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Pro-Life Works: Principles Over Politics March 22, 2010 Principles Over Politics
Congressman Joseph Cao, Republican from Louisiana’s Second Congressional District, was considered to be an important vote on ObamaCare. As the only Republican in Congress to support the measure in November, Cao was under tremendous pressure to vote Yes again on March 21. He supported most parts of the proposal and told a national newspaper, “I do believe that we need health care reform. I do believe that we as a government have a duty to help those who are in need but who cannot help themselves.” Additionally, the Pro-Life congressman is in the rare situation of representing a district that overwhelming supports the healthcare bill and his reelection campaign would likely end if he voted No. Fortunately Congressman Cao’s moral convictions mean more to him than getting re-elected. Born in Vietnam in 1967, Cao’s family eventually sought refuge in the United States after his father, a soldier in South Vietnamese army, was captured at the end of the war. The family settled in Houston, where Cao graduated from Jersey Village High School. After getting a degree in physics from Baylor University in Waco, Cao spent six years as a Jesuit seminarian before deciding the priesthood was not for him. After moving to New Orleans, Cao married and had two kids before deciding to run for office. He ran as a Republican because of the party’s strong Pro-Life stance. In November 2008, Cao won the Republican Party primary to face incumbent Congressman William Jefferson. In Cao’s favor was the FBI investigation that found $90,000 in bribe money in Jefferson’s freezer. In Jefferson’s favor were the demographics of the district: in 2006, the Republican candidate garnered only 13% of the vote. In the end, Cao barely topped Jefferson and immediately felt the target on his back as the most at risk Republican in 2010. Democrats understand that the upcoming election cycle will not be easy for them and they will attempt to mitigate their losses by going after especially vulnerable Republican seats like Cao’s. After ensuring that Pro-Life protections would be added to the House version of the legislation and receiving assurances that his vote would not decide the fate of the bill, Cao voted Yes in November 2009. But the Senate restored the abortion funding and both Speaker Pelosi and President Obama refused to remove it from the new bill. Cao likely sealed his fate as a one-term congressman when he joined every other Republican and voted No on the bill, but the Pro-Life movement was confident about how he would vote. In November, a New Orleans newspaper printed the following: "I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career," Cao said. But, referring to his opposition to abortion, he said, "I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, 'How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but to lose his soul.' '' Adam Black Political Director Legislative Associate |
