LaFonta Versus Cao for Congress
By Christopher Tidmore
In an exclusive, State Representative Juan LaFonta has announced his intention to run for the Second Congressional District seat in the fall of 2010 against incumbent Republican Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao. Surprising many insiders, however, LaFonta firmly declared that "I'm running as Democrat," not as an Independent as some political observers had predicted.
"I am running for Congress," Rep. LaFonta told The Louisiana Weekly on Thursday. "I decided I was going to do this because I think we need better representation."
"We haven't had inclusion of everyone in the district," the New Orleans State Rep. said echoing complaints that some Black leaders have had with Cao's opposition to President Obama's stimulus and other initiatives popular with the district's Black majority electorate.
Congressman Cao has repeatedly defended himself, citing a very moderate voting record that is in step with his overwhelmingly Democratic district, from his support of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and expansion of funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-Chip).
Cao voted with the Democrats on both issues, but LaFonta called the moves "few and not enough". His words were reminiscent of those made by Congressman's most outspoken critic Rev. Toris Young, who previously told the Weekly, "[Cao] had no choice to vote for S-Chip. It's not new funding, and he would look bad voting against funding that's in place for kids' health care. As it relates to woman's wages, the same thing. He would look bad, and it does not give women money. It's just another law that we pray that employers will respect. He had the chance of our lifetime to vote with our President on a bill that would provide money that is needed for the Second District. And, he sided with party over the will of this District."
The Congressman has repeatedly argued that the stimulus bill had insufficient resources for Louisiana, from flood control monies to direct aid. He has maintained for months that he might have considered voting for the measure if the resources for Hurricane Katrina reconstruction had been greater, and cites as evidence his work to get Charity Hospital reopened, resources for the Ninth Ward and New Orleans East, and his several meetings with the Obama Administration arguing on behalf of the Second District.
Some of Cao's GOP supporters had hoped that LaFonta might have chosen to forgo running in a potentially crowded Democratic primary, and stand as an Independent (who would caucus with the Democrats if elected).. That might have potentially divided the core Democratic vote enough that Cao would have a fighting chance to emerge from this very Democratic leaning Congressional District. Instead, LaFonta will run in a closed Democratic primary that may very well include popular Uptown African-American State Senator Cheryl Grey Evans and possibly former 2nd District candidate and LaFonta's colleague in the State House Cedric Richmond. (Both are expected to run, but neither has formally announced.)
Grey could prove dangerous to both LaFonta in the primary, and Cao in the general election (should she emerge victorious). She is widely popular with the same white Caucasian liberals that LaFonta is targeting, many of the whites who abandoned indicted incumbent William Jefferson for Cao, and has the same credibility as an accomplished Black politician to African-American voters who constitute 62% of the registered electorate.
Political consultant Cheron Brylski told this newspaper that state Democratic party leaders as well as national party elders "are actively courting Cheryl".
"The idea is to unify behind one Black candidate," a move that might prove difficult with LaFonta in the race. The State Rep. has built up strong relationships with key Democratic constituencies, courting the large and influential Homosexual community in the 2nd District with his work on Hate Crimes legislation and union support with pro-labor stands throughout his years in the legislature.
Brylski and other friends of Grey note that the Senator may not run in the end as she was just recently elected to her Senate seat in 2007, is quite "happy where she is". Whether LaFonta's presence in the race influences that decision remains to be seen. Regardless, State Rep. Cedric Richmond looks primed for a second bid for the seat, guaranteeing LaFonta a competitive contest. Richmond came in a very close third in the Democratic primary in 2008, behind Bill Jefferson and Helena Moreno. He has repeatedly contended that he would have defeated Jefferson face to face, and eventually trouced Cao in a runoff.
Still, in Brylski's view, while Cao might be a member of the GOP representing an overwhelming minority-majority, Democratic district, he still has a very excellent chance of re-election. Brylski, a Democratic political consultant, who has worked for many candidates including Sen. Grey, said that despite the political difficulties, she thinks Cao has a good chance to win again--for two reasons.
First, citing Cao's recent speeches on the floor of the House on the plight of African-Americans in this economy, and in post-Katrina in New Orleans, Cao will spend the next year, she predicts, highlighting his strengths. "What people will learn about Joseph is that he is more of a Jesuit than a Republican," Brylski observed, highlighting the Vietnamese American's six years of vocational work with the poorest of the poor throughout in several Third World Countries-and the ecclesiastical instincts Cao took to heart after years of training by the Catholic Order which he nearly joined as a Priest.
"Yes, he is anti-Choice," Brylski continued, "and he is very passionate about that position. Republicans like that...But, on other issues like labor, he is very open. Anh is very passionate about recovery and about the communities of the Second Congressional District."
As the stimulus vote receeds in memory, Cao's commitment to education and health care for the poor of his distict, mirroring his Catholic social doctrine training rather than the conventional Republican attitudes of lasses-faire minimalist government intervention, will build up support with white liberals who already voted for him one time previously.
Secondly, though, Brylski acknowledged the reality that there will not be a sole African-American contender facing Cao, regardless of whether Grey, LaFonta, or Richmond emerge out of a Democratic primary. Several Black politicians are openly considering jumping into the race as Independents in the 2010 General Election, knowing that such a move would bring GOP money and relieve them of the need to fight a crowded, high dollar closed party primary.
As one political insider put it, "There were more than a few African-American elected officials hitting their foreheads on the night of December 6th wondering why they didn't just qualify as an Independent candidate. They could have had a free shot, and been elected to Congress. They aren't going to go through some jungle closed Democratic primary when they can be one of the contenders on election day itself."
