Posted on 11/08/2009 1:41:38 PM PST by Steelfish
One Republican Votes For Healthcare Bill
Anh 'Joseph' Cao of Louisiana was elected last year to replace Rep. William J. Jefferson, who faced corruption charges.
"My vote tonight was based on my priority of doing what is best for my constituents," Anh "Joseph" Cao said of his lone Republican vote for healthcare reform. (For The Times)
By Steve Padilla November 8, 2009
Anh "Joseph" Cao, a Vietnamese-born former ethics teacher and Catholic seminarian, last winter surprised and delighted Republicans by defeating a longtime incumbent in a heavily Democratic congressional district in Louisiana.
He provided another surprise -- but probably no delight -- to his party on Saturday when he became the lone Republican to vote for the healthcare bill pushed by President Obama.
"I have always said that I would put aside partisan wrangling to do the business of the people," Cao said in a statement posted on his website. "My vote tonight was based on my priority of doing what is best for my constituents."
In a special election in December, Cao of New Orleans defeated Rep. William J. Jefferson, who had represented the 2nd District since 1991. Although Jefferson was battling corruption charges -- federal agents famously found $90,000 in cash in his freezer -- Cao still faced an uphill battle.
He was a political neophyte who was running in a district that is 60% black and 60% Democratic
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I really don’t understand how he got elected in the first place.
It was in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav and the turnout was very very low.
Does Cao know about the Queen Antoinette language that Pelosi got into the bill?
Gustav had nothing to do with the turnout of this election.
I’m pretty sure I remember reading something to that effect on NRO refering to his election in the aftermath of Rep. Jefferson situation.
At least you have to give the guy credit for actually listening to the voices of his constituents. If Democrats did that, there’s no way this bill would have passed.
He’s doing his best to get reelected.
If that district stays Republican for more than one election it will be a miracle.
It would’ve passed without him, anyway, and he waited until there was 219 on the board to cast his vote. If it helps this district stay red next year I’m okay with it.
Trust me, things in New Orleans mover very slow, but not that slow.
Gustav hit Louisiana on August 30, 2008
Cao won election to the House on December 6, 2008
Gustav had not impact on an election that occurred more than three months after its landfall.
Cao beat the then-indicted Dollar Bill Jefferson after the NRCC and all the republican funding organizations basically ignored him. It will be a miracle if he’s reelected to that district next year and then we’ll have a democrat who votes with Pelosi every time representing it.
You're kidding, of course?
"Republicans" like him are in the likes of Olympia Snowe and other RINO's that dilute the Party, and take the place of a true Reagan-Republican.
You ARE right, though, in that with Democrat gerrymandering of Districts to assure "minority representation", the Gubmint Trough Feeders give the Dem's their power to keep the entitlements flowin' from "them rich white dudes.....".
You're kidding, of course?
"Republicans" like him are in the likes of Olympia Snowe and other RINO's that dilute the Party, and take the place of a true Reagan-Republican.
You ARE right, though, in that with Democrat gerrymandering of Districts to assure "minority representation", the Gubmint Trough Feeders give the Dem's their power to keep the entitlements flowin' from "them rich white dudes.....".
...dont understand how he got elected.....
Jefferson was headed to jail and the demoralized Dems didnt run a good candidate. They will in 2010 and probably take the seat back.
He knows he’s gone next year either way, but now at least he has no future as a Republican lobbyist.
With the Fascicrats that is an oxymoron, or, at the very least a moron.
Cao was one of only seven Republicans to vote in favor of the resolution of disapproval towards Congressman Joe Wilson for his outburst against Obama during his joint House State of the Union Address.
This is a image of a congressman who reads the political tea leaves and lacks to spine to stick up for his convictions. And if the Republican Party does not show some conviction, cast off the negative attacks of being locked in “political group think,” it will be history in little less than a year.
It was a perfect storm of factors that he ever won in that district anyway. He was “centrist,” his opponent was clearly a crook (which, sadly, doesn’t matter much to many black voters), etc.
Had this healthcare bill not been a gross violation of the Constitution I’d have to give the guy his propers for listening to his constituents over his party.
What did? Why was the election held late? Simple New Orleans incompetence?
According to the LA Times,
Although blacks make up more than 60% of registered voters in the 2nd Congressional District -- which covers much of New Orleans and part of neighboring Jefferson Parish -- fewer than 14% showed up Saturday, according to a consulting firm that worked for Cao's campaign. By comparison, 28% of white voters went to the polls, largely in support of the Republican. Vietnamese Americans account for less than 3% of district voters.
Even so, Cao won with 49.6% to Cold Cash Jefferson's 46.8%. The Greenies took up most of the rest.
If Cao had the right stuff, he would have known there's no chance of his reelection. He would have raised his middle finger to his constituents and voted correctly. Then, after his term, if he still wanted to be in politics, he'd move somewhere else.
If this guy really believes this fiscal insanity is good for his constituents, or anybody, we should be saying good damn riddance when he is beat. I’d rather them have the reliable, often meaningless Demvote, than to have some prop the left can use against conservatives after he sells them out on big issues.
“What did? Why was the election held late? Simple New Orleans incompetence?”
The election was not delayed and was held as scheduled according to Louisiana election laws.
I suppose it depends on your definition of "delay". No doubt it was scheduled according to Louisiana election laws
, but those laws were influenced by Gustav. Holding a congressional election over a month after the national election day is a delay.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/jefferson_cao_in_dead_heat.html
It seems the delay applied only to the 2nd and 4th districts.
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