Streetcar Line
Should Congress Have a Cao?
Look what two hurricanes might blow in.
(Page 2 of 2)
First, though, there was the little matter of meeting his hero McCain in mid-summer and telling his hero about his father’s admiration for the senator, and then the Republican National Convention where he could cast his official vote for McCain’s nomination. His plane ticket for Minnesota was all lined up — and then Hurricane Gustav bore down on the Louisiana coast.
Cao had seen that movie before. So Cao forgot the plane ticket. He packed up his wife and two children — they were not intending to go to the convention — in the car and drove them all up to Minnesota. Good thing he did. Gustav swung a little south and west of New Orleans but, even so, low-lying New Orleans East got drenched again. From the convention, Cao spoke to a friend who told him Cao’s house had a foot and a half of water in it. A foot and a half is a lot. It causes serious problems. He was the only member of the entire Louisiana delegation (or at least of the ones who actually made it to the convention rather than canceling at the last minute) who had major home damage in the storm.
When the convention ended, the Caos returned to find they needed temporary lodging with friends. But now the family is back in its own home, living on the second floor while doing major repair work on the first, still waiting for their flood insurance to come through.
If somebody can shrug over the phone, Cao shrugged. “It is just an inconvenience,” he insisted.
The question is, though, whether Cao’s campaign is just an inconvenience for Jefferson, or whether Cao actually has a chance.
NOBODY SEEMS TO THINK a win is likely, but local political pros insist that it is doable. There is, of course, the matter of Jefferson’s indictments and the local embarrassment about them. There are also investigations and indictments involving non-profits to which Jefferson funneled grants. And several investigations of Jefferson’s family members who have served in other local government offices.
On national Election Day, Jefferson won his own primary over a white Democratic opponent, Helena Moreno, by a margin of 92,080 to 70,159. The GOP and independent registration combined is 34 percent and, if Cao can pick off a significant portion of Moreno’s Democratic votes — this time in an election without the heavy pro-Obama turnout working in Jefferson’s favor — the arithmetic starts to look less daunting.
“He has an outstanding chance,” insists former New Orleans City Councilman Brian Wagner, also a former Republican National Committeeman. “We have a very compelling candidate who is someone who can do an outstanding job in Congress. He has fought poverty [while with the Jesuits] all over the world, and he’s probably the closest thing to a saint who I have ever known who has ever run for Congress…. He has two wonderful, intelligent children, and his wife graduated cum laude at the pharmacy school at Xavier [University in New Orleans]…. It’s just a matter of combining that message with the right turnout.”
For the last two and a half weeks of the campaign, Cao has about $70,000 cash on hand, with Republican Party committees committed to pitching in (independently) the maximum allowed $84,000. And that was before any late money came in from fundraisers thrown by pillars of the New Orleans community both Tuesday and Wednesday nights, along with a Dec. 4 major fundraiser featuring newly minted New Orleanian Mary Matalin, the famous Republican political consultant. It’s enough money for a reasonable TV ad buy and lots of radio ads. And the campaign is hoping for some late endorsements, too.
If Cao wins, he would be the first Vietnamese-American ever elected to Congress — from, it should be noted, the neighboring district to the one that first sent to Congress a man of Indian descent, Bobby Jindal. And as long as the U.S. Congress should exist on this Earth, Cao might remain the only Congressman who is a Vietnamese refugee-turned physics major-turned Jesuit-turned philosophy professor, lawyer, and dual-hurricane survivor.
And yes, history sometimes does choose odd pathways, and unlikely heroes.
About the Author
Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom. Follow him on Twitter @QuinHillyer.
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Deborah Durkee | 11.20.08 @ 7:49AM
Great story, Mr. Hillyer. God willing, this wonderful American (of whom we need many more) will be serving as a Republican congressman from Louisiana. We could use some good news about now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Coleman in MN and Chambliss in GA (where I live)...the Dem election theives are hard at it in both places.
David | 11.20.08 @ 9:33AM
After reading this article I thought to myself, 'Now this is the person for whom the Constitution was written.'
Paul| 11.20.08 @ 11:43AM
Fantastic Story - Where do I donate?!!
MatthewM| 11.20.08 @ 1:25PM
Wow, what an incredible story. If that crook beats him it will show that racism is alive in well in the south...just not quite how people like to characterize.
http://josephcaoforcongress.com/
WJ| 11.20.08 @ 1:49PM
Great story, and I hope Mr. Cao wins.
However, can you ask him why he keeps rebuilding where it FLOODS for goodness sakes?
Dick Lambert, Virginia| 11.20.08 @ 3:18PM
This man picked himself up after our beloved congress betrayed South Vietnam, became an real American and accomplished the American Dream. Instead of playing the victim game, so loved by Democrat minorities, he and his fellow Vietnamese-Americans (although the hyphen is truly superfluous) picked themselves up and rebuilt instead of waiting for Momma Government to do it for them. If this American hero doesn't wrest the congressional seat from that criminal, he'll still be a success in the best sense of that word. Inspiring!
Bill Catalanello| 11.20.08 @ 3:54PM
Thank you for a great story about Mr. Cao. He deserves it. Having lived in Louisiana's 2nd district all my life, I've been praying for someone like Mr. Cao to emerge and KO Rep. Jefferson from his congressional seat. Unfortunately, this is a black-majority district in which, up to now, race is the only factor that matters to the electorate. It infuriating that a crook can re-elected solely on the basis of skin color. Here in the 2nd District some of us are ready for REAL change.