In that reality exists Joseph Cao's primary chance to win the Second Congressional District once more in 2010.
An official Black Democratic Candidate will not just face Cao, but he or she will be joined by at least one other African-American elected official, running as an Independent, perhaps even two. Moreover, several white Democrats have also privately considered jumping into the race, a move that could further divide the core progressive vote.
Thanks to the return to the Closed Primary System by legislative statute in 2006, all of the candidates of each party and any independents run together in the general election. Whoever gains the most votes, wins, regardless of whether they have reached the 50% threshold.
It is a "first past the post" election system, popular in other English-speaking nations, but unusual in Louisiana. Consequently, with a crowded field of contenders, Cao could emerge victorious with less than 35% of the vote. Republican Bill Cassidy defeated Democrat Don Cazayoux in 2008's Sixth Congressional District election in the Baton Rouge area thanks to African-American Democratic State Rep. Michael Jackson running as an Independant--and dividing the left. In a head to head contest with Cassidy, Cazayoux would have won re-election last fall.
The worry that moderate to high Black turnout could revert the Second to Democratic control would likewise dissipate as a crowded field of African-American politicians cut that minority vote up amongst themselves. The fifteen percent of Republican registration in the District merged with incumbent-happy white and Vietnamese Democrats and Independents could win Cao another term.
Then, as Louisiana is scheduled to loose another Congressional seat after the 2010 census, a Republican Governor and GOP leaning legislature would probably draw 2nd District to include other portions of New Orleans and current GOP parts of Charlie Melancon's district in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. That would make Cao's tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives assured in the long term.
In fact, discussions are reportedly already underway within the Justice Department to allow either a reduced Black registration in the Second District, or to all the Louisiana Legislature to draw a new Black Majority District from Baton Rouge to Ruston if need arises.
For all the Democratic leanings of the district, Cao's politics are not actually that far away from the average constituent's. In 1996, Bill Jefferson won his race on a platform against Karen Carter that was blatantly pro-life (amongst other reasons). Even Cao's Asian race is not the biggest stumbling block in the Black Majority area, despite the African-American challengers lining up against him. Lindy Boggs held the 2nd District with racial dynamics near the end of her terms of equally daunting heights in minority registration.
In order to win, Cao must do more than rely on a divided vote, ultimately. He must not only convince some of the younger African-Americans and white liberals who voted for him that it is okay to continue to cast their ballots for a Republican again, but he must also work to develop links in the union/labor locals in the district and provide enough attention to neutralize AFL-CIO financial and organizational opposition--a task the Congressman has already begun.
Louisiana AFL-CIO President Tiger Hammond's advocacy of Jefferson, in highly publicized TV commercials throughout November, was the strongest card that the incumbent had. Still, despite this anti-Cao position in 2008, it is possible--thanks to a general union unwillingness to challenge incumbents--to neutralize the AFL-CIO endorsement in 2010.
Several of the leaders of the affiliated union locals privately admitted to The Louisiana Weekly that they believed that Hammond took too public a position in support of Jefferson. They are willing to work with Cao, they said, especially his Cao embraces the pro-Union bill now before Congress. The legislation has droped the so-called "card check" provision that gave heart ache to many moderates, and if Cao votes in favor of the remaining bill, with its remaining union protections included, he might have some labor support next year.
The AFL-CIO will likely not embrace his candidacy, but a no-endorsement from Labor in 2010-a move that would arrest a considerable amount of campaign funding to probable Democratic Challengers-would be enough to give the Republican an advantage. According to sources close to the Congressman, Cao has already begun to build individual relationships with a few of the 20 of the local heads constituting the LA AFL-CIO.
The simple advantage to Cao is that he will receive, as he has already begun to, checks from countless members nationwide of the 1.5 million strong Vietnamese-American communities. He is their standard-bearer and their hero. In the last election, few Vietmanese leaders in the strongholds of the immigrant community believed Cao had a chance. They contributed little to his campaign.
Already, though, that trend has begun to reverse, and, by the elections in two years, thousands of little old Vietnamese ladies will be writing ten dollar checks, an Obama-like grassroots enthusiasm will build if the fundraising results of the last two weeks are any indication.
Moreover, from the day of his election, Cao had already become a cause célèbre for a demoralized Republican party. As one national commentator then noted, "Joseph Cao, based on his life experience, may have the answer to middle ground between social justice and conservatism that the GOP so desperately needs to emulate to return to the majority. It is a winning formula that, should he prove successful, will be duplicated in many swing and not so swing districts across the nation."
A Republican party that donated a paltry $80,000 will not be so Miserly next time, giving Cao a political warchest that will dominate even the best financed of his challengers.
Tidmore is a frequent contributor to Bayoubuzz. Bayoubuzz allows Mr. Tidmore to publish his articles that he writes for the Louisiana Weekly.
Christopher Tidmore hosts The Political Roundtable on KKAY 1590 AM Donaldsonville/Baton Rouge from 4-5 PM weekdays.His past columns for this year can be found at
Cao doesn't vote with the GOP always - I actually think he is above partisan politics. He doesn't vote "against" Obama or anyone else, he votes for what he thinks is correct. A rare and worthy representative of the people. Both parties could use more like him, whatever their viewpoints may be. Written by kpf
on 7/24/2009
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It is important to note that Michael Jackson's independent candidacy in the 6th Dist relied on GOP money. The Democratic Party will remember any Democrat who runs against the Democratic nominee with GOP financing. Michael Jackson didn't win and many Democrats blame him for electing a Republican who votes against the Obama administration. Written by David Quidd
on 7/24/2009
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LaFonta Versus Cao for Congress
