European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes tuesday june 16, 1992clinton defends criticism of rap Singer new York apr Bill Clinton is sticking by his criticism of a Black rap Singer even though his remarks Drew fire from Jesse Jackson and raised eyebrows among some of his own rank and file supporters. A i did no to injure her credibility a Clinton said sunday heading to new York for another Stop on the talk show circuit a a two hour appearance Fielding Call in queries on lbs this morning. Sundays show was the latest in a series of to appearances that Clinton strategists think Are among the democratic presidential candidates Best opportunities for going straight to voters. On sunday Clinton said there was nothing out of line about his comments criticizing Singer sister soul Jah who was quoted after the los Angeles riots As saying Blacks should consider killing Whites for a week rather than each other Clinton a comments raised the ire of Jackson because they were made at a Rainbow coalition meeting saturday a where sister soul Jah had taken part in a youth forum the Day before. On sunday Jackson challenged Clinton to focus on plans for rebuilding America rather than engaging in a a diversions such As his criticism of the rap Singer the Arkansas governor asked if his criticism was inappropriate said a goodness no. Why would it be ,. I did no to say anything that i Hadnot been saying since i first started  Clinton said sister soul Jah had used a very divisive rhetoric. And i think its  but at a Manhattan fund Raiser sunday evening at least some of his supporters said they did no to think Clinton should have made the remarks. A it was irrelevant a said Natalie Cave a Black social worker from Brooklyn who was at a $250-a-Piatc fundraiser for Clinton. A i wonder if its a political move. Lets talk about the issues that matter a savings and loan bailout poor women and children a still she said she remained a steadfast Clinton supporter because she thought he was the Best candidate for solving the nations problems. Although the Clinton Campaign has reportedly been divided Over whether Clinton should Challenge Core democratic constituent groups the candidate said his remark was a absolutely not a calculated move to Appeal to Whites and anger Jackson. Joy Rosenthal a new York designer who helped organize sunday nights Money raising dinner which featured ethnic groups such As indians koreans and kuwaitis said she thought Clinton should not have risked angering Jackson whose help pulling in the Black vote could be crucial in the fall. A i did no to think it was a Good thing. Why Rock the boat a she said. However Joyce Stowe a Black Secretary from new York said Clinton a had a right to say it. He a trying to Foster Unity among the races. A Clinton used the fund Raiser to keep up a line of attack he has employed lately against vice president Dan Quayle a crusade on family values. Clinton chided Quayle for attacking the a cultural elite a and noted Quayle comes from wealth. Quayle comes from a at least an economic elite. How much culture they have is a matter of debate a Clinton  attacks Perot As vague authoritarian by the los Angeles times Washington a senior Campaign aides to president Bush on sunday escalated attacks on Ross Perot charging that the undeclared Independent candidate has avoided or changed positions on major issues and that he lacks the temperament to be the nations chief executive Richmond Bond chairman of the Republican National committee referred to the billionaire businessman As a vague Quot and a a authoritarian on Public policy matters and declared a a there a a risk Factor in Ross Perot that people ultimately will  Charles Black a top adviser to the Bush Campaign said a the More people Sec of Ross Perot the less   Bonds and Blacks Sharp criticisms of Perot on cd so face the nation stood in contrast to comments made by House speaker Thomas s. Foley d-wash., on no cd a meet the press. Asked if he agreed with House minority Leader Rob Ert h. Michel r-111., who called Perot a a frightening demagogue a Foley replied a no 1  say that about him. In be known him slightly for a number of years. He a a Man of very Strong opinions very articulate in expressing  Foley Foley said that he was a a Little concerned about some of Perot a pronouncements on civil liberties questions and said that Perot a proposal of a some system of electronic town meetings to decide issues seemed to conflict with the duties of Congress. Foley although an ally of Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton expected to be the democratic nominee rejected the notion that democrats in Congress should automatically Back Clinton if the presidential election is decided in the House. That would happen if no candidate got a majority of electoral College votes. Foley said he doubted that would happen but he would Hope House members would vote for the candidate with a the legitimacy of support from the american  democratic National chairman Ronald h. Brown has said House democrats would be obligated to Back their party a nominee in such an electoral deadlock regardless of the popular vote. Gop officials Bond and Black predicted that the race eventually will narrow to two candidates a Bush and either Clinton or Perot. A you have to give or. Perot the credit for coming onto the scene in a big Way and attracting the interest and attention of a lot of voters and it la probably stay a three Man race until sometime in the fall a Black