Bywater Bob| 11.20.08 @ 4:45PM
Unfortunately Cao is a complete unknown for most people in the second district. Most people could not even tell you who the Republican candidate is. While Dollar Bill doesn't have to campaign because he is so well known here, Cao is running completely below radar. Too bad he sounds like a great guy and this comes from a democrat. He needed to spend huge money over the past few months just to get some name recognition and that hasn't happened. No one in the New Orleans area has ever heard of this guy and that is a shame.
Katie| 11.20.08 @ 9:59PM
I'm in the district and I'm working for him, so are a bunch of Tulane kids. There's hope.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DONATE, PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE:
http://josephcaoforcongress.com/
Mike Spinato| 11.20.08 @ 11:54PM
I work with a former Colonel of the South Vietnamese Army, himself also a P.O.W. for five years. He says Cao is very well known and respected among the Vietnamese community here in New Orleans .
Anyone who knows the history of these people can not but admire their work ethic, love of democracy, and disdain for government corruption.
Jason | 11.21.08 @ 2:22AM
Great story. If conservatives will rally behind leaders like Joseph Cao, there is great hope for the Conservative movement.
http://rightklik.blogspot.com/
Thuy| 11.25.08 @ 11:25AM
Shame that it's a popularity contest but that's how politics work does it not? I hope Mr Cao wins because I would like to follow his footsteps one day.
mj| 12.7.08 @ 9:03AM
Incredible story! I'm glad he won!
Md| 12.7.08 @ 12:11PM
I am very thankful for the many kind messages posted on this link regarding the Vietnamese community. I believe Mr. Cao will be a great representative of the Vietnamese American community in the US.
Larry McKinnon | 12.7.08 @ 2:11PM
Mr. Cao Makes me proud to be an American.
He has won the election, and the respect the people of the United States. I also salute his father and mother for raising a son under difficult condtions that stop most people before they start.
This is what America is all about, it is not easy, but if you are willing you will make it.
LeQuan | 12.7.08 @ 6:58PM
If Mr. Cao really wants to help the Vietnamese community he will work to reduce the very long waiting times legal immigrants overseas face.
Because of these long waiting times, my mother and my brother both died in Vietnam before being able to set foot in the USA, it was a very long, sad, and heart wrenching experience the US government inflicted on me.
This was in addition to my father, sister, and another brother who died fighting the Communists in Vietnam.
John Quy Tran| 12.8.08 @ 12:26AM
Very, very inspiring story! Exceptional example for many people, including me! Thank you, Mr. Hillyer for writing this article!
And congratulations to you, Mr. Cao! May you have wonderful graces and blessings, and be good instrument in order to bring good things to many people, to many places (here and abroad).
Nick| 12.8.08 @ 12:58PM
History was made in America this election. Fisrt Black becomes president and first Vietnamese to Congress and more to come. Proud to be American.
Benjamin| 12.8.08 @ 7:39PM
Very inspiring story!! With all of the talents and abilities, Mr. Cao can choose to live a better life in a place where no hurricanes can reach his house but he chooses not to do that. As I have heard by this moment, he has won the election.
May his good heart will be put to use for his community and many others who are in need of a better chance!
thanh hoa hoang| 12.9.08 @ 1:05PM
thank you for writing such a wonderful story! it very inspiring! i ve been gone through the same thing like he did but i wasnt even born yet but my mom do . thank you very much! God bless mr. Cao
Tri Huu Ha| 12.9.08 @ 4:20PM
Many thanks to Mr. Hillyer for incredible article about Mr. Cao. Vietnamese-American second generation are working very hard to archieve their dreams & goals today, just to names a few as Ms Duong Nguyet Anh, a scientist who was in charge of creating thermobaric weapon, or Ms Le Duy Loan, Senior Fellow Scientist at Texas Instrument, or Andy Quach, Westminster City Council, or Mr. John Duong, White House API director...etc. and many more...that very successful in US that came from barehand and no knowledge of this country 30 some yrs ago. So I would like to congratulate Mr. Cao and his family. I aslo would like to send a message to Mr. Cao that whatever you do, don't believe in Communist. God Bless Mr. Cao.
CHIEU LE | 12.10.08 @ 2:47AM
My hat is off for the writer of this article and to the wonderful achievement of Mr Cao. Mr Cao has made the dream of most red blood Americans come true. Being a veteran of both Republic of SVN and US Army National Guard, I know how much effort Mr Cao had put out to accomplish such a great journey. Congratulations, Mr Cao! and thank you , to both Mr Cao and Mr Hillyer
HPham| 12.10.08 @ 6:03PM
It is a shame that democrats who always say they are pro-diversity ignore Cao's victory simply because Cao is a republican. Some even make fun of Cao by puning with his last name. That is absurd. Cao's story is a wonderful story of the Amercian dream, and it explains why this country is the most poweful country in the world.
JPhan| 12.10.08 @ 9:05PM
Congratulation to Congress Elect Cao, May Gob Bless you and our American. Also Thanks to the Writer of this Incredible Article. You guys just did a wonderful job. I am so proud of you all
Happy X mas
jay1949 | 12.28.08 @ 1:56PM
"Cao" is pronounced like "gow" - - not "cow."
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Great story, great article, thank you!