European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 12, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 its hounded candidates finally bark Back with a bit of humor by John Tierney the new York times the democratic presidential candidates have seemed a Little More likable on Tele vision the past few Days and its possible that most of the credit belongs to John Gotti. His conviction not Only distracted the press from exploring the candidates flaws it also provided perspective while the background pieces on the candidates records May not be flattering at least there a no footage of Bullet riddled bodies. But the candidates deserve credit too. During the recent new York primary they occasionally lapsed from their programmed promises and invective into moments of spontaneous Charm. Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas did his Elvis imitation and called himself a control Freak. Jerry Brown said he was studying Clinton s smile in an Effort to improve his own and the former California governor stopped assailing the corrupt elite Long enough to talk about a sense of humor. Quot if you can t laugh at yourself if you done to have a Good belly laugh forget it a he said on any we a Good Day new York. A a it a a real test of a i done to know if its a test of character its a test of psychological balance in the face of the continuing  the much harassed Clinton seemed to Start enjoying himself More As the primary wound Down. During his Elvis imitation a a clip from the Charlie Rose show on Public television that made most newscasts a he collapsed in laughter after losing his voice on the Tine that he dedicated with open arms to the new York press a a done to be  before the new York vote he and gov. Mario m. Cuomo managed to look relatively pleased with each other at an Albany press conference. Cuomo interceded at one awkward Point a when a reporter asked if Clinton would support Cuomo should the new York governor be the nominee a to explain to Clinton a that was a typical new York question. That a our View of  the local style of graciousness engendered sym a we the people can take Back the government Quot a a hear the secrets. Of True confessions Quot Terry Brown s boo number thy for Clinton even from his constant Tormentor Johnny Carson. After another joke about Clinton Snow immortal a i did no to inhaled line Carson paused to discuss Phil Donahue a interview of Clinton. Quot he relentlessly questioned Clinton about his character and his morals Quot Carson said a this questioning from a Man who did an entire show wearing a  Clinton found himself on the defensive again when he apologized for remarks that his wife Hillary made in a vanity fair article. Mrs. Clinton complained that the press was unfairly investigating her husband s past while ignoring rumours that president Bush had had a mistress. A Hillary goes tabloid Quot read the new York posts headline. The rumours about Bush had been briefly mentioned on television earlier this year in several discussions by Washington insiders. During one discussion columnist Jack Germond took pains to Point out that the rumours had Long ago been investigated and found baseless but further analysis now seems inevitable. If nothing else political analysts must Ponder whether mrs. Clinton a remark constitutes Abill Clinton a too number Campaign Blunder or a Brilliant tactic to smear the president by getting analysts like themselves to keep publicizing the Rumor. Brown had to Deal with a can report that an operator at his toll free Telephone had Given instructions on How a donor could evade Browne a famous $100 limit on individual Campaign contributions. Quot i will stake my life on it that that did no to happen a Brown said and then seemed to put his life in jeopardy by continuing Quot and if it did it was someone who was completely  the can recording of the phone Call appeared to Back up Brown since the operator said that she was not supposed to be giving the instructions. Viewers could also hear the can recording of a Young woman s voice discussing the $100 limit a a there a like ways around it. I mean like if you have like family members a in a not supposed to Tell you that a but you know and each of them gives or something but like $100 per person a at the risk of being unfair to Valley girls this did not sound like the voice of a carefully trained double  could use More color even if its just a Smiley Al Martinez los Angeles times i told Jerry Brown once he ought to smile More. He said a what do you mean a i smiled widely ear to ear a glorious glowing megawatt Grin and speaking tightly through the glow said Quot that a what i  he seemed to understand but it was during his Mother Teresa phase and happiness Wasny to appropriate. He just nodded and went Back to meditating and apologizing to god for world poverty and hunger. That s the last advice 1 Ever gave him and anyone who watches television knows he Hasni to taken it. The Man always looks like he a in the Middle of a colonoscopy which can make you very grim indeed. The reason 1 mention it is because i swung by Browne a Campaign Headquarters the other Day in Santa Monica calif., and asked National Campaign manager Jodie Evans Why Brown was always so grim. She said Quot of he Isnit. You ought to see Jerry in the  i done to think in be Ever seen Jeny in the Kitchen. I followed him around the country when he was running for president in �?T76 and 80, but we were mostly on buses and air planes and at functions that did not include kitchens. I suppose that a Why i remember him As always taking himself pretty seriously. An example of that occurred in Baltimore and is imprinted on my memory As permanently As a ranchers Brand on a cows behind. It was on a Balmy summer evening at an Al Fresco reception attended by wealthy Maryland people from whom the candidate wanted to extract Large sums of Money. Those were in the Days before he discovered evil. Like Adam with a Fig Leaf he reacted to the knowledge by covering his greed with a $100 Bill a the most he will accept these Days in Campaign contributions. The reception was at an estate surrounded by acres of Lawn. Everyone waited for Brown to Light the night with eloquence. As it turned out his pitch to the millionaires was to boast that As governor he had successfully fought to limit the amount of toilet water used per flush in California. After he said that there was a Long moment of silence until one of his aides never quite sure what to do applauded. He was the Only one. An elderly Matron standing next to me her Mouth agape As she waited for some sort of scatological punch line finally turned and said a is the Young Man serious a i said a yes May am the Young Man is very  later Brown actually wanted to know How the toilet water comment went Over and in response the Campaign aide clapped very very . It was shortly thereafter that Brown declared himself an exponent of spiritual politics and everyone began calling him governor Moonbeam. By the Way i did no to mean to imply that Jodie Evans spends a lot of time in the Kitchen with Brown. Her reference was to a segment on can in which it apparently interviewed him in the cooking room during which to use her phrase he was a blast. It was pointed out to me at his Campaign Headquarters that the people Are hungry for someone like Brown the Way we were hungry for peace and sex during the 1960s. Now we Are hungry for honesty and morality and for saying no to women like Gen mfr Flowers who Are after our precious bodily fluids. No wonder the Guy does t smile. Page 8 a sunday april 12, 1992