THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., July 29, 1988
Bentsen record mixed on social justice WASHINGTON (NC) - Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, 67, a millionaire who once defeated George Bush in a Senate race, brings a mixed record on social justice issues to the 1988 campaign. On 20 key national and international policy issues, Bentsen's votes concurred 13 times with positions of Network, a social justice lobby founded by nuns. Between 1983 and 1988, on 18 'abortion-related votes, Bentsen voted against the position of the National Right to Life Committee 14 times, voted with the committee once, and failed to cast votes three times, according to National Right to Life Committee records. According to statistics from JustLife, a newly formed pro-life political group scrutinizing politicians on a variety of "consistent ethic of life" issues, Bentsen has a 50-50 record on economic justice, war and peace questions and abortion issues. Democratic presidential candidate, Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, has praised Bentsen's leadership in helping shepherd such measures as plant closing legislation, catastrophic health coverage -'\'<" . and welfare reform through the li#~ , legislative process. .;t. • The welfare reform bill is curACTOR MICKEY ROONEY returns to Boys Town, rently under discussion by a Neb., 50 years after-he costarred with Spencer Tracy in the Hou&e-Senate conference commit1938 hit film, "Boys Town," viewing a vintage poster with tee, of which Bentsen is a member. The plant closing bill passed the Father Val Peter, present director of the children's home (top Senate on a 72-33 vote July 6. The picture); in 1938 picture at bottom Rooney and filmmaker catastropic health bill has been Louis B. Maxer accept nut bowls made by Boys Town resisigned into law by the president. dents. Others, from left, Omaha Bishop James H. Ryan, Boys The U.S. Catholic Conference Town founder Father Edward J. Flanagan, Spencer Tracy. has backed the plant closing bill (NC photos) and welfare reform; while the Catholic Health Association and Catholic Charities USA welcomed enactment of the catastrophic health law. On social justice-related questions, the Texas senator's votes reflected Network positions on BOYS TOWN, Neb. (NC) Chief among the changes are the assistance to the homeless and Oscar-winning actor Mickey Roo- 135 girls who are among Boys funds for low-income housing pro- ney returned July 11 to Boys Town, Town's 450 residents. grams, plant closings, campaign the setting for one of his· most "For those of you who havejust financing restrictions, defense famous roles. come through degradation, I want spending, compliance with the Fifty years ago Rooney was an Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, l8-year-old top box-office attrac- you to realize and learn to accept immigration, and limits on testing tion portraying an irascib1e teen- your own wonderful individuality and development of some space- ager in the motion picture "Boys and how important you are as a based weapons. Town," the story of the home for human being," Rooney told residents. JustLife's tally covered "such troubled boys. "The world awaits you and the issues as prison system abortion The movie, filmed on location funding; the Hatch amendment; at Boys Town west of Omaha, also great progress that you will make District of Columbia abortion starred Spencer Tracy as Father here," he said. funds; anti-satellite weapons tests; Edward Flanagan, who founded Rooney, who shared a special the Strategic Defense Initiative; Boys Town in 1917. 1939 Academy Award with Deanna the Strategic Arms Limitation Several of the film's most mem- Durbin for "significant contribuTreaty; and defense spending. orable scenes involve Rooney's tions in bringing to the screen the It found Bentsen was absent for character, a rebellious youth named spirit and personification ofyouth," one abortion-related vote and voted Whitey, and 7-year-old Pee Wee, also won Oscar nominations for against the JustLife position on who befriends Whitey despite his best actor in 1939 and 1943. four other abortion-related votes. tough demeanor. A few years later, his career But he voted with the JustLife When Rooney arrived at Boys turned. "I went to the very baseposition on four of five issues Town's Hall of History to com- ment, to the bottom," he said. "I involving the nuclear arms race memorate the 50th anniversary of couldn't get a job because no one and war and peace questions and the film, he was grected by Bobs wanted Mickey Rooney." three of five issues of economic Watson, the actor who played Pee Confronted with rejection and j~stice, such as support for handi- Wee. capped-education programs, job Referring to Watson's childhood despair, he said, "I gave my life to training, and spending funds in- acting ability to turn on streams of Christ 20 years ago. I became a . tended for the Strategic Defense . tears, Rooney told Watson, "It's Christian." Rooney's career has turned upInitiative on low-income women's good to see you smiling, Bobs," as and children's nutrition needs the two white-haired men hugged. ward again. He was nominated for instead. Father Val Peter, executive di- best supporting actor in 1979 for rector of Boys Town, said the his role in "The Black Stallion." reunion was a surprise for Rooney. He won an Emmy for his role in The actor was welcomed by Boys the television movie "Bill." And he Not Only Bread Town Mayor Corey Randle and starred in the Broadway show "Man does not live by bread Deputy Mayor Jennifer Hufford. "Sugar Babies." alone, but by every word that pro- Randle told Rooney, "A lot of The almost 68-year-old actor ceeds from the mouth of God." things have changed since you last said he hopes to develop a weekly -Deut.8:3 were here in 1938." television series on Boys Town.
Mickey Rooney honored at "Boys Town" jubilee
"New England hos/lirallcy wlrh a European Flair"
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