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The New GOP Rock Star
L to R: Scott Olson/Getty; Alex Brandon/AP
Joseph Cao's unexpected victory in Louisiana is reminder that sleazy political scandals aren't always a bad thing. Avlon is the author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America.
Blagojevich and Cao. Obama and Jindal. These are the names of American politics in the 21st century—continent-hopping and vowel-heavy. We’ve come a long way from the staid Anglo-Saxon parade of Smith and Jones. But politics is a human drama, and while the lyrics may change, the song remains the same.
Chicagoans woke up Tuesday morning to the familiar tune of corruption in the governor’s mansion—this time with lyrics that warrant a parental advisory sticker.
Using language that would make a drunk Nixon blush, two-term Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was caught on tape discussing the sale of the president-elect’s senate seat to the highest bidder.
Cao is an extension of the Bobby Jindal Louisiana reform revolution that’s sweeping David Duke’s adopted state and party.
But on the opposite end of the Mississippi River, another tale of corruption took an unexpected and heartwarming turn this week. Indicted Congressman William Jefferson lost to political newcomer Ahn “Joseph” Cao, who will be the first Vietnamese-American member of Congress and is the first reason for Republicans to smile in a while.
It’s yin and yang, sunshine and shadow, as one politician’s greed increases cynicism, another emerges from the ashes of scandal, giving reason for new hope.
Corruption was a dish served comparatively cold in the case of Rep. Jefferson, the local civil rights legend who was discovered to have more than $90,000 stashed in his freezer. Subsequent investigation showed that he had set up a patronage operation to benefit his own brood. Defiant even under indictment, Jefferson ran for re-election and triumphed in two crowded Democratic primaries. But thanks to Hurricane Gustav in late August, the general election was pushed back to December 6th.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
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John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
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John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
mindlessmissy
Holy Cao !
JeepRover
Ya know, I have no problem with Republicans. I just have a problem with the fact that they are still harping on gay marriage and abortion. It's not that these issues are important, but in the last 8 years up till now that is not what is affecting our great country: the lack of jobs, affordable and good healthcare, environmental issue so that we can pass on a safe country to our kids, etc...If we can get these central issues under control then I'm all for talking about abortion and gay marriage, but until then let's leave these issues alone and fix our country.
ghettosavant
This is good news. Being a Democrat or a Republican is as dumb as being a Blood or a Crip. The leadership doesn't care about you, it cares about getting elected and maintaining their grip on power. They are like long distance services in the 90s competing for your buck. I say switch a lot and don't let them take you for granted. Whoever is willing to sell the American public the type of government the times call for, well, that's who I'm down with. Right now that happens to be the Democrats, but if 4-years, who knows?
vega75
There was no love from the GOP for Cao when he wasn't the guy who won his race. They did nothing for him. If there was a brain among the GOP braintrust they would have gone all out behind him in a high profile way. How could they have gone wrong? But the fact that they didn't means they don't know the first thing about what they think they are talking about.
spinozareader
If Mr. Cao is a proponent of Jesuit philosophy, then I suspect that he would be a man who respects--nay, insists upon-- the primacy of, vigorous intellectual inquiry. That is the enduring legacy and gift of the Jesuit tradition--that it encourages questioning and rigorous debate of issues, as opposed to dogmatism. (That's why they have a history of getting into trouble with "Mother Rome".) I'm puzzled as to how he could then be affiliated with present-day Republicanism as I see it expressed?--It seems Anti-Jesuit ( i.e.dogmatic, divisive, anti-intellectual, and intolerant). As someone who was raised Roman Catholic, and who was fortunate enough to have been exposed to Jesuit teaching, I am truly puzzled as to how someone of conscience, and intellectual rigor, could ally himself with the Republican ticket in the year 2008. If Mr. Cao can turn around his party--remind it that being anti-rational isn't something to boast about--then more power to him. I would think that, ultimately, a Jesuit would support separation of church and state. I wonder if Mr. Cao does.
delljody
vega75 nailed it. Cao didn't receive any support from the party and he won. What does that say about the Republicans at this moment?
Cao might be a good candidate, but he might not be considered a good Republican foot soldier.
And for all the super-wonks like Douthat and Salam, who dig up a new GOP savior every few weeks, this election was a temporary reaction to Jefferson. The district is solidly Democratic, and Cao could lose this seat in 2 years.
At least Jindal isn't running for President yet. Shows how smart he is. All the decent Republicans steer clear of their party whenever they can. (See Crist, Charlie.)
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