Take a Closer Look

THE political experts have got it all wrong.

They say that Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, the Democratic presidential candidate, chose Texas Sen. Lloyd M. Bentsen as his running mate because he wants to repeat history. Look what the late John F. Kennedy '40 did in 1960 with Lyndon B. Johnson.

These so-called experts say the choice of Bentsen, a Texan, will give the Duke some clout in the South. It will get rid of his "Look at me, I am a Massachusetts liberal" label.

These same pundits also point to Bentsen's 1970 Senate victory over Vice President George Bush. If Lloyd did it before, heck, he could probably do it again.

It's obvious that these alleged experts have never gone to the movies.

Close your eyes the next time Bentsen speaks in Atlanta this week. Voice sound familiar? You've heard it before somewhere.

"Honey, that ain't Bentsen. It's Jimmy Stewart."

OPEN your eyes now. Look real close at Bentsen.

"Hey, honey, that guy ain't Bentsen. It really is Jimmy Stewart."

Have you ever seen Jimmy Stewart and Lloyd Bentsen together in the same room? And you thought it was only coincidence.

Dukakis didn't pick Lloyd Bentsen to be his running mate. The Duke chose Jimmy Stewart, one of Hollywood's greatest actors. It's time to break the news, all you delegates in Atlanta. Don't be fooled.

As for you gol'darned poltical experts, you've been had.

But the question remains: why Stewart? Why would Dukakis gamble a presidential election on an actor who hasn't made a major movie in 25 years?

Also, why would Dukakis think he could win the election with Stewart, one of Tinseltown's most famous Republicans?

Golly, there's got to be a darned answer for all this hoopla.

IT'S as simple as a Frank Capra script. Dukakis has followed the movie star theory of politics, so effective for President Reagan. Voters love a star and the Democrats are giving them one of America's most beloved actors.

What makes the choice so masterful is that Dukakis has crossed party lines to snag one away from the Republicans. Say goodbye to that Massachusetts liberal tag. With Stewart, Dukakis can now lure voters back to the Democrats.

That ain't hogwash.

What can Bush do now? Pick Bob Dole? Name any movie Bob Dole has starred in. Even if Bush does choose an actor to balance out the Stewart factor, who will he turn to? Sly Stallone? Robert Mitchum? Stewart is Hollywood. He is the last of the great film giants, a guaranteed box-office smash.

And what a record.

Ever since Stewart starred in the 1939 classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, he has the kind of style Dukakis needs in a running mate. Let Mr. Smith speak:

"I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary kindness--and a little looking out for the other fella, too."

You can see the election motto now: Dukakis-Stewart '88, "Doing a little looking out for the other fella."

Stewart reached the peak of his film career in 1946 with It's a Wonderful Life. What politcian could say that he starred in one of the most classic films of all time? Only Jimmy.

"Every time you hear a bell ring," Stewart could say this week at Atlanta, "it means that some American has just voted Democratic."

DUKAKIS doesn't even have to worry about losing the West now that he has a running mate who was part of the cast for the 1962 film, How the West was Won. All Dukakis has to do now is turn to Stewart instead of paying attention to the polls.

"Golly, Michael, I can tell you every darned thing you want to know. That Bush is pure balderdash. We can lick him up like a tadpole out of the water. Hey, and let's not forget about doing it for the other fella."