GOP Congressman's Health Vote Costs Some Support

KEVIN McGILL

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The only Republican in the House to vote for a Democrat-backed health care bill is already seeing some backlash: He's had two fundraisers canceled and some campaign contributors have asked for their money back.

But Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao said Tuesday he stands by Saturday's vote. "At the end of the day we all have to represent our respective districts," he told The Associated Press.

Cao rejected any notion that he might leave the Republican Party. And House minority whip Eric Cantor of Virginia said he plans no political retaliation against Cao.

"No," Cantor said when asked if retaliation was planned. "Because I am well aware that Anh Cao is a thoughtful legislator. He weighed the pluses and minuses of the bill in his vote."

Cantor, in New Orleans for a fund raiser for Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, made it clear he was unhappy with the vote but said the party still supports Cao (pronounced 'GOW).

Cao is a 41-year-old Vietnamese-American who won an upset victory over black Democrat William Jefferson in a mostly black, mostly Democratic district. Jefferson had been politically hobbled by a criminal indictment and has since been convicted.