The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 109

The Orlando Sentinel Astronomically speaking: A return to the moon for man? G-7 SUNDAY, July 9, 1989 OTm IT TTT 0 cam JA. JX eat? WMo Conventional wisdom picks Cuban-American woman Leading pair share striking similarities By Maya Bell SENTINEL MIAMI BUREAU By Maya Bell SENTINEL MIAMI BUREAU important to both parties. It gives the Republicans the chance to strengthen their hold on the Florida congressional delegation and the Democrats the opportunity to stem GOP momentum. Both parties agree the race is crucial symbolically as well. Pepper, who died of cancer May 30 at 88, was the last of the New Deal Democrats and the unparalleled champion of the poor and elderly, an icon who transcended party lines and became a hero to millions in the nation.

His replace ment will be just another the-totem-pole uuiei iuw-uii- iman among with the at-a on Miami, low-on- ireshman among 435 congressmen. But. tention of the media the nation will notice the succes sor to the humble Alabama plow- boy who made an indelible impact on the American quality of life. seat jejune much more 3o? MIAMI When Republican National Chairman Lee Atwater pledged to elect a Cuban-American to the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Democrat Claude Pepper, he inflamed partisans on both sides of the fence. The Democratic favorite to succeed Pepper Jack Gordon, the veteran state senator, irom, Miami Beach abruptly pulled out of the race a mere two days after en-.

tering, saying he refused to run a Campaign that, in effect, would have to be aimed at "stopping the Cubans." On the Republican side, an insurance broker from North Bay Village was so angry that the seat jtjjad been designated ethnically "pthat he jumped into the Aug. 29 special election. Another Republican candidate, "a furniture store owner and minis-j, ter, dashed off a letter to George -J5ush asking the president to proclaim the seat Pepper held for 27 ears the "All-American seat." yj While Atwater may not have chosen the wisest words-about a tension-wrought district ethnically divided into Hispanic, black and factions, he may have been fpeaking-' prophetically. Anything pan happeitin the wacky world of I Miami politics but ther.odds are that a Cuban-American will claim the 18th District seat, concluding another chapter in the remarkable story of Cuban assimilation into the American mainstream. 1 The anointed choice of each parity, Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a state senator, and Democrat Rosario Kennedy, a Miami than a Democratic seat.

It became the Claude Pepper seat," said Howard Schloss, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "To hold that symbolism we must keep it in the tradition of Claude Pepper. From all I've seen of Republicans, that means keep MIAMI On the surface, Democrat Rosario Kennedy and Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen their party's favorites to replace the legendary Congressman Claude Pepper are so alike people often get them confused. Well-wishers have congratulated Ros-Lehtinen, a state senator, for a program Kennedy started. They've been known to ask Kennedy, a Miami city commissioner, about Ros-Lehtinen's two little girls.

It's easy to understand the confusion. Both women are petite and personable, with successful professional careers. They were born in Cuba and fled to the United States as youngsters during the Cuban Revolution. They married powerful American men and were the first Hispanic women to hold the offices they are now leaving to run for Congress. On the political side, they both vow to carry on the Pepper tradition of fighting for the less fortunate.

They are fiercely anti-Castro and pro-Israel, as are, virtually all candidates in the District But despite their Kennedy and Ros-Lehtinen come from divergent backgrounds, winding up in opposing political camps. Kennedy, 44, a Democrat who was elected to the Miami City Commission in 1985, was born to a wealthy Cuban family and privileged childhood. Politics oddly enough Republican politics was in her blood. Her father, Alescio who owned a jai-alai fronton in Havana and a cattle ranch, was elected to the Cuban Senate. But because of Fidel Castro's ascension to power, he never served.

Cuban President Mario Menocal was a relative. Her grandfather was president of the Cuban Senate and several uncles served as mayor of Havana. ing it Democratic. But the GOP, which gained its first majority in Florida's 1 Q.momW rrrcrrcicairn- al delegation this year, is anxious to advance MS the Republican tide it Please see RACE, G-5 city commissioner, both jof.whom whave given up their seats to run, "are native Cubans who fled to the United States as youngsters when Fidel Castro came to power. With established name recognition, party backing and the ability to fill enormous war chests, each is favored to grab her party's nomination.

