Here you go, Cao. I believe you are due 30 of these.
Posted on 11/07/2009 10:49:54 PM PST by Poparhoid
THE REPUBLICAN THAT VOTED WITH OBAMA-PELOSI-REID AND THE REST OF THE DEMOCRAT COMMUNIST PARTY
* Posted by gary on November 8, 2009 at 1:44am in General, Uncategorized Town Hall * Add as Friend View Discussions
JUST LIKE COMMUNIST VIETNAM HE CAST HIS VOTE WITH THE AMERICAN COMMUNIST
A Prized Republican on the Ropes
Joseph Cao was hailed six months ago as the future of the GOP. Yesterday, he voted to rebuke Joe Wilson. Can the most endangered Republican in the House survive? By Benjamin Sarlin.
As he made his way to the podium to give his health-care speech last Wednesday—a speech that would draw boos from Republican lawmakers, trigger Joe Wilson’s now-notorious outburst, and eventually be likened to Nazism by angry protesters—President Obama was able to find at least one friendly Republican face in the crowd. “I love this guy!” Obama announced to Republicans gathered nearby as he shook hands with Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA).
The president had plenty of reasons to praise the freshman representative from New Orleans. On issues large and small, Cao has been among the most White House-friendly Republican politicians in the country. There is a very real possibility that he will be the only member of his party to jump ship and support the president’s health-care plan.
“We have to be approachable to the average American family,” GOP Rep. Joseph Cao says of the Republican Party. “Unfortunately, I don’t believe our message has been that. It’s been somewhat anti-immigrant, it’s been oftentimes too pro-business and anti-family.”
Will he cop to being Obama’s favorite Republican? “I'm looking for real solutions to America's problems and my politics has never been partisan,” Cao said. In other words, he’s not running from the label.
Cao’s willingness to play ball with the White House has a lot to do with his status as the most vulnerable incumbent of any party in 2010.
Cao won his seat in December 2008 in a majority African-American district that had not elected a Republican since 1890—thanks to a serious scandal. The incumbent he defeated, William Jefferson, had been indicted for a litany of corruption charges, leading many Democrats to either stay home or cross party lines in protest. In addition, the decisive vote was not held on the same day as the presidential election—meaning Obama wasn’t the ticket to boost turnout.
House Minority Leader John Boehner distributed a memo entitled "The Future is Cao" while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell touted Cao's election in a January speech as a sign that "a revival is already taking place" for the party.
Cao, for his part, seems to at least agree that the party is in need of a new look.
“I would hope that...if the future truly is Cao, then we have to be approachable to minorities,” he said. “We have to be approachable to the average American family. We have to be approachable to the average American. Unfortunately, I don't believe our message has been that. It's been somewhat anti-immigrant, it's been oftentimes too pro-business and anti-family.”
Despite their early enthusiasm, Republican leaders seem to have largely forgotten about Cao as the party has taken a sharp turn to the right, waging all-out partisan warfare over health care and rising up in opposition to Hispanic Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor—in ways that didn’t help the pro-minority message. Despite his criticisms of the party, Cao has remained upbeat about the GOP. He doesn’t buy into the notion that the Republican brand has become defined by its more extreme element—or that its leadership was undermining health-care reform to score political points.
“I think it’s simply media hype,” Cao said. “At the end of the day I can’t think of one congressman that will obstruct this whole process simply for the cause of obstructing it.”
Nonetheless, there’s an undeniable tension between Cao's Republican loyalties and his district’s Democratic leanings—which makes him an unpredictable vote. He backed an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, voted for new hate-crime legislation, and says he would have supported the Troubled Asset Relief Program had he been in office when it came to a vote. But he opposed Obama's signature legislation, the stimulus package, a vote that could come back to haunt him in 2010.
The politics of the health-care debate are tricky for him. Cao says he is “leaning toward supporting the [administration’s] bill,” though he hopes it will include stronger language prohibiting funds from going to abortion and abandon an employer mandate to provide health care.
