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Don’t count Rep. Joseph Cao out yet.
The centrist New Orleans Republican is in for the fight of his political life tomorrow, but a previously unreported poll shows him neck and neck with Democrat Cedric Richmond. Even so, a last-minute attack ad by Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council could cost Cao the race.
New Orleans blogger Michael Bayham tells FrumForum that he was made aware of a private NRCC poll that shows Richmond and Cao tied at 46%. Bayham declined to identify his source, except that his information came from a “very credible source, a national figure in the Republican Party.” Through independent investigation, FrumForum has been able to corroborate this with a second source, but who also declined to be named.
“Just looking at what’s going on in the street, I feel like we’re in a dead heat,” said David Huguenel, the campaign manager for Cao’s campaign, who declined to comment on the NRCC poll. “I think that we’re going into the election tomorrow very optimistically. All the information and polling that we’ve seen over the past several months has shown us still in the game.”
But Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council decided to air a last-minute ad in Cao’s district over the weekend – a move that could very well cost Cao the race. The ad, run on a local conservative station that features talkers like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, could be the difference in this close race.
The Times-Picayune reports on the ad:
“Who is Rep. Joseph Cao representing in Washington?” the FRC ad asks. “Cao has repeatedly voted for extra protections for homosexuals at the cost of religious liberty. Cao voted to use the military to advance the radical social agendas of homosexual activists and he voted for a so-called hate crimes bill that places your personal liberties at jeopardy.”
In a race this close, every vote matters, and the effect of Perkins’ ad will be to bleed some support over to the third-party Tea Party candidate in the district. The one or two percent that goes to that candidate could be the difference in this election.
Perkins says that Democrat Cedric Richmond is unacceptable to him as well, telling the Times-Picayune that he “know[s] Cedric. I served in the Legislature with him… He’ll be no better.” But by his tormented logic, his ad could have the very effect of electing Democrat Cedric Richmond.
Cao’s campaign doesn’t see it that way. “At this point, I don’t think it has that much of an impact,” said Huguenel on the charge that Cao is costing citizens their religious liberty. “I think it’s disappointing, I think it shows that [the Family Research Council] doesn’t quite understand that Joseph does have a very religious background, as a former [Jesuit] seminarian. To attack him shows they haven’t taken the time to even talk to the Congressman about the issues they care about.”
Further confounding is the fact that Cao is one of the most pro-life Republicans on Capitol Hill. He was only persuaded to vote against the final version of the healthcare bill because he wasn’t satisfied that it would not fund abortions. On pro-life issues, the National Right to Life has Cao supporting them on all of their five identified pro-life votes in the last Congress.
On the other hand, getting attacked by the Family Research Council could actually help Cao in this district, which is overwhelmingly liberal. “For white liberals, this might swing the other way. There’s a large gay population in the district, and the ad shows that [Cao] is not too right-wing for the district,” said Bayham.
FrumForum will be following Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district race closely tomorrow, with live updates. Stay tuned for live election night coverage.
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“Who is Rep. Joseph Cao representing in Washington?” the FRC ad asks. “Cao has repeatedly voted for extra protections for homosexuals at the cost of religious liberty. Cao voted to use the military to advance the radical social agendas of homosexual activists and he voted for a so-called hate crimes bill that places your personal liberties at jeopardy.”
there’s the rub … Tony Perkins & homosexuality
Leave it to swine like Perkins to trash a pro-life republican. Of course, with a name like Cao, I am sure Perkins asks himself if the GOP congressman is a real american….
Bigotry, hatred, racism. Is this all that Perkins and his ilk have to offer? And when will true christians get fed up with this horrid pablum that the man serves up?
What a dumbass move . . . Cao must be too level-headed for the far right.
Good reporting by Mr. Mak.
And … cue another GOP implosion.
Sorry. Zero sympathy from me. The GOP set the stage for this nonsense decades ago, probably before Mak was even born.
“Who is Rep. Joseph Cao representing in Washington?” the FRC ad asks. “Cao has repeatedly voted for extra protections for homosexuals at the cost of religious liberty. Cao voted to use the military to advance the radical social agendas of homosexual activists and he voted for a so-called hate crimes bill that places your personal liberties at jeopardy.”
Cao co-sponsored both the Hate Crimes Protection Act of 2009 and House legislation to repeal the policy that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the armed forces, known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.” [gasp!]
“I believe it is a human rights violation to impose government-sanctioned penalties on a group of people just because of their sexual orientation, just as it would be a human rights violation to impose penalties on a group because of its religious affiliation or race,” Cao said. “I will continue to fight for the protection of human rights for all people.”
