Louisiana had congressional elections Saturday. There were two new Congressmen elected, both Republicans. One was a Houstonian for much of his life, has a great personal story, and is the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/us/politics/08cao.html?ref=politics
He seems like a very good man, especially about working with the poor in Mexico. So why did he join the darkside? =(
Actually there are moderate Republicans that are pretty sensible, but for some reason to be a party leader you have to get in line with the right wing, like Mccain just did, pretty pathetic.
This board is full of pathetic lefties just sickened me! Here we have a wonderful story in an underdog like Mr Cao, who gives hope to the state of Louisana, heck probably America herself, that there is still some decency and humanity left in us. Where are you pathetic resident lefties around here? How come I don't hear a beep out of you about this story? Maybe you can not fathom for the fact that, a minority like mr Cao ,who can rise up and punk your chosen minority ,like that piece of turd we called "Dollar Bill" aka "William Jefferson". Flame away lefties!
I'm proud of my fellow Vietnamese American winning the seat. Louisiana has some smart and diverse Republicans in office. Esteban, you're acting like an idiot though.
Welcome to the D&D. Stay a while - I like your thinking By the way - in the liberal D&D mindset, a minority earning a position of power only counts if the person is a democrat Colin Powell and Condi Rice = "Bush's stooges who can't think for themselves" Barack: "OMG, FINALLY a man of color has made it!!" Kwame Kilpatrick: "Oh, he doesn't count and you're racist for bringing him up"
yes, everybody has been "flaming" cao in this thread, I really can see what estaban and texxx are saying on this one funny how texxx is playing the race card on this tisk tisk
I'm glad this happened but let's face it: In 2 years Cao is history. I like how some in the GOP are loving all over him and saying he represents their future. At least they acknowledge the need to change. But making this bigger than a complete fluke is silly.
no doubt. there was one relatively benign comment made before esteban jumped in with his rant. touchy much? i don't care if it was a transvestite illegal alien who beat jefferson, i'm just happy he's gone. people like him are embarassments to our country, republican or democrat. the fact that it's the first vietnamese-american in congress is a great story.
Given the NOLA electorate the odds are against him lasting more than one term. He seems in the position of the guy who took Rostenkowski's seat only to lose it to Blagojevich (yes the IL Gov. selling Obama's seat) two years later. Unfortunately for districts like NOLA and Chicago a corrupt Democrat has a better shot than any Republican. Cao sounds like an interesting guy but a the moment I really don't know enough about him to form a strong opinion. It will be interesting to see how he does in the heavily Dem. congress.
As a "low key", non-ideological, first-term congressman in the minority party (especially in the current climate with BO as president), he won't have the opportunity to accomplish much. In general, the fire-breathing, ideological dragons in the GOP will do everything they can to tarnish Obama and Cao won't even register on the radar. IMO, if he's serious about being in congress, he needs to start his re-election campaign immediately and reach out to people who aren't likely to vote for him in 2010. It's the only way he can hope to mount a credible campaign next time.
I don't see why Cao can't be a successful Congressman of minority ethnicity in New Orleans, regardless of political party affiliation. Ever heard of Harry Lee?
Its not a matter of being a minority so much as it is a matter of his political affiliation. Its true a creole like Ray Nagin or a black man like Jefferson has a better shot at winning election in NOLA than an Asian but what matters more is that they are Democrats. As I said earlier even a corrupt democrat in NOLA has a better chance of winning than any Republican.
No, political affiliation played only a minor role, if any, in Lee's public life. Although registered as a Democrat, Lee was not a partisan ideologue, as he supported many a time Republican politicians in his home state. Moreover, Lee's constituents were never bothered by his cross-party endorsement and re-elected him with overwhelming victory margins time and time again. Like Lee, Cao isn't a partisan conformist and the voters don't seem to care either.
It'll be interesting to see how Cao plays with others in Congress. The Boehners among the Republicans no doubt wants to use him a bit as a "fresh face of the party," but I don't know if he wants to go along with it, or if he can afford to go along with it assuming he wants a shot a re-election. Tactically, it would seem like a good idea for Cao to very publicly poke the Republican leadership in the eye a few times just to show his constituents that he's no partisan/ideologue.
Sounds like a majority Democrat and even African American district. When Cao runs for reelection there will probably be a newer less scandal ridden Democrat and it will be difficult for him to win. However, this could be changing with the probably conscious plan to depopulate New Orleans of AA's after Katrina.
