Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush released a boatload of emails Tuesday from his time in office, saying he wanted to make a statement on transparency as he pushed forward with plans to run for president — and potentially giving his GOP rivals ammunition for attacks.
Mr. Bush’s political action committee released the 250,000 emails along with the first chapter of an e-book, which pushes back against the lingering notion that he’s gong to have trouble adapting to modern day politics by telling the story of his obsession with email and his Blackberry.
“Everyone could email me,” he writes in the book. “So they did. Millions of emails came in through our website, but it was when I made my personal email — jeb@jeb.org — public that I earned the nickname ’The eGovernor.”
The moves also try to cast Mr. Bush as different from 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who faced a barrage of criticism when he initially refused to release his tax returns and tried to keep emails from his time as governor private.
It’s unclear whether the rest of the 2016 GOP field will follow Mr. Bush’s lead. Spokespeople for a number of other campaigns did not respond to messages asking what their bosses’ plans are.
GOP observers said Mr. Bush’s decision carries some risk.
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“On the one hand, it gives a treasure trove of opposition research to all of his opponents,” said John Feehery, a GOP strategist. “On the other hand he got it out early and I think sometimes it is good to get all that stuff out of there. So you can control your own story.”
Saul Anuzis, former Michigan GOP chairman, described the decision as a move to head off attacks that could be coming from other potential Republican candidates.
“An early release is either defensive, to get something out and deal with it early, or it’s preemptive, to give them time to respond to any attacks and get any issues off the table,” Mr. Anuzis said, adding that it could put pressure on some of Mr. Bush’s potential rivals.
Since announcing he was exploring a presidential bid before Christmas, Mr. Bush has been busy courting donors and outlining his vision for the nation.
He is now considered an early front-runner, with the latest Real Clear Politics average of national polls putting him in the lead. He also is near the front of the pack in Iowa and New Hampshire, which hold the first two nominating contests.
Mr. Bush’s emails provided a look into battles over school vouchers the governor’s push for tax cuts, his belief that No Child Left Behind, the signature education achievement of his brother, then-President George W. Bush, should be fixed rather than gutted, and his thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case, which involved a 2003 family fight over whether the brain-damaged woman’s feeding tube should be removed.
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Days after the tube was removed, Mr. Bush expressed remorse that he did not have the legal authority to do more.
“I cannot offer much hope,” Mr. Bush wrote in response to a constituent. “I am sickened by this situation and pray for her family. We have looked at every angle, every legal possibility and will continue to do so.”
The emails also detailed Mr. Bush’s support for issuing driver’s licenses to some illegal immigrants.
“If our government is not going to send these people back to their country, at least do the charitable thing and let them get a legal Florida License,” Frank R. Ortiz wrote to Mr. Bush in September 2006. “This will bring Florida millions in new revenue and also allow Florida to know who they are and where they reside.”
In response, Mr. Bush wrote, that he had “proposed this several times to the Florida legislature and the bill we suggested has not passed.”
“It makes sense carefully crafted,” he said.
The governor’s email box was also filled with praise and criticism from constituents, including a 1999 email from Kenneth Parady, president of a group called Conservative Action for 2000, who chided him for being “exactly like your wimpy father.”
Mr. Bush’s father is former President George H.W. Bush.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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