He’s also been careful to put distance between himself and his party’s conservative wing at some key moments. This month, he took to the House floor to defend Obama's speech to schoolchildren after widespread hysteria from conservative media figures and politicians alike who claimed the event was socialist “indoctrination.”
“I was shocked and I believe that it was uncalled for,” Cao said of the protests. “The office of the president must have the respect of not only members of Congress, but of the people.”
Hoping to win over his African-American constituents, Cao has sought membership in the Congressional Black Caucus. But like other non-black members who have attempted to join, he's yet to be accepted.
“They said I'm always welcome to join the Black Caucus but obviously there might be some meetings where I cannot attend. But I have not made my decision whether or not to continue the push to be a member,” he said.
GOP leaders have exerted pressure on him to toe the party line, but ultimately they understand his unique situation, Cao said. Party independence is the key to the Cao “brand”—an asset he hopes will propel him to another surprise victory next November. He believes his “chances are very good,” despite being panned by political analysts. But the competition is already lining up: State Democratic Reps. Cedric Richmond and Juan LaFonta have announced plans to seek the seat.
“I believe that the people of the district see me as a strong leader, a leader that they can trust,” Cao told The Daily Beast. “I believe that people are coming around from seeing me as simply just another Republican.”
what a suckup coward..he is in for the money
Payback time is coming Cao.
I think that Tea Party members should remind him that his vote was cowardly.
It appears that he Cao-Tau to Obama.
This guy will be the next “Profile in Courage” winner.
When Cao was elected, a lot of folks thought he was the best thing since sliced bread, I warned them to hold off on judgment until he started to vote. He was already giving off warning signs throughout the year that he wasn’t with us, and this was the crowning vote.
I think he honestly believes he has a shot at winning reelection next year by moving far-left. As far as I’m concerned now, he’s given comfort to the Democrats to shove a monstrosity and abomination down our throats, and his reelection now no longer matters to me. He could’ve voted the right way and preserved his viability for another LA office after he loses reelection next year, stood on principle, but now he will lose anyway because Republicans won’t support him, and the Dems will have no use for him, preferring a Black Dem in this seat, so he just destroyed his own political future either way. What a shame.
>> This guy will be the next “Profile in Courage” winner.
A distraction for the tyranny.
Here you go, Cao. I believe you are due 30 of these.
One by one the RINOs continue to fall by the wayside.
Brick him
He really is clueless on conservatism and “the average American family”.
He is however in the know about all things Democrat.
A quick witted FR poster on another thread regarding this topic said: ....”Ciao Cao”.
CQ rates Cao as very vulnerable next year. He is one Republican I will not be sorry to see go.
I am actually getting fund raiser letters from him. I am not in his state. In these letters he is actually claiming to be some kind of conservative and against Pelosi’s agenda! What a laugh. Not only would he never get a penny from me but I would not give to the NRCC now.
He represents a majority African American district that normally votes Democrat. His votes undoubtedly reflect the views and desires of his constituents. If he does not vote for their interests when the major bills come to vote, he will lose his bid for reelection.
News reports indicate he withheld his vote until it was clear the Democrats had the majority they needed to pass the legislation. One could infer he was prepared to vote against the bill if his vote would have changed the outcome.
Unfortunately we do not have a color blind society. African American majority districts have been gerrymandered throughout the country. Given the predisposition of African Americans to vote in a block for race and the Democrat party it is nearly impossible for a non African American Republican to be elected to office in these districts. If the Republican party is to have any chance of capturing more minority voters it must take advantage of these opportunities, recognizing to preserve the seat the representative will have to serve his/her constituents. I’d rather have an Republican of any race who votes conservative 20% of the time representing this district than a Democrat of any race who votes far left 100% of the time. The 20% is better than nothing and over time we have the open up the minds of the voters in that district to new ideas.
The Democrats are capturing “white” southern districts with their blue dog strategy. They don’t get 100% allegiance from these representatives but they do get enough support on key votes to pass the critical elements of their agenda as we’ve just seen.
