According to a report by the Associated Press on Tuesday, Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA), the lone Republican defector on the House health care reform bill, admitted that he had suffered some blowback from the bill: two fundraisers have been canceled and several campaign contributors have asked for their money back. Though some GOP leaders like Michael Steele have claimed the GOP will come after any Republican defectors, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) claims that the canceled fundraisers aren't retaliatory and that he is "well aware that Anh Cao is a thoughtful legislator." Meanwhile, a Louisiana Republican Party spokesman claims he knows of no efforts to primary Rep. Cao.
Cao says he doesn't regret the vote--"At the end of the day, I have to represent my district" -- and that he has no intention of deserting the Republican Party.
But I've never been a partisan politician. If you were to listen to me on some of the issues on the Hill, I have addressed my frustration toward partisan politics.
He also tells the AP that he can't support a final bill unless it explicitly bans federal funding of abortions.

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colbito
November 11, 2009 11:30 AM
Is Cao trying to eat his cake and have it too? If the abortion covenants in the House/Senate compromise bill weaken will he vote against the final bill?
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DownriverDem
November 11, 2009 12:05 PM
Rep. Cao should do the correct thing and switch parties. He ran as a Repub because of Rep. Jefferson. The district is a Dem district. We welcome him big time. The GOP shows that they are going down by their actions.
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Azdak
November 11, 2009 12:11 PM in reply to DownriverDem
Better yet, if this is a Dem district, let's elect an actual Democrat in 2010, one who actually supports women, rather than another blue dog.
This happened in Chicago in 1994 when Rostenkowski was ousted. There was a repub seat warmer until the next election. (OK, the next guy was Rahm Emmanuel, so it wasn't all good, but at least a Dem).
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hinterlandharry
November 11, 2009 12:16 PM
I think his vote was a way to test the waters on re-election. He wouldn't have won except for Bad News Jefferson. You're right, he may be headed for a party change. Representatives and Senators vote more often than not in response to institutional lobbying efforts rather than in the best interests/sentiments of their constituents; in this case, Cao's vote seems to have responded to his constituents' sentiments, although they are 75% Democratic.
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Kelly Sirkus
November 11, 2009 12:16 PM
out with a blaze of glory, I suppose.
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