The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, July 08, 1999, Summer Edition, Page 8, Image 8
Kerrey lends support i Former N.J senator’s presidential hopes get lift By Brian Carlson Staff writer OMAHA - Bill Bradley’s long shot campaign to steal the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination from Vice President A1 Gore got a boost Monday with an endorsement by Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb. Bradley, a former three-term sen ator from New Jersey, joined Kerrey in Omaha for an early-morning boat ride up the Missouri River, then flipped pancakes with Kerrey at a political event at Plumbers Hall. Kerrey told the crowded hall his endorsement was based on his friend ship with the former Senate colleague and his confidence in Bradley’s abili ty to lead on important issues from Russia to race relations. Bradley welcomed Kerrey’s endorsement, noting that the senator’s support could help him in neighbor ing Iowa, site of the first presidential caucuses early next year. “Bob Kerrey will be a central per son in everything I do because of the kind of person he is and the kind of leader he is,” Bradley said. “That’s r"1 11 — wny uns is a very Dig day tor tnis campaign.” In 1992, Kerrey accompanied Bradley on a trip to die former Soviet Union to survey the economic and environmental conditions left by 70 years of communist rale. Kerrey said he was impressed by Bradley’s under standing of the issues facing the new Russia. On other issues such as children’s health, breast cancer treatment avail ability and race relations, Bradley has proven that he has the intelligence and integrity to lead, Kerrey said. “That is why I’m taking the step this morning to endorse Bill Bradley’s candidacy for president of the United States,” he said, receiving enthusiastic applause from the crowd of Democratic Party supporters. But Kerrey, often a critic of the Clinton administration, said he was not endorsing Bradley to spite Gore. “I’m not here as a consequence of my dislike for Vice President Gore,” he said. “This is a difficult choice for me. But my difficulty is a blessing in my judgment. I believe the Democratic Party will have two out standing candidates from which to choose. At a press conference later, Kerrey said while Gore also would make a strong leader, he favored Bradley’s vision for the country. “It’s not so much the kind of leader, it’s the issues he wants to lead on,” he said. Bradley, who had a 10-year, hall of-fame career in the NBA with the New York Knickerbockers, touched on several issues in Omaha, laying out a broad vision while holding back on specific proposals for now. A weekend string of racially moti vated shootings in Illinois that left two dead and seven wounded shows that the country still must work to bridge its racial divide, Bradley said. “There is no room for hate in America,” he said. Bradley said a goal of improved race relations would be a centerpiece of his presidency. “If I‘m president, in order to please the boss, the one thing you’ll have to show is how in your life, your business and your community, you have promoted racial harmony,” he said. “I would try to deal with this issue not just on a legislative level, ■ ^MDS Harris Together, We're Making Lives Better 621 Rose Street, Lincoln www.mdsharris.com/rcrt/recruit.htm Page 8 i Daily Nebraskan Summer Edition ■ Thursday, July 8,1999 « It’s not so much the t kind of leader, it’s the issues he wants to lead on.” Sen. Bob Kerrey . D-Neb. but on a spiritual level.” Bradley said he wanted to search for ways to expand health care cover age to the 44 million Americans who now lack health insurance. He also said he would like to pre side over “a country at peace, with growing respect for countries around die world, with protection of the nat ural environment and a growing economy that takes everybody in this country along with it” One issue that pitted Kerrey and Bradley on opposite sides during their days in the Senate was federal subsidies for ethanol. As a New Jersey senator, Bradley opposed ethanol support, arguing it was eco nomically inefficient and against his state’s interests. Now that he is a presidential can didate, Bradley said he has changed his view. He said ethanol support should continue now because it pro vides much-needed help for farmers caught in an agriculture crisis. Kerrey considered a presidential bid of his own, but he announced last December he would not run. He said Monday he did not regret that deci sion. The senator did not rule out the possibility of being Bradley’s running mate, but he said that would be unlikely. It would be difficult to run for re-election to the Senate in Nebraska while seeking the vice pres idency at the same time, he said. “I would not say it’s impossible, but boy, it feels awfully close to it,” he said. Bradley said Kerrey would be well qualified to be vice president, but he said he would worry first about securing the nomination. Later Monday, Kerrey accompa nied Bradley to Des Moines for another political event. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” Bradley said of Kerrey’? endorsement. Rahzel \# “Make the Music 2000” MCA Records Grade: C+ Most people know Rahzel as that guy in The Roots who can make those funky sounds with his mouth. With the release of “Make the Music 2000,” Rahzel looks to prove he’s the best human beat box today. Since Rahzel’s calling is to lay down some nice beats and crazy sounds on tracks, he has enlisted some famous vocalists on “Make the Music 2000.” Former A Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip, The Roots bandmate Black Thought and Erykah Badu all lend their friend a hand on his first solo effort. The album opens with a live track, “Make Music 2000.” On the song, Rahzel is simply amazing. He lays down the beats, scratches and other sound effects with his voice, and sometimes it seems that a human shouldn’t be able to make such sounds. However, Rahzel isn’t some token freak show who can make some' cool noises which could ruin a nice flowing track. For many songs on “Make the Music 2000,” Rahzel is the track. Without some of his consistent groundwork, many of the songs are wouldn’t be very memorable. The best songs are “To The Beat” featuring Q-Tip and “Night Riders” with Slick Rick. The use of talented rappers such as these two in conjuction with Rahzel is the reason someone would buy this record, and these songs are the class of the album. Another solid track is “All I Know.” Pete Rock raps while Rahzel adds a nicely choppy chorus. Unfortunately, Pete Rock saw the song as a way to get back at the members of De La Soul, who cracked on him in their latest release, “Stakes is High.” De La Soul was originally slotted to appear on the record but was left off. Maybe the classic rap act decided it didn’t want to be the first group to get attacked on an album in which it performs. It is unfortunate, because De La Soul could have added some more raps instead of some of the R&B that brings the record down. Rahzel looks to cross more genres than he does with The Roots, but songs such as “I Can’t Stop” and “Sugar Sista” feature so many poor R&B interludes that the entire track is ruined. This doesn’t pertain to Erykah Badu’s soulful song “Southern Girl.” The track is the sole R&B that works. In all, the album is a nice collage of Rahzel and friends showing what they can do. The major problem is the record fits together like a collage, with some pieces that certainly seem out of place. —PatrifkMiner