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 ...
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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