Dan Lipinski, Congressman IL-3
He’s supposedly a Democrat, but he certainly fails the small D definition when he originally got the position by his father putting a fake candidate, Ryan Chlada, into the Republican nomination and then after the elder Lipinski was renominated, he bowed out and had his son placed on the ballot to replace him.
Chlada was a Cicero town employee and ran a bar. And didn’t like the spotlight very much. He was even found by Fox Chicago for this newscast:
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Lipinski went to Congress despite never having to seriously campaign. IL-3 is thought of as socially conservative with a lot of Reagan Democrats, but that simply isn’t the case anymore. In 2004, John Kerry got 59 percent of the vote. It is a liberal District now.
Most interesting then was his voting record. Despite being out of town for years, he was marked as having voted in person since 1990:
Until his dad crowned him a congressman, he spent 15 years out of town working at universities in North Carolina, Indiana and Tennessee. Somehow, while being a resident of other states, he managed to vote here, not by absentee ballot but in person. Election judges in his father’s 23rd Ward marked him present in every Chicago election since at least 1990, according to official records.
Oddly, Lipinski, can’t recall casting those votes. “I’m trying to think back to that time,” he told me. “I honestly cannot remember.”
Now, the voting records are, wait for it…, mysteriously missing.
Lipinski isn’t just a guy handed a Congressional seat, he’s a supposed Democrat with an incredibly reactionary record. His ACLU rating–one of the lowest Democrats outside of the South/border states. He has zeros from NARAL and Planned Parenthood.
So no family planning at all. Dandy. He and Costello were the only Illinois Democrats to get zeros–the rest? 100s. When the chance was there to vote for contraceptive use by those receiving money in other nations, he voted against it and he voted against funding Planned Parenthood under Title X–contraceptive funding.
From the Family Research Council–71 percent approval. To get that? He voted to remove the power of the Courts to review cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance. He voted against embryonic stem cell research. He voted to not allow those who win federal civil liberties cases related to religious cases to receive court fees. IOW, if you sued to protect your civil liberties and won in a religious liberties case, you could not be compensated for the costs incurred to enforce your rights.
He’s from a heavily Latino District–his rating from the the leading anti-immigrant group–60%. And that’s down from 71 percent and higher previously.
A big zero on the gay and lesbian measure from Progressive Punch
Drum Major Institute focusing on progressive policies for families, 50 percent.
Lipinski must go. He has a conservative agenda in a liberal district. He ignores his constituents including the 20 percent Latino population in IL-3 and he has little interest in actually being a democrat-small d intended.
Support Mark Pera in his bid to unseat Lipinski.
Updated to eliminate two votes from his father that were listed in the Planned Parenthood vote ratings.
You really just had to put in that huge photo of Little Lip, didn’t you.
I almost spit out my chocolate milk.
Thanks.
What? It’s the official photo…
“Dan Lipinski…There when Bush/Cheney need him most, and sometimes when they don’t!”
It’s time for a real Democrat in the Illinois 3rd District.
Congressman Lipinski probably will not get too many votes in Hyde Park, or the Lakefront.
He ran against a real solid guy in John Kelly, but the Progressives split the vote with a nice guy as a third candidate.
Lipinski votes the way his constituents feel about LGBT issues; Planned Parenthood ( Abortion); and all those other minor issues that really get Progressives undies in a knot.
Limpinski will probably do Ok in the next go around. I just wish John Kelly would run again.
You’re joking, right Hickey? Kelly may be a nice guy – I never met him – but he was a plant. Many (most?) of the people who circulated his petitions are closely connected to the 19th ward organization.
===Lipinski votes the way his constituents feel about LGBT issues; Planned Parenthood ( Abortion); and all those other minor issues that really get Progressives undies in a knot.
He didn’t just vote against abortion, he voted against contraception. Let’s keep straight what Lipper the Lessor is doing. And it isn’t representative of that District anymore. It’s no longer a conservative Democratic area. Whether he realizes it now, or after the next redistricting, or after Madigan stops trying to protect him, it’s the reality now.