To return to majority status, Republicans will have to capture some moderate to left leaning districts. We cannot win and capture those districts without representing the wishes of those voters.
Recognize today the Republicans have no leadership and are coming across to the public as having no ideas. They are playing defense and showing up as the party of “no”. The party lost the elections of 2006 and 2008 because it gave the people nothing to vote “for” and they had been fiscally irresponsible during the time they had majorities in Congress. The Democrats came to power with a promise of “change” and the public responded to that agenda, giving the Dems large majorities in the legislature as well as the Presidency. Until the Republicans move from the party of “no” to a positive message, we have no chance to shift the balance of power. While a Republican alternative health care plan was defeated yesterday, who knew anything about it?
While I’m disappointed Cao didn’t stand with the rest of the party on this vote, I don’t blame him. Had he voted no on principle, he would have assured his loss in the next election and received nothing in return. This way, he voted with his constituents as they elected him to do. He can fight his opponent with a record of serving his constituents without the corruption of his predecessor. He will have given them reasons to vote for him rather than against him. A Congressman actually representing the preferences of his district. What a novel concept!
He represents a majority African American district that normally votes Democrat. His votes undoubtedly reflect the views and desires of his constituents. If he does not vote for their interests when the major bills come to vote, he will lose his bid for reelection.
News reports indicate he withheld his vote until it was clear the Democrats had the majority they needed to pass the legislation. One could infer he was prepared to vote against the bill if his vote would have changed the outcome.
Unfortunately we do not have a color blind society. African American majority districts have been gerrymandered throughout the country. Given the predisposition of African Americans to vote in a block for race and the Democrat party it is nearly impossible for a non African American Republican to be elected to office in these districts. If the Republican party is to have any chance of capturing more minority voters it must take advantage of these opportunities, recognizing to preserve the seat the representative will have to serve his/her constituents. I’d rather have an Republican of any race who votes conservative 20% of the time representing this district than a Democrat of any race who votes far left 100% of the time. The 20% is better than nothing and over time we have the open up the minds of the voters in that district to new ideas.
The Democrats are capturing “white” southern districts with their blue dog strategy. They don’t get 100% allegiance from these representatives but they do get enough support on key votes to pass the critical elements of their agenda as we’ve just seen.
To return to majority status, Republicans will have to capture some moderate to left leaning districts. We cannot win and capture those districts without representing the wishes of those voters.
Recognize today the Republicans have no leadership and are coming across to the public as having no ideas. They are playing defense and showing up as the party of “no”. The party lost the elections of 2006 and 2008 because it gave the people nothing to vote “for” and they had been fiscally irresponsible during the time they had majorities in Congress. The Democrats came to power with a promise of “change” and the public responded to that agenda, giving the Dems large majorities in the legislature as well as the Presidency. Until the Republicans move from the party of “no” to a positive message, we have no chance to shift the balance of power. While a Republican alternative health care plan was defeated yesterday, who knew anything about it?
While I’m disappointed Cao didn’t stand with the rest of the party on this vote, I don’t blame him. Had he voted no on principle, he would have assured his loss in the next election and received nothing in return. This way, he voted with his constituents as they elected him to do. He can fight his opponent with a record of serving his constituents without the corruption of his predecessor. He will have given them reasons to vote for him rather than against him. A Congressman actually representing the preferences of his district. What a novel concept!
He will have given them reasons to vote for him rather than against him. A Congressman actually representing the preferences of his district. What a novel concept!
________________________________________________________
Now lets see if Cao can count on his supporters to pay for his next election. Since they pay no taxes, I bet they are good for about three or four hundred dollars. NO MONEY FROM THE GOP!
this cat must go.
I wonder if this idiot knows what a black sheep is ?
What if your choice was a Republican who votes conservative 20% of the time vs. a Democrat who votes conservative 80% of the time?
The 20% is better than nothing and over time we have the open up the minds of the voters in that district to new ideas.
Those 20 percenters are called RINOs and they arent good for anything except for losing to Democrats. And they never open the minds of anyone to vote Republican much less convince some to accept some or any conservative ideas.
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