Clinton Sees Cuomo as Potential Justice : Politics: N.Y. governor ‘understands the impact of the law on real people’s lives,’ the Democratic contender says on MTV.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton told an audience of MTV viewers Tuesday that, if he wins the White House, New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo would be a prime contender for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Headlining a 90-minute “town hall” forum taped at a Hollywood studio for the cable television music station, Clinton answered quickly when asked to name his prospective court appointees.

“I think Gov. Cuomo would be a good Supreme Court justice,” the Arkansas governor said. “He is a legal scholar who also understands the impact of the law on real people’s lives.”

Later, Clinton told reporters that he dropped Cuomo’s name “not to make a commitment, obviously, but as an example . . . of the kind of person I would want on the court.”

For Clinton, the MTV forum represented the latest in a series on unorthodox national television appearances he has been making since wrapping up his party’s nomination earlier this month. He won wide attention for playing the saxophone on the “Arsenio Hall” late night talk show. And last week, he hosted his own call-in show with voters from Pittsburgh, Pa.

The MTV forum was a first of its kind, blending the rhythms of music videos with the political hard sell from a graying baby boomer. And with his appearance, Clinton clearly was seeking to bridge a generational gap of voter disillusionment and frustration with the nation’s political system among young people.

Originally scheduled as a 60-minute show, it was extended by 30 minutes to accommodate additional questions from the mostly college-age audience. The program was broadcast last night and is to be repeated several times over the next week or so.

The show, hosted by MTV’s Tabitha Soren and CNN anchor Catherine Crier, opened with Clinton, dressed in a blue suit, blue shirt and bright red floral tie, seated on a stool surrounded by an audience dressed largely in T-shirts, baseball caps and jeans.

The first question focused on a controversy that erupted last weekend when Clinton used an appearance before the Rainbow Coalition in Washington to condemn recent comments by black rapper Sister Souljah that the candidate said were racist in nature.

Travis Zimmerman, a 23-year-old electrical contractor, questioned why he targeted Souljah and suggested that Clinton should have better researched the matter. He also asked, “When are you going to stop pointing your finger or anybody’s finger across racial boundaries?”

Clinton, who expected the question, if not the tone, defended himself by saying he had researched. He said Souljah had made what he called racist statements “in two different statements over a five-month period.”

As he did in his weekend speech, he took particular exception to Souljah’s quote in a Washington Post article after the Los Angeles riots in which she said: “If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?”

Clinton said his entire career has been dedicated to overcoming racial divisions “and I don’t think that people ought to be out there talking about it and promoting it.”

At another point during the taping, Clinton was asked to defend his position that an adult or guardian should be informed when a minor faces a decision about whether to have an abortion.

Denise Munro, a 25-year-old actress and comedian, said after the taping that she remained unimpressed with Clinton’s response to her question because it sounded like he “still supported parental consent.” But she said she still planned to vote for him.

“Clinton is the only choice,” she said.

Domenique Sillet, a 19-year-old student at a Pasadena art school, told Clinton that she, like many of her friends, had not voted in California’s June 2 primary because “it’s not in my space.”

Saying that she was considering casting a ballot in November “since it seems to be a more popular thing,” she wanted to know from Clinton: “Why should I vote for you?”

Clinton, 45, grabbed that opportunity to offer himself as the candidate closer to young people in age and attitude.

“You have a lot more on line in this election than I do,” he said, addressing Sillet and speaking into the camera. “You have a lot more of your life ahead of you than I do.

In a similar vein, Clinton told Charles Caesar, a 17-year-old high school student, that despite problems with the nation’s political structure, young people should recognize that “the system is not broken, but needs fixing, it needs a shake-up.”

Clinton clearly enjoyed the exchanges with the young people.

‘RAPTIVIST’ RESPONDS: Sister Souljah says she does not advocate anyone’s murder. F1