Gee, I don’t know Arch; I live here and it is pretty traditional value folks who live and vote here. We heard pretty much the same -‘hey, it’s changing’ argument in the Congressional and Aldermanic races. Numbers in Dave Orr’s care seem to prove otherwise.
I live here too, currently in North Berwyn, and in my area I see a lot of progressives, BUNGALO (Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay And Lesbian Organization) types, people who like the proximity to Oak Park’s shopping district and cultural events, but not the Oak Park real estate prices; and lots of ethnic and religious diversity. So I do think the district has changed a lot. A lot of the old folks that were Lip Sr’s people have moved or died off.
Among the people in my neighborhood are a lot of new Muslims, who may not appreciate some of his civil liberties votes; a lot of new Mexican (primarily, a tiny amount of Guatemalans, but primarily the Spanish speaking immigrants in Berwyn are Mexican origin) residents who may not appreciate some of this immigration stances; GBLT members who may not appreciate his anti-gay votes; and an awful lot of folk that have never met their Congressperson–seems he’s too busy to actually show up in the area from time to time.
Contraception is not really a conservative or progressive position. It’s used by all but a tiny percent of folks that eschew it for religious or health purposes (e.g. Trad Caths, Amish, pure organic healthstyle types). It’s widely understood that limiting one’s offspring to a reasonable number is a good idea.
Pretty Big District, the 3rd; your guy must have North Berywn locked-up.
Your guy has long row to hoe.
Alsip, Worth, Bridgeport, Mount Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park, Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Merrionette Park,McCook, Justice, LaGrange, LaGrange Park . . . . hope he wears thick soled and reinforced shoes.
Some of them doors are pretty heavy.
I am a resident of the 3rd district (Beverly) and John Kelly was a plant of the 19th Ward org. to split the anti-Lippy vote. I don’t remember the other candidates name but it was an Irish name and this is an old tactic in the ward when a viable challenger threatens their power. Lippy is a carpetbagger who does not represent the tue feelings of Democrats in the district. I plan on supporting Mr. Pera enthusiastically but i hope he is ready for another attempt by the powers that be to split the anti-Lippy vote. I have had it with D.I.N.O.’s representing my intetrests in congress, it’s time for Lippy to go.
Dan Lipinski was a Political Science professor at a number of universities. What kind of political science professor would allow themselves to be made a US congressman in the manner Dan Lipinski did?
Did Professor Lipinski ever teach ethics in his classes? Did Professor Lipinski ever talk about the cynicism in government that arises by fixed elections? Did Professor Lipinski ever talk about the problems of neposism in governments? Did Professor Lipinski ever talk about how crooked, rotted and undemocratic Chicago politics is?
I know that in all my years of political studies in the US and Europe, my professors taught me these things. They were concerned over election tampering. They were concerned over nepotism. They were critical of Chicago governmental affairs. They demanded a high standard from our political process and wanted needed reforms to make elections fairer and more representative of voter’s demands.
What kind of political science professor was Dan Lipinski? How could he have ever allowed himself to be used like this? What kind of moral standards does this “professor” have within his OWN field?
How would you like to know that your political science professor decided it was OK to become a congressman like this after years of hearing from him otherwise?
Dan Lipinski is not only a mockery of a US Congressman, he is a mockery of any Political Science professional by his behavior.
Or does Professor Lipinski just think he is so far above the rest of us that he is entitled to being a US Congressman?
As you can read, Dan Lipinski simply disgusts me while I even agree with a lot of his political positions. I would never vote for someone like him.
Kelly may have been a plant, Berwyn may be turning gay and the pro-contraception people may vote against him, but I wouldn’t put any money on Lip’s opponent.
John Kelly was hardly a plant and promised ‘to plant a sweet one’ on the cupcake who made that charge. John Kelly is the real deal.
