The Battle Of New Orleans-- Cao Fragged By Right Wing Extremists For Being Squishy On The Gays

When the corruption got even too outrageous for New Orleans voters, and one of the nation's most solidly Democratic districts-- LA-2 may have turned on Democrats for saddling them with William Jefferson but gave Obama 74% of its vote-- elected Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao, a typically tipsy John Boehner was noted remarking that "The future [of the Republican Party] is Cao." In the last days of the 2010 election cycle, a key component of the Republican machine-- the Talibanesque religious right-- turned viciously against Cao in his tough struggle towards an ultimately failed reelection bid.

Cao was the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress. [Republicans thought they could solidify their base with the Vietnamese community by electing corrupt California Assemblyman Van Tran but he failed this month, 52-41% against weak Blue Dog Loretta Sanchez in Orange County, California.] Meanwhile Cao, went down to defeat against Democratic state Rep Cedric Richmond 83,653 (65%) to 43,364 (33%). Richmond wiped him out in Orleans Parish (71-28%) but beat him handily in Jefferson Parish as well, where Cao had hoped he stood a slim chance to save his seat. In 2008 Cao had beaten the corruption-scarred incumbent 49-47%, becoming the first Republican to represent New Orleans since 1890, by racking up a huge win in Jefferson Parish while William Jefferson only took Orleans Parish with 51% of the vote.

Cao was born in Saigon and his father had been a rightist who fought against Vietnamese liberation and unification. He was imprisoned after the war and young Cao came to the U.S. (well... Texas) at age 8. He wound up in a Jesuit seminary for 6 years but decided against becoming a priest and pursued a career in law instead, as an immigration attorney. He wasn't involved in politics before Katrina and only managed to win because of William Jefferson's exploding corruption scandal. Once in Congress he set about to support the aspirations of his-- mostly African-American-- new constituents by supporting a lot more Democratic legislation than almost any other Republicans and by bringing home the bacon in terms of earmarks. With a 17.50 Progressive Punch voting score, only Vern Ehlers (MI), Ron Paul (TX) and Tim Johnson (IL) crossed the aisle more frequently than Cao. He voted with the Democrats about as frequently as Alabama Blue Dog Bobby Bright-- though not on the same issues as Bright. In fact, Bright was one of Congress' most bigoted homophobes and one of the Democrats' most persistent opponents of the legitimate aspirations of working families. Cao was one of the only Republicans to support the LGBT community. He was also one of only 2 Republicans to vote for the DISCLOSE Act and he was the only Republican to vote with the Democrats on the original healthcare reform act, although he ultimately voted against final passage because he felt it wasn't anti-Choice enough. That's what made the attack against him by Tony Perkins and the demented right wing hate group, Family Research Council, so tough to take.

Cao remains angry at Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council for launching a last-minute radio ad against him, and for effectively fragging a fellow pro-lifer who is a former Jesuit seminarian and was once considered a model for a more diverse Republican Party.

"For a conservative Christian organization to attack a Republican pro-life candidate in a general election is as ignorant as it is inexcusable," Cao told Warren Throckmorton, an evangelical Protestant psychologist and author.

...Cao's approach to homosexual rights also got him into trouble with Perkins and the FRC, despite his own conservative Catholic and pro-life bona fides. Cao co-sponsored both the Hate Crimes Protection Act of 2009 and legislation to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, and that was enough to label him a traitor to the cause in the eyes of Tony Perkins, who had enthusiastically endorsed Cao in 2008.

Perkins was very clear about what he was hoping to accomplish by attacking a wounded Republican in battle. He says he "wanted to send a very clear message to Republicans across the country; if you take a stand against the family, we will take a stand against you. These squishy Republicans need to know that we will come after them, just like the Democrats." Perkins ran his attack ad on WRNO, a Hate Talk Radio station that is the New Orleans home of Rush Limbaugh and other far right extremists. It actually calls itself "Rush Radio" and also features Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, John Osterlind and Dennis Miller in the GOP propaganda lineup. The tag line was "Washington doesn't need more liberal Republicans. Stop Joe Cao on Election Day."

