Almost immediately after Joseph Cao became the only Republican in the House of Representatives (and the only Louisiana Congressman) to vote for health care reform, he was bombarded with some incredibly vicious vitriol, ostensibly from fellow Republicans who felt betrayed. The Washington Independent offers us a sampling of remarks made to Cao on the newly-formed Bye Bye Joseph Cao Facebook group:
A few observations: First, I cannot wait to see how John Santoro will “go broke” by supporting a dog for Congress; it should be a campaign for the ages.
Second, I also would love to see how a Todd Sharp-endorsed candidate would fare in Cao’s district, even in a Republican primary. Perhaps he and Mr. Santoro should pool their resources and invest in a dog (I would suggest a golden retriever) who could run as a more conservative candidate. Stranger things have happened in Louisiana politics.
And finally, I call on all Louisianans to immediately boycott Cynthia Reed; I imagine that if you’ve ever met Ms. Reed, it won’t be hard.
CenLamar 
I called Cao’s Washington office on Friday and requested him to vote for ENDA and the Health Care reform bill. I don’t think that the House has voted on ENDA yet but he voted yes on health care, and probably increased his very slim chances of being re-elected in the process.
As I’ve said before on this blog, I live in New Orleans (and therefore Cao’s district) and also voted Green party for Malik Rahim, not Cao. But I am happy Cao has listened to his constituents, found some spine, and realized that the Republican mainstream never supported him, never did ANYTHING for him, in the first place.
Unfortunately for him, Cedric Richmond is going to spank him in the election. But after all, it waaaas his choice to be a Republican in the first place…
Man it’s late right now and I could go on and on, especially in response to these xenophobic party-poopers from Oklahoma (or wherever they are unfortunate enough to reside), but suffice it to say I am happy that I will from now on BOYCOTT THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES and sit my happy ass in Orleans Parish.
Hey, Repubs, if you don’t like Cao, then by all means Scozzafzza him. Run a tea bagger in the 2nd. I triple dog dare you with cherry on top.
Although, in reality, Cao’s vote was cynical. Notice that he didn’t vote until it had already passed, and the whole time, Eric Cantor was holding his arms down to make sure he didn’t cast vote 218.
Michael, I don’t think you’ll miss anything in your boycott of the rest of the United States. Does the rest of the United States know how to cook? No. Does the rest of the United States have Mardi Gras? No. Jazz Fest? No. Kermit Ruffin? No. Irvin Mayfield? No. Trombone Shorty? No. Rebirth Brass Band? No. Any brass band worth a damned? No. Fried Oyster Po-Boys? No. Sazeracs? No. Abita Turbododg? No. Frenchman Street? No. Second Line Parades? No. I’m not sure that this Boycott of yours is really much of a sacrifice.