said. Bond predicted that Perot a standing in Public opinion polls would fall below Clinton a. A i just Don t think that the risk that Ross Perot presents to the american people out there is a risk that they re going to take a he said. A the does no to have the temperament to be president a Bond said. A this greatest proclivity when he runs into opposition is to take his Ball and Bat and go Home and i done to think you want that in the president of the United  Black said a i do think in the end his character his temperament the method of operation he has followed in his other endeavours will be the biggest thing that the Public focuses on. But he a trying to Duck the  Bond said that Perot not Only has avoided some issues but has changed his position on others. A a he a had four positions on taxes in the last 30 Days a lets Cut them lets study them let s raise them and t never said that a a the gop chairman  worry new York As convention nears new York a with tourists invading the City and the democratic National convention a month away investigators arc trying to solve an outbreak of suspicious fires in nine Midtown Manhattan hotels Over the last nine Days. No major damage or injuries have resulted. The latest two fires occurred sunday hours alter officials announced their strategy for dealing with the outbreak. One lire was in a hotel where Bill Clinton was holding a fund Raiser. A this is getting crazy a said fire department spokesman Jerry Sanford. Chief fire marshal John Stickevers said that while the 10 fires since june 6 were similar in some respects a most occurred in vacant rooms in late afternoon a investigators did not know whether they were the work of one person. Assistant fire chief Edward c. Butler said the strategy for dealing with the outbreak includes reinstating a requirement that five units respond automatically to any hotel alarm. He said the department had been sending Only one unit because most hotel alarms prove to be routine smoke problems. Fire officials planned to meet with officials of the hotel association on monday to discuss the situation and review safety procedures. Some 35,000 people Are expected for the convention july 13-16, and most will stay in Midtown hotels. The participants Are in addition to the regular influx of summer tourists. A there is some concern with the convention coming up As we would at any time with a Large group of people coming into the City a Stickevers said. Stickevers said a male caller to 911 on saturday claimed responsibility for one fire Ana said he a was going to make  the Call came during a 90-minute period Between two fires in hotels 10 blocks apart but it was not known whether the caller was responsible for either one. Both fires were set Between two Beds in unoccupied rooms officials said. The fires have struck some of Manhattan a Best known hotels including the Sheraton new York the Parker Merid Ien the Omni Park the Milford Plaza and the ramada inn near Madison Square Garden where the convention will be held. One hotel guest appeared unconcerned. A what Are you trying to do a asked Jim Clifford of Dallas a guest at the Sheraton new York. A scare away All the tourists from Texas a conspiracy prosecutor remarries 1st wife new Orleans Dpi former District attorney Jim Garrison and his first Wile the former Liz Ziegler were quietly remarried in a civil ceremony three weeks ago. The times Picayune reported sunday. Although they were depicted As a Loving supportive couple by Kevin Costner and Sissy Spacek in director Oliver Stone s movie Jik the couple divorced after garrisons unsuccessful conspiracy prosecution of Clay Shaw m the president Kennedy assassination. Agency downplays air bag injuries port Lauderdale Fla. Up Federal investigators fearful of souring the Public on lifesaving air bags have ignored complaints from hundreds of people injured when bags malfunctioned it was reported sunday. About 250 people have survived crashes because of air bags since the systems were introduced in 1974, the National Highway traffic safety administration said. But at least 124 complaints have been filed with the Agency reporting Burns broken Bones damaged eyes and Oiler injuries caused by inflating air bags according to documents obtained by the port Lauderdale Sun Sentinel under the Freedom of information act one death associated with an air bag inflation was reported and the Agency has determined that three other deaths resulted partly from the Force of an opening air bag hitting the victims chests. Many others complained that air bags did not open when they were needed. Despite that the Agency has contacted few victims who filed complaints and done no investigations of potential defects in air bags the newspaper said. A i have not seen anything to even remotely suggest that these air bags Are a risk to safety a said Bill bodily an Agency official. Quot a there arc going to be instances is Hen anything that a a Benefit to society i have a bad effect he said. After winning a Battle with car comp Nies that fought air bags for decades Cor Sumer advocates also Are Uncertain ho1 to Battle the complaints without Scarin the Public. But general motors corp. A know edged that Short Drivers and Drivers we sit too close to the steering wheel May b More at risk to injuries because a they Ai More susceptible to interaction with the air bag As it  the motor vehicle manufacturers a Socia Tion has petitioned the Federal government to require cars and trucks wit air bags to carry danger warnings