"Who is Rep. Joseph Cao representing in Washington?" the FRC ad asks. "Cao has repeatedly voted for extra protections for homosexuals at the cost of religious liberty. Cao voted to use the military to advance the radical social agendas of homosexual activists and he voted for a so-called hate crimes bill that places your personal liberties at jeopardy."

Cao co-sponsored both the Hate Crimes Protection Act of 2009 and House legislation to repeal the policy that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the armed forces, known as "don't ask, don't tell."

"I believe it is a human rights violation to impose government-sanctioned penalties on a group of people just because of their sexual orientation, just as it would be a human rights violation to impose penalties on a group because of its religious affiliation or race," Cao said. "I will continue to fight for the protection of human rights for all people.

Do New Orleanians have to put up with the bullying of the Party of No? (Maybe not.) PLUS: Sir Sleazebag found!

When he defeated indicted Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, Donklephant asked, "Is Anh Cao A Model For A New Republican Party?"

Donklephant blogger Justin Gardner wrote:

No doubt many GOPers will call Cao a RINO if he doesn’t toe the party line, but this is the type of guy who can bring independents and moderate Dems back into the Republican party. And I hope Obama finds an ally in Cao from time to time when they’re trying to solve difficult problems that require common sense solutions over partisan jockeying.

Fingers crossed.

Well, it doesn't appear to be working out that way. Howie writes:

When it looked like a few House Repugs might break ranks with their party's obstructionist leaders, I mentioned that Anh Cao, the Repug from New Orleans, was most likely to vote yes -- since he said he would for the good of his constituents. Then House Repug Whip Eric Cantor got a-hold of him and persuaded him that there are some goods that are gooder than his constituents'.

Now BayouBuzz reports:

Louisiana Congressman Cao Faces Recall Petition Over Stimulus Vote

Congressman Joseph “Anh” Cao, a Republican, who defeated William “Bill” Jefferson, is facing a recall petition because of his vote on the Barack Obama stimulus package. The recall has been initiated by a group of ministers.

Cao had indicated that he would be voting in favor of the controversial legislation but instead voted against it.

Papers have been filed with the Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State which started the process, requiring sufficient signatures to force a recall election for the office held by Representative Cao.

Cao represents a majority African American community, many who were outraged by Cao’s vote. Cao made national news with his victory over Bill Jefferson.

One elected official, State Representative Juan A. LaFonta, Democrat of District 96, told Bayoubuzz that he does not know about the existence of the petition but that he would sign it.

“We don’t need Cao to be Steve Scalise”, said LaFonta. Scalise is a Republican who represents a neighboring conservative Congressional District. “People are starving and Cao needs to represent the people of the district”, LaFonta said.

Cao is Vietnamese and has been hailed by many in the media as a new face of the Republican Party.

The group of ministers who filed the petition want to make sure that he faces a recall, which could be a very daunting act, if not impossible act, in Louisiana based upon the state’s history.

HOWIE ADDS:

I hope Anh Cao gets recalled, not just because he's a Republican but because he put his obstructionist party's wishes ahead of the interests of his own constituents and ahead of the interests of the United States. Today's NY Times focuses on GOP hypocrisy around the country as more and more Republican members of Congress who, like Cao, voted to obstruct, are now celebrating the parts of the Stimulus Bill they like. Take Michigan's Twittering idiot Pete Hoekstra for example -- who doesn't seem to understand Twitter at all and who gave away state secrets on it a few weeks ago:

Representative Peter Hoekstra of Michigan sounded almost giddy on Wednesday in a post on the microblogging Web site Twitter: "If you know of someone thinking of buying first home, now may be the time. Stimulus incentive is very generous! Up to 8k! Check it out."

