ing to perform the surgery on the 28-ycar old Butler. Adverse publicity surrounding the case prompted hint and another doctor to renege, defense attorney Clyde Williams said. Another doctor could not be found to perform the orchiectomy, the removal of the testes, Ms. Williams said. MeSpadden’s ruling effectively pul an end to the castration option, meaning Butler still faces the aggravated sexual assault charge. Chrysler names new chairman HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. — The head of General Motors Corp.’s profitable European operations joined Chry slcrCorp. on Monday as heir apparent to the flamboyant Lee Iacocca. Robert J. Eaton’s appointment as chief executive marked a personal triumph for Iacocca. He had lobbied for the talented outsider to help steer the troubled automaker through turbulent times, just as Iacocca himself was hired to do at Chrysler 14 years ago. Iacocca also apparently retained the loyally of President Robert Lul/, widely considered the favorite to succeed him. There had been speculation that Lul/ would have quit if passed over. Eaton, 52, had been talking with Chrysler for months. He accepted the offer of vice chairman and chief operating officer on Saturday night. He will become chief executive and chairman on Jan. 1. “Having the chance to lead Chrysler at this particular point in lime has to be the best job in ! the w hole auto industry, period,” Eaton told re porters. lacocca and Lul/ were at his side at Chrysler headquarters. lacocca, 67, will remain a director and chair the board's executive committee. Eaton spent the last four of his 29 years with GM in Europe. He was responsible for generating SI.76 billion in profits last year for GM, which over all lost a record S4.5 billion. The Chrysler board held a series of secret meetings in New York over the weekend to vote on Eaton, lacocca said the vote was 11-0 with himself, Lul/ and Chief Financial Ol I iccr Jerome B. York abstaining. "Being a team player, which I like to think 1 am, means that you don't sulk or quit when the decision is made that somebody else should be the captain of the team,” Lutz said. He said he plans to slay at Chrysler for as long a haul as it can be when you’re age 60.1 am certainly going to give this my absolute best.”
