Subject: REVIEW & OUTLOOK (Editorial) -- Asides:  The Neas Standard
Date: Published: 7/14/88 36 lines
Source:  WALL STREET JOURNAL. Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. 

   REVIEW & OUTLOOK (Editorial) -- Asides:  
   The Neas Standard

   Shortly after Lloyd Bentsen was anointed as Michael
Dukakis's vice-presidential running mate, the executive
director of the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, Ralph
Neas, pronounced that the conservative Texan was all right by
him.  He spoke of Mr. Bentsen's "longstanding commitment to
civil rights."  This is the same Ralph Neas who reserved
judgment on Robert Bork's civil-rights standing until he
dissected every single action, statement or writing the
Supreme Court candidate had ever issued on civil rights.  We
wonder whether the vigilant Mr. Neas had sufficient time
yesterday to investigate every last footnote to Mr. Bentsen's
record.  According to the ADA, you had to vote No on a 1986
amendment to bar D. C. 's law banning AIDS discrimination.
Senator Bentsen voted Yes.  Where is Mr. Neas's absolutist
fury?  We don't in the least doubt that Lloyd Bentsen believes
in civil rights, just as we felt the same about Judge Bork
when Mr. Neas was trashing his reputation and career.
   Also, we were struck at how promptly Mr. Neas hopped on
the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket, while Jesse Jackson simmered.  It
will be interesting to observe in Atlanta whether the party's
hardest-working left-wing activists stand by Jesse Jackson,
or throw him over to ride the Dukakis train toward the White
House.

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