Two Ways to Play the Politics of Race

Bush may talk compassion, but he's thinking law and order. As for Clinton, he sounds like he's planning the Great Society, Part II.

THEY'VE WALKED THE WALK and talked the talk, and now they're picking pictures. The candidates and their handlers have toured Los Angeles, and they agree on almost nothing, except the fact that the events there will dominate this year's battle for the White House. In their critiques and responses so far -- embryonic and still evolving -- the campaign to define the images they hope will linger is under way with a vengeance.

For the Bush team, the televised scenes of looters running from stores, their arms laden, demonic grins on their faces, are film from heaven. Never in the past...

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