All eyes on the "moderate republican" NJ Congressmen

by: Adam L

Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM EDT

Now, with President Obama's budget coming up for a vote, another opportunity has presented itself for these three "moderates" to show if they are truly moderate or if they are comfortable being out of the mainstream.   Representative Joseph Cao of Louisiana - a freshman in the House like Leonard Lance - may be the one laying down tracks for the three Garden State Republicans to follow.

President Barack Obama has presented these three New Jersey Republicans who consider themselves both moderates and mavericks an opportunity to demonstrate their moderation and independent thinking, and advance the country forward at the same time.  Of course, Cao "threatened" to vote with the Democrats on the stimulus bill, but ended up voting no as the republican party's chief deputy whip, California Rep. Kevin O. McCarthy, stood near Cao during the entire vote.

However, with Obama's budget fairly certain to pass the House anyway, it would show that on a vote where the outcome is not likely in doubt that Lance, LoBiondo and Smith stand with America as opposed to extremists like their colleague Scott Garrett.

Will they rise to the "challenge"?