The outcome of the race won't alter the Democratic balance in the U.S. House, where Democrats hold a 257 to 175 majority, but it is I meussa sumicksentinel Please see CANDIDATES, G-4 Tired of being stepchildren, Canadians gripe about U.S. Bush can play mediator in South Africa By Richard Reynolds SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL By Reese Erlich their southern neighbor. A national election was fought here last year primarily on that issue: the Liberal and New Democratic parties said the proposed free-trade deal would move Canada too close to the United States. SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL tudes still leave many Canadians with a bad taste in the mouth.

For example, more than half of the 1,000 Americans polled for the survey said they would welcome Canada as the 51st state. Eighty-five percent of the 1,000 Canadians polled thought that was a distinctly distasteful option. The poll, conducted by the respected Toronto-based Decima Research confirmed one widely held Canadian belief: Americans are generally unaware of what is happening in Canada, while Canadians are well versed in American affairs. While only 11 percent of Americans polled could name Canada's Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in power for five years 36 percent of Canadians could name "Vice President Dan Quayle. The magazine sarcastically Richard Reynolds covers Canadian national affairs for the Toronto-based Insight News and Feature news service.

After 'snob' the most popular words used by Canadians in the survey to describe the American personality were 'obnoxious, pig-headed and arrogant' "Friendly." That's what Americans think of Canadians. "Snob." That's what Canadians think of Americans. Both opinions come from a sweeping survey published by Macleans magazine a Canadian newsweekly similar to Newsweek to measure Canadians' feelings toward the United States, and Americans' attitudes toward Canada. After "snob" the most popular words used by Canadians in the survey to describe the American personality were "obnoxious, pigheaded and arrogant." The survey, published in the magazine's July 3 issue, was part of an unprecedented special issue that devoted more than 60 pages to a thorough examination of the relations. This scrutiny reflected Canadians' intense concern about the nature of their relationship with Macleans, a weekly Canadian news magazine, found in a survey of 1,000 Americans and 1,000 Canadians that: More than 50 percent of Americans would welcome Canada as the 51st state; 85 percent of Canadians oppose the idea.

Only 11 percent of Americans could name Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney; 36 percent of Canadians could name Vice President Dan Quayle. Only 56 percent of Americans knew about the free-trade pact, which was ratified by both the U.S. and Canada in 1988; 97 percent of Canadians were aware of the pact. And 56 percent of Canadian respondents said they thought Canadians and Americans were already "mainly the same." JOHANNESBURG, South Africa During the eight years of the Reagan administration, anti-apartheid groups in South Africa received little comfort from Washington. But some now believe there may be hope for Washington following President Bush's meeting June 30 with leaders of the United Democratic Front, one of the largest opposition groups in South Africa.

Albertina Sisulu, co-chairman of UDF, called the meeting a "milestone" because of Bush's recognition of the organization. Her husband, Walter, is an imprisoned leader of the banned African National Congress. Until recently, anti-apartheid groups have called for blanket economic, military and political sanctions against South Africa. Sisulu asked Bush to pressure South Africa to scrap all apartheid laws, release political leaders such as Nelson Mandela and lift the ban on political organizations such as the ANC. If South Africa makes these or similar concessions, then the United Democratic Front would encourage foreign governments to lift specific sanctions, such as air landing rights for South African Airways.

In a Washington meeting last month, four major South African church leaders, including Bishop Desmond Tutu the Rev. Allan Boesak, expressed similar sentiments when they said sanctions are only a means to force negotiations with the South African regime. vv i -i, "If it can be done without sanctions," they, said in a statement "so much the better. The Bush ineeting withihe UDF leader came at a time when both the South African government and Reese Erlich, a freelance writer who lives in California, recently returned from a trip ta. South Africa The Conservative party argued the deal was good for Canada, guaranteeing Canada access to the world's richest market.

The Conservatives scored a resounding victory, putting much of the anti-American sentiment to rest. But patronizing American atti Please see CANADA, G-4 Should the Florida Legislature make it more difficult to get an abortion? cepted through noon on Monday. Some calls will be interrupted for brief interviews. Yes: 420-5325 No: 420-5604 you rs caftng long distance, these are not tol-free number. The U.S.

Supreme Court didn't outlaw abortions last' week but it gave states more power to limit the Some Floridians are urging the governor to support a prohibition on abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life in en-' angered, to trigger a test case tfiat would lead to a ban in the United States. But those who support a an's right to an abortion say the state should net meddle with the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling by the Supreme Court. They say that ruling gives women the right to control their bodies and to choose in the early stages whether to -contin'ueaa unwanted pregnancy. What do you think? Calls will be ac The Orlando Sentinel SOUND OFF Please see SOUTH AFRICA, G-4.