Now, the same geniuses that can’t win an election 300 yards west of the Lake will twist this poor guy from Western Springs into the ground like poor John Sullivan – the Progressive candidate.
Lipinski is strong in the 3rd District. the estimable Phil Kadner wrote a great piece on the Congressman’s genuine frugality and work ethic. Phil is an old school rock-ribbed liberal, but no tin-foil hat Progressive – he’s too honest.
Nor would I Paddy. Save your money. Buy something for wife and kids.
This poor guy is going to get cork-screwed into the turf the same way as poor John Sullivan was in the three way primary. In fact it appears that same type-of brain-trust is leading the poor guy into this Lion’s Cage wearing a Pork Chop suit.
Losers use the charge of plant when they can not get any traction under their candidate’s feet – cry baby politics.
This genre of politics works well along the Lakefront, where the self-absorbed tend to gather and groom. It’s three hundred yards west of the Lake, that they tend to have trouble getting a couple of votes.
BTW- a genuine old school liberal Phil Kadner of the Daily Southtown wrote a nicely balanced piece on Congressman Lipinski. Phil is too balanced to be a Progressive.
Mark Pera’s anti-life views are really disgusting. For Pera to put so much emphasis on his opposition to human rights is not a good idea in the 3rd District. Abortion is legalized murder and it’s something no true progressive would support.
Really Pat Hickey? Plants are imaginary, huh? How about Catherine Zcarcny in the 32nd ward? Copied all of Scott Waguespeck’s campaign positions, ran an identical campaign to Wags, and then, after the first round, endorsed Matlak (who she repeatedly attacked in the first round).
Then we find out that her campaign was largely financed by Matlak friends and flunkies, including people like the now-indicted Ed Vrydolak.
Yeah. The Chicago Machine never, ever uses plants to try to keep their favored son in power. Not in a million years.
[…] But you know who is vested in the Lipinski candidacy? The Chicago machine. First, they worked with the elder Lipinksi to make sure his son would get the seat in 2004 without a real challenge. He’s supposedly a Democrat, but he certainly fails the small D definition when he originally got the position by his father putting a fake candidate, Ryan Chlada, into the Republican nomination and then after the elder Lipinski was renominated, he bowed out and had his son placed on the ballot to replace him. Chlada was a Cicero town employee and ran a bar. […]
[…] Many thought this turn of events odd since the Younger Lipinski hadn’t lived in the district (let alone the state) for years. Despite the fact it’s a Congressional office, not a throne, Lipinski the Younger has been the incumbent Representative since then. Both Lipinski men run under the Democratic banner, despite the Younger’s record of voting with Republicans on important issues. The district itself went 59% for Kerry in 2004 so it’s true blue, not DINO blue. […]
“But you know who is vested in the Lipinski candidacy? The Chicago machine.”
The same Chicago machine that donated more than $100,000 to Mark Pera in his 1996 campaign for the Illinois House?
The same Chicago machine that gave Mark Pera a clout heavy job after Mark Pera LOST his 1996 campaign for the Illinois House?
Oh — that Chicago machine that put money in Mark Pera’s bank account for the last decade or so?
Yes, that Chicago machine.
Let’s please find us a real Democrat for IL-03 cuz they’re all a bunch of shills right now.
Please?
I’m looking at his D-2s and I’m not seeing anything besides lots of unions and the party.
So he shouldn’t have accepted money from the House Dems?
I’m not buying that is any sort of serious argument that he’s a machine candidate. So did Lauren Beth Gash.
Being an Assistant State’s Attorney hardly makes someone beholden to the machine. What are there–600 of them or more?
when I checked the FEC (Federal Election Commission) Financial discloser database, the only political contributions by Mark Pera listed, were for Dan Lipinski’s dad. I saw Pera’s daughter one day and asked her about it and she told me that her dad had to give Lipinski money because he had endorsed her dad when he ran for state government. Is that how the machine works?
He looks like an insane closet case.
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