WHERE CREATIVE PEARS AND CREATIVE DESIGNS GO HAND IN HAND LAMAR page 73 Alexander. And he's competing with (Steve) Forbes, who can spend indefinitely. So he has some major challenges ahead of him." The Jews who know Mr. Alexander best draw a picture of a remarkably persistent candi- date who doesn't mind the kind of long odds he faces in 1996. former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger. "It was very important for him to see Israel, to understand the geography better, and to witness firsthand why Israelis are the way they are," Mr. Lavine said. Critics worry about Mr. Alexander's long and close asso- "He's very dogged," said Lewis Lavine, a Nashville businessman who served for three years as Mr. Alexander's chief of staff. "He's the kind of guy who'd walk 1000 miles to become governor." In 1978, Mr. Alexander walked the breadth of Tennessee, a cam- paign gimmick that he insisted brought him closer to the people. Gimmick or not, Mr. Alexander was elected. Mr. Lavine, who helped Mr. Alexander kick off his New Hampshire campaign, witnessed first-hand Mr. Alexander's inter- actions with the Jewish commu- nity during his eight years in the statehouse. 'We have very few Jews in this state," he said. "But Lamar went to law school at New York Uni- versity; he lived in the Village, and learned what cultural differ- ences are all about." Several incidents during his tenure illustrate Mr. Alexander's sensitivity to Jewish concerns, Mr. Lavine said. "There was a bomb threat at a Reform synagogue and a swastika at a Conservative syn- agogue. Lamar quickly called the rabbis and offered his help. More importantly, he did this in a very public way; he tried to use these incidents as a way to educate people in the state about toler- ance." Mr. Alexander also created a state Holocaust commission. "When he was asked to make a proclamation about the Holo- caust, he said no," Mr. Lavine said. "He wanted to do something more effective — so he taught a class on the subject at Hiliwood High School in Nashville. He read books about [the Holocaust], talked to people like Elie Wiesel. And he worked very hard to in- volve others in the community, to give it a greater impact." Jewish backers also talk about a 1994 trip to Israel, arranged by former Sen. Howard Baker and ciation with Mr. Baker, who was widely regarded as less than friendly to the pro-Israel cause; supporters argue that the candi- date is resisting the tide of neo- isolationism sweeping the party, and that he will continue Amer- ican leadership in the quest for a durable Middle East peace. Mr. Alexander is good for the Jews because he practices the pol- itics of inclusion, according to Daniel Casse, his campaign's pol- icy director. "He feels that divisiveness is not good for politics," said Casse, who is Jewish. "Politics is about getting people involved, about cre- ating coalitions. This race isn't about throwing people out of the wagon, it's about defining what the most important ideas are for the next century. And that's good for the Jewish community." But opponents point out that Mr. Alexander was one of the first to introduce negative ads in the New Hampshire race; they say that it is still not clear whether his commitment to clean cam- paigning is a campaign ruse, or the result of a change of heart about the dirty state of electoral politics. And although he looks moder- ate when lined up against Mr. Buchanan, he is still a strong con- servative who flatly opposes abor- tion, supports a "moment of silence" in the schools and advo- cates the end of government so- cial welfare programs; such programs, he says, should be re- placed by states, communities, and private agencies. "Lamar does well with the Jew- ish community in our state on is- sues of integrity, and because of his sensitivity to Israel," said a Jewish political activist in Mem- phis who has not yet made up his mind about the presidential con- test. "There is a strong tendency in our state to support our own in national politics, and he is clear- ly the genuine Tennessee article. NONSMUE: Bellini offers outstanding quality and design in baby and children's furniture plus unique bedding and accessories. Make us a "must see." 1875 S. Woodward (N. of 14 Mile Road) • Birmingham (810) 644-0525 MEL FARR "EQUITY TRADE PROGRAM" We Pay Off Your Trade Regardless of How Much You Owe!a LINCOLN MERCURY ALL NEW '96 LI COLN CONTINENTAL iL60884, Touring pkg., JBL, han- dling, traction control, moonroof, leather, healed seals. $4000 down plus $3000 rebate down (assigned to dealer) 12,000 mi/yr. closed end lease. LEASE 24 MOS. 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