Mr. Hoekstra, who also voted against the bill, appeared less optimistic last week. "House passed spending bill. I don’t believe it will work," Mr. Hoekstra wrote on Twitter. "Hope we’re wrong but I don’t think so."

BULLETIN: BILLIONAIRE SIR SLEAZEBAG FOUND!

The Washington Post reports today:

Allen Stanford Found in Virginia

FBI agents found R. Allen Stanford, the suspected mastermind of a $9.2 billion financial fraud, in Fredericksburg, Va., and served him with court papers, authorities said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Stanford, his three companies and two associates with fraud Tuesday after determining that he was allegedly misleading customers in the sale of certificates of deposit and other financial products.

Federal agents raided his office buildings in Houston, a judge froze his assets and a receiver was put in charge of his companies. But Stanford, a billionaire who spends much of the year in Antigua, where the bank at the center of the alleged fraud is based, could not be found.

The lawyer representing him in the SEC investigation had weeks earlier ended his association with Stanford and disavowed any earlier statements.

The investigation into Stanford has focused on what the SEC has called "impossible" returns on his investment portfolio, generating questions about whether he was running a Ponzi scheme.

The SEC has worked with criminal authorities on the case, but no criminal charges have yet been filed against Stanford. The SEC often files civil charges before criminal charges are filed.

But remember, since "Sir Allen" isn't under any kind of criminal indictment, he wasn't arrested. He was merely served the papers. Apparently he did surrender his passport (though if he can make his way to, say, Antigua, of which he more or less owns a chunk, it doesn't seem likely that he'll be turned away for want of a passport), but then he was and sent on his way.

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Louisiana Shockers

Crooked congressman defeated

I never root for Republicans to win elections. And I never root for reactionary Democrats dragged up from deep in the bowels of the Republican wing of the Democratic Party either. Nor do I root for corrupt members of Congress, regardless of ideology. So I was pretty much sidelined in today's two late Louisiana elections. (They were postponed because of hurricanes.) In LA-04 Democrats hoped to pick up a very red district being vacated by Jim McCrery by running a right-wing anti-choice fanatic, Paul Carmouche. He was unable to generate any enthusiasm from many African Americans and whatever progressives live in Shreveport and he was edged out by a much further right wing extremist loon, John Fleming, 44,497 (48.07%)- 44,141 (47.69%).

Carmouche crushed Fleming in Shreveport itself (Caddo Parish)-- 22,742 to 15,510-- but it wasn't enough to overcome Fleming's lead Bossier, Vernon, Sabine, Grant, and Beauregard Parishes. Remember, this district went for McCain over Obama by 19%.

Meanwhile, way at the other end of the state, Democrats are getting a good lesson from Anh Cao, a Republican attorney. In light turnout the overwhelmingly Democratic district-- with a PVI of D+28-- is telling Democrats that forced to pick between an honest moderate Republican and a crooked moderate Democrat, they're going for the Republican. Things could change but right now, with 391 precincts reporting (out of 492), Jefferson is having his head handed to him. Cao is an anti-choice fanatic.

Cao- 29,345 (52.94%)
Jefferson- 23,985 (43.27%)

All the votes from Jefferson Parish are counted and Cao beat Jefferson 12,696 to 8,099. Orleans Parish is a much more Democratic and a much more African-American area and it is still not inconceivable that Jefferson will catch up, but I wouldn't bet on it. CNN just called it for Cao and most political junkies are doing likewise. If Cao wants to stay in Congress beyond 2010, he should switch parties when he makes his victory speech. You can follow the results on the Secretary of State's website.


UPDATE: FINAL RESULTS IN LA-02

Cao- 33,122 (49.55%)
Jefferson- 31,296 (46.82)

The Times-Picayune reports that Jefferson hasn't conceded but that he went on the radio and blamed African Americans for not turning out for him in sufficient numbers. Instead of wondering if they were sick of his corruption, he says they "ran out of juice."

Carmouche won't concede either-- and in his case that might not be a bad decision. It's very close and he wants to make sure all the provisional ballots get counted.