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TALLAHASSEE - E-mail is usually Jeb Bush's ally, his link to a vast dot-com constituency. Lately, it has been the Florida governor's biggest enemy.
An e-mail sent Wednesday morning by a top Florida Hospital Association executive to 45 lobbyists cast in stark terms Bush's determination to punish Republican senators who oppose strict caps in malpractice cases.
Within two hours, the message about Bush's plan had been copied all over the state capital.
"It will get ugly," wrote Ralph Glatfelter, FHA's senior vice president, after Bush paid a morning visit to a lobbying coalition. "The governor also made a plea for business groups to quit giving money to the Senate Republicans, until they do the right thing. He couldn't have been stronger or more clear about what he intends to do."
It was the third time in two weeks that e-mails alienated the lawmakers Bush needs to win a solution on malpractice. Though none were publicly released, reporters got hold of all of them soon after they were sent - within two hours in the latest example.
Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, was angry. King said Bush was trying to "bludgeon into submission" anybody who disagrees with him. That, King said, is dangerous in a democratic system built on checks and balances.
"The ramifications of that are scary," King said.
Bush reads and sends e-mails constantly and often gives out his e-mail address during public speeches. He will often answer reporters' questions by e-mail and has talked about how e-mail allows him to stay in touch with average Floridians.
Suddenly Wednesday, the "e-governor" didn't seem like a fan of electronic communication.
"I just don't know why people have this incessant need to be writing e-mails about these matters," he said at a news conference.
A week ago, an e-mail from a top Bush aide, Alan Levine, voiced support for unseating two GOP senators, who have resisted Bush's pressure, by "finding another candidate."
Shortly before that, the state Republican Party sent an e-mail from Bush himself to more than 20,000 supporters, rallying public support for his stand on malpractice. Bush said some GOP legislative leaders "have caved to pressure from special interests - Florida's trial lawyers."
The lobbyists who got Glatfelter's message were among the state's best-connected, and some have close ties to Democratic legislators who oppose Bush and support lawyers who oppose caps on damages.
Bush confirmed the accuracy of Glatfelter's e-mail account, though he didn't say when he might retaliate. By threatening to shut down fundraising, was Bush implying a link between contributions and political behavior? No, he said.
"I think people that are contributors to political causes ought to really be focused on their enlightened self-interest," Bush said. "They should be supporting candidates and parties that share their views."
- Times staff writer Alisa Ulferts contributed to this report.