Choice for high court may cast history in new light

Gov. Jeb Bush has a chance to make history by naming the first Hispanic Florida Supreme Court justice. Many political observers say Miami lawyer Raoul Cantero, 41, is the leading contender. His appointment could play well come November.

But the possibility of Cantero's nomination also has resurrected a case the governor might not want voters to remember: Bush's efforts 12 years ago to help a man former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh labeled an "unreformed terrorist."

Cantero represented anti-Castro extremist Orlando Bosch, whom the Justice Department in 1989 wanted to deport because of his "demonstrated willingness to cause indiscriminate injury and death."

Bosch was convicted in 1972 of firing a bazooka at a Polish freighter in Miami. In 1976, Venezuelan authorities charged him with bombing a Cuban airliner and killing 73 people. Bosch has defended the bombing, but was acquitted three times.

Lawyers defend criminals for a living, but Bush was a rising political star in Miami when he lobbied for Bosch's release from jail. In 1990, Bush's dad, then-President George H.W. Bush, approved Bosch's release and allowed him to live in Miami, where he remains today.

Democrats were eager to connect the dots last week, underscoring how different recent history can look in light of the war on terrorism the governor's brother is fighting.

The Canadian snowbirds don't like it. The travel industry doesn't like it. And neither, apparently, does the governor's campaign finance chairman.

On Wednesday, the governor sent his director of tourism, trade and economic development, Pamela Dana, to Congress to testify against a proposed immigration rule that would limit the stays of many foreign visitors to 30 days.

Those who expressed concerns to the governor's office include the Travel Industry of America Inc., the Canadian Snowbird Association and oceanfront condo developer WCI Communities Inc., whose CEO, Al Hoffman Jr., is Bush's chief fundraiser.

Hoffman also was the Florida chairman of President Bush's 2000 campaign.

David Bishop, spokesman for the governor's tourism office, said about 3-million of the 8-million international visitors to Florida would be affected by the proposed rule by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, though not those from Canada, Britain, Germany or other countries who don't need visas.

Bush's testimony to the House committee on small business Wednesday was delivered by videotape. The governor was in California that day, raising money for his re-election bid.

Speaking of fundraising, in a recent letter to potential donors, Bush warned that his Democratic opponents plan to take advantage of Florida's public financing system, which allows candidates who abide by a spending cap of $6.3-million to have contributions up to $250 matched by the state.

The governor opposes the system and won't play. That, Bush wrote, "means I must devote more of my energy to raising the millions of dollars necessary to run an effective campaign. And so I simply must have your help."

But the governor hardly seems to be losing the battle for dollars. In the first three months of this year, Bush raised nearly $2.4-million, compared with about $1-million combined for his main Democratic challengers, Janet Reno and Bill McBride. The state Republican Party, which will pay for much of Bush's advertising campaign, also raised nearly $10-million in the first three months of the year. The state Democratic Party had raised less than $2-million in the same time.

On Friday, the governor and the president helped raise at least $2.5-million for the Florida Republican Party in Orlando.

Last week, Bush raised eyebrows when he said it's time Florida elected a woman governor. Two women's political groups agreed and endorsed Reno.

The Women's Campaign Fund cited Reno's longtime support for women's issues in its endorsement. The nonpartisan group was formed in 1974 to help elect women who favor abortion rights, which Reno does.

And in its endorsement, the National Women's Political Caucus said Reno has inspired other women to seek office. Reno already had won the endorsement of the caucus' Florida chapter.

No huge surprise here. Reno is the only woman in the governor's race.

-- Wes Allison and Adam Smith were on spin patrol. Send tips, thoughts, suggestions to spinpatrol@sptimes.com.

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