Joseph Cao, Member of Louisiana's 2nd district
Joseph Cao made a big statement by voting in support of HR 3962. Joseph Cao became the only Republican to vote in support of the House health care bill, and it could place him in hot water with his party very soon. Joseph Cao is Louisiana Representative in the House, and one of 177 Republicans that are part of the House of Representatives. On Saturday night, 176 Republicans voted against the House health care bill, but Joseph Cao decided to vote in favor of it. By crossing party lines, Representative Anh "Joseph" Cao may have shown his hand, but he may also be doing exactly what his district wants of him.
Rep. Joseph Cao may be a Republican member of the House, but he is also from a very Democratic district of New Orleans. Keeping that in mind, he could have been voting for what they wanted, or he may have seen this as an opportunity to really curry some favor with President Obama. It was reported by the Huffington Post that President Obama had already contacted Cao, and that the two of them would be working to address the critical state of health care in Louisiana. From that stand point, it makes perfect sense for Cao to support a House Resolution that would bring direct benefits to his home state.
It had seemed that Rep. Joseph Cao would have a strong career in the GOP after comments made by House Minority Leader John Boehner shined a very nice light on him, but recent events could be showing that Rep. Cao may have thoughts of working with the Democratic Party more in the future. No matter how you look at the final vote of 220-215 on H.R. 3962, Representative Cao has made a move that would help out his constituency, and undoubtedly push him towards receiving even more support for re-election in the near future. It's a calculated risk by Cao, who may find he lost some favor in the Republican Party, but gained a new partnership with President Obama.
The vote from Cao wasn’t enough to sway the House in either direction, so people need not look at this as the reason that H.R. 3962 was approved by the House of Representatives. What it does do though, is give Democrats the hope that there can still be some headway made on the bill that has to go through Senate for any real changes to the health care system to be made.
Comments
Way to go Joe.
You just signed your own pink slip!
Rep. Gao is in a heavily Black populated area of New Orleans. His vote for the bill has nothing to do with party
politics. He was forced to accommodate black racism. Any
vote against this Health Care bill would be considered racist
and anti Obama.
Joseph Gao has read and analyzed this bill and knows
all its dangers. Trying to explain that to his black voters
would get hin nowhere. Only Whites took the trouble to attend his
townhall meetings.
This is the kind of political courage that makes me proud to be an American. History will show that health care reform was long overdue, and will benefit each and every American, except perhaps some of the overpaid executives in the insurance industry. But regardless of one' position on the underlying issue, Representative Cao's courage to vote for what he believes his constituency and his country needs, despite potential political danger is just plain admirable. I for one can be counted on to support his continued service to his country.
Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Good-bye!
Cao should be admired for his courage to be independent and not be coerced by party politics. After all he represents his constituents and voted in their interests.
Ditto for the 39 Democrats who did not vote along party line.
Way to go Rep. Cao and those Reps.!
Americans should be proud that the democratic republic is working with stability and expectancy.
Not all Republicans are morons...just 99% of them. Way to go, Joe ! Its nice to see one GOP'er thats more interested in helping the country than looking for the president's birth certificate.
I will no longer financially support the Republican party until this guy is O-U-T
It would be respectable if a politician voted for what they knew was right instead of taking a poll on which vote gets them re-elected. How many did the respectable thing?. . . . all but one. . . . he's a disgrace to the Republican party.
Dear Joe,
You're my new hero. Thanks for doing the right thing for the American people and I hope your party follows your lead although I wouldn't hold my breath. The other people here saying negative things about you are wrong and they're on the wrong side of history, plain and simple.
Rep.Joe Cao, a true American 'HERO'!
Sir, may I express to you my deep gratitude & my sincere respect for your courage, for your authentic 'American spirit' and for your wisdom of choosing to DO THE RIGHT THING in SUPPORTING H.R. 3962. Few individuals of your vision, compassion and integrity are willing to 'place themselves in the breach' of history in the midst of such political division, national discord or vengeful reactions as your vote on H.R. 3962 brought you from the Party of "NO"-the GOP!
Please know that 'freedom loving Americans', 'visionary humans' and the whole civilized global community have not overlooked your quest of excellence, courage and patriotism to the cause that is most illustrative of our 21st century-YOUR VOTE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM AND THE HOPE & HEALTH OF OUR NEXT GENERATION!
Blessings to you,Representative Joe Cao!
You have added your name to the short list of HISTORY'S HEROES who have had the COURAGE, COMPASSION and CONSTITUTION to DO THE RIGHT
I don't admire traitors. That is what he is. Strip the word Republican out of his title. I am from Texas and I am going to send $100 to the Republican or Conservative Independent of my choice who will run against this traitor next term.
Just found out, I will not be alone.
They all signed their pink slips last night.
If this is so great I expect to see you vote that you should be covered by this also. If it is so great for us, it should be just as great for you & your family. Remember WE are your boss and YOU work for us. Who do you think you are?
I am proud of Rep.Cao and the others who helped pass the long overdue insurance reform. It is not a perfect bill, but it is a start. It surprises me to see how many people, who would benefit from this bill, are out to defeat it. I wonder how many who are against it have been brainwashed by expensive insurance ads. Those who think that the government is going to manage their health care need to look at what many insurance companies have been doing to falsify policies, increase premiums and deny coverage.
Good job Joe - it's good to see a representative vote how his constituents ask him to.
To Ervin, Brian, Granny 2 and the others who are resisting health care reform. YOU are so blind to the fact that big business has manipulated you into thinking that this debate is about 'freedom' and your 'rights.' Wake up! It's about profits, profits and more profits! They want to suck the country dry and don't give a damn about you or the health of our nation.
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