by Mark Silva
Rep. Anh "Joseph'' Cao, the one Republican who voted for the House's health-care legislation near midnight Saturday, said he had let the White House know he was on board: "I called the White House and said I could possibly support the bill."
The president had called the freshman congressman from New Orleans around noon on Saturday, hours before a vote on an amendment banning most abortion coverage from the so-called "public option'' in the health bill which was key to the votes of Cao and others.
Cao, elected in an overhwelmingly Democratic district after former Rep. William Jefferson's (the cash is in the freezer) conviction for corruption, told CNN that he "had to make a decision of conscience based on the needs of the people in my district."
"I had to make a decision and I felt that last night's decision was the right decision for my district," he added. "Even though it was not the popular decision for my party."
He said today that, despite his break from his party -- he was the only Republican in the House to join the 220-215 vote margin for passage of the Democratic leadership's health-care bill -- and despite RNC Chairman Michael Steele's warning that the GOP will be going after the health-care bill's supporters, he suspects his party will continue to work with him. He also dismissed any suggestion that he had traded his vote for additional help for the people of New Orleans in the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
"The president and I, we have had a very good relationship, and I thank him and his administration for their hard work in helping me to rebuild my district after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina," Cao said.
"I'm pretty sure that if I were to vote no against the bill the president would still continue to work with me to address the needs of my district. But I felt it was important of me to support the president in this matter because, like I said before, based on my own conscience, it was the right decision for my district."
Comments
Just a quick fact about Cao's vote - he cast his vote for the bill after the democats had cast 218 votes for the bill. His vote is just like those of teh blue (lap) dog democrats that cast their votes against the bill - political survival.
Remember, Cao serves the old district of the convicted Congressman William "Cold Cash" Jefferson.
Posted by: Terry | November 9, 2009 1:04 PM
Oh My God, a representitive voted for what his constituants wanted and not what Rush and Sarah wanted. He should be kicked out of the Republican Party.
Posted by: pd | November 9, 2009 1:47 PM
HA HA HA!
WAY TO GO CAO!
IN YOUR FACE TEABAGGERS!
.
Posted by: former Republican | November 9, 2009 2:08 PM
The count: 39 Democrats buck their party and vote AGAINST PelosiCare, versus 1 Republican who goes the other way.
Swamp: 2 videos so far on the lone GOP defector, versus none on the 39 Democrat defectors.
The count: 176 Republicans vote against PelosiCare, versus 1 who votes for.
Swamp: more mention of the 1, than of the 176.
David Axelrod would approve of this "coverage".
Posted by: Bruce | November 9, 2009 2:14 PM
Just a quick fact about Cao's vote - he cast his vote for the bill after the democats had cast 218 votes for the bill. His vote is just like those of teh blue (lap) dog democrats that cast their votes against the bill - political survival.
Posted by: Terry | November 9, 2009 1:04 PM RNC Chairman
So what! He shows true bipartisanship and that politics don't sway his job! THATS what its all about. And as far as your leaders smear and fear statment to fellow republicans who vote for this bill, warning that the GOP will be going after these supporters, well, that just says it all now doesnt it. That whole ''You're either with us or against us'' mentality is so 5 years ago and proves without a shadow of doubt that your party is a lost cause!!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | November 9, 2009 2:28 PM
I am so shocked to see a politician do the right thing that I don't know what to say. Working for the people who elected him... what a nice change of pace. And yes, I do expect the hateful GOP to kick him out of the party. I'm sure Rush will demand it. Congratulations Mr. Cao. I applaud your ability to think outside your party line.
Posted by: Bob | November 9, 2009 2:49 PM
Bruce,
It was know that Democrats would cross the aisle. That isn't really news, is it?
But when a the goose stepping ranks of the republican party has a defection, yes that IS news. Especially after they have been warned by their party chair that any defections would be political suicide.
Oh, and in a recent poll of by the Watsamatayou Foundation, 95% of respondants judged your posts irrelevant and inane.
Posted by: Bruis | November 9, 2009 2:50 PM
Scottie,
Did the 39 democrats vote against show true bi-partisianship?
It would good to see the conservatives lost cause in Virgina and New Jersey this past week.
Posted by: Terry | November 9, 2009 3:32 PM
Scott -when you say "So what! He shows true bipartisanship and that politics don't sway his job! ..." You are ignoring Cao's own words;
"I'm pretty sure that if I were to vote no against the bill the president would still continue to work with me to address the needs of my district. But I felt it was important of me to support the president in this matter because, like I said before, based on my own conscience, it was the right decision for my district." --
Politics were THE ONLY thing that swayed his vote-!
Cao's vote was bought and paid for you knucklehead!
Posted by: heartburn | November 9, 2009 3:47 PM
Bruce, "coverage."
Posted by: "." | November 9, 2009 7:42 PM
It was a brilliant move! notice how the Republicans have said almost nothing about Cao voting for this? thats because he comes from a very Democratic district and out of the top 10 house members in trouble in 2010 he was the lone republican and all the rest were Democrats. As a conservative i applaud him voting for this horrible legislation because it just assured him reelection.
Posted by: Dave | November 10, 2009 11:34 AM
terry thScottie,
Did the 39 democrats vote against show true bi-partisianship?
It would good to see the conservatives lost cause in Virgina and New Jersey this past week.
..and this you interpret as a victory because.....?
The fact is the dems won 2 congressional seats and thats what matters.
Posted by: writerofwrongs | November 10, 2009 12:39 PM
terry thScottie,
Did the 39 democrats vote against show true bi-partisianship?
It would good to see the conservatives lost cause in Virgina and New Jersey this past week.
..and this you interpret as a victory because.....?
The fact is the dems won 2 congressional seats and thats what matters.
Posted by: writerofwrongs | November 10, 2009 12:39 PM
Still wrong,
The california seat was a given.
NY23 was lost by four points by a 3rd party canidate that basically was unknown until the last week of the election and had no political apparutus behind him. Enjoy the seat for a year, its conservative in 2010.
Owens broke multiple promises on his first day in office.
http://bringbackamerica.org/2009/11/07/bill-owens-dem-ny-district-23-liar-within-an-hour/
Posted by: Terry | November 10, 2009 6:53 PM
terry of Teabagistan (snip):
Still wrong,
The california seat was a given.
NY23 was lost by four points by a 3rd party canidate that basically was unknown until the last week of the election and had no political apparutus behind him. Enjoy the seat for a year, its conservative in 2010.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's who won that matters, so quit stammering and accept it.
Further, until the GOP cleans house of the nazi's, bigots, white supremists, birthers, deather, screamers and other assorted LOSERS, there will be no *victories* that truly matter and a repub. willing a seat on the local sanitary district board hardly counts.
Posted by: writerofwrongs | November 11, 2009 8:44 AM