Just read this quote over at Politico…nails it on the head:
“What surprises me is the FRC does NOT go after the senator from Louisiana who cheated on his wife…Sen. David Vitter. Is cheating on your wife a NEW FAMILY VALUE??? Where is the FRC on this??? Tony Perkins and the whole FRC are hypocrites!!!!!!”
The MSM puts Family Research Council honcho Tony Perkins on the air to represent the “family values” agenda, but seem to ignore his outlandish racist affiliations- Read more about Tony Perkins racist background.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13356/tony-perkins-and-white-supremacy
“I believe it is a human rights violation to impose government-sanctioned penalties on a group of people just because of their sexual orientation, just as it would be a human rights violation to impose penalties on a group because of its religious affiliation or race. “I will continue to fight for the protection of human rights for all people.” – Anh ‘Joseph’ Cao
I like Rep. Cao, but we don’t need his seat. It is D+25 seats; there are 234 R+ seats. They will do.
One could almost wish that Cao would lose in order to further reduce the ranks of centrist Republicans in Congress. I am convinced that the only hope is to marginalize the GOP into oblivion. They already can no longer win an election without independents. One more shove over the edge ought to do it and Cao is much too moderate to be associated with the GOP. I look forward to adding a few more (I)s to the mix in Congress and to the point when our 2 party system does not include the GOP who are relegated behind the ropes with other marginal parties.
mpolito,
If you like the guy (and I think he sounds good too) why wouldn’t you want to see Cao win, whether the R’s need the seat for a majority or not?
Frienemies | NOLA DEFENDER // Nov 2, 2010 at 11:42 am
[...] need to. Cao is being attacked anyway – from the right. The Family Research Council ran its own last-minute radio ad accusing the Congressperson of being too sympathetic toward "radical social agendas of [...]
FRC is a social conservative organization. Pro-life is a major element of that, but another core element is a principled disagreement with the “gay rights” movement and its political and cultural agenda.
It’s pointless to criticize FRC for being socially conservative. That’s like attacking the NRA for being pro-gun, or Americans for Tax Reform for being anti-tax.
The only reasonable grounds for criticizing the FRC here is that it’s being counter-productive according to their own, or what should be their own, standards. That is, by helping tilt the election to Richmond, they’ll end up with, not only with someone in office they disagree with on “gay” issues (just as before), but now they’ll go from pro-life to its opposite, meaning a net loss.
Apparently FRC feels that they have to make a strategic decision, make an example, and take a short term loss rather than permit a de-coupling of these two usually linked social conservative issues.
Carney,
You would think that from a conservative point of view, “RTL” weighs heavier then gay-rights.
Truth Wins Out - Is Tony Perkins Trying to Hand New Orleans Back to Democrats? // Nov 2, 2010 at 12:19 pm
[...] for Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council, he’s just not pure enough, so Perkins is suddenly running attack ads against him in conservative media: The centrist New [...]
xunzi, absolutely right. From a Conservative pro-life perspective, abortion means murder and homosexual activity (but not homosexuality) is a sin. You simply can not equate the two. We, everyone of us, is a sinner, but we are not all murderers.
Tony Perkins is an assclown if he doesn’t know this. He should be ashamed but for the likes of him shame doesn’t exist because he likely believes God has chosen him and since God did, whatever he does becomes an example of God’s will.
Box Turtle Bulletin » FRC values anti-gay conformity more than pro-life advocacy // Nov 2, 2010 at 3:32 pm
[...] It would not be unusual for FRC to oppose pro-gay candidates. But it should be viewed in context: (FrumForum) Further confounding is the fact that Cao is one of the most pro-life Republicans on Capitol Hill. [...]
“Tony Perkins is an assclown if he doesn’t know this.”
Easton … Perkins knows but seems drawn to homosexuality like a month to a flame … if there is a gay issue anywhere, Perkins is there to offer his opinion … even to the point of doing so at the expense of a “pro-life” candidate like Rep Cao
Michael Brown responds to Rabbi Shumley Boteach: Are evangelicals obsessed with homosexuality? — Warren Throckmorton // Nov 5, 2010 at 3:49 pm
[...] not convinced abortion funding was excluded from the bill. His pro-life position is firm and yet FRC ran ads against him because of Cao’s support for equal rights for gays. Guess who was elected in Cao’s [...]
Pro-life Congressman blasts Family Research Council over election attack ads — Warren Throckmorton // Nov 11, 2010 at 12:57 pm
[...] also FrumForum on this story. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can [...]