The DFA-Moveonner left is targeting Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) as a "Bush Dog" (a common slur against the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition even though Lipiniski has never been a member of that group) which is nothing less than absurd. It seems that some ideological wackos within the party have decided to attack Dan Lipinski and recruit a primary challenger because of his refusal to support an immediately cut off of funding for the war in Iraq and opposition to abortion on demand. Far out left bloggers have even labeled Lipinski as a "right-winger." Well, let's take a look at some of the progressive and/or humanitarian groups that have rated the Illinois Congressman over the past year or so. Here is Congressman Lipinski's report card which I obtained from a well informed and objective resource known as Project Vote Smart http://www.vote-smart.org/
100% AIDS Action Council
100% AFL-CIO
70% Americans for Democratic Action
88% Americans for the Arts
89% Association of University Women
100% Campaign for America's Future
100% Children's Defense Fund
100% Citizens for Tax Justice
100% Disabled American Veterans
92% League of Conservation Voters
89% NAACP
100% National Breast Cancer Coalition
100% National Education Association
100% National Farmer's Union
Yeah, Dan Lipinski really sounds like a radical right-winger ! If anything, Lipinski's voting record is moderate to liberal on the vast majority of issues.
There are some socially conservative leanings reflected in Lipinski's voting record. He has voted against the Americans for Democratic Action position 30% of the time suggesting the presence of an independent mind but only has 16% rating from the American Conservative Union. Lipinski got a 71% rating from the Federation for Immigration Reform which indicates that he is not owned by the cheap labor lobby but also got a 66% score from the National Council of La Raza. The socially conservative Family Research Council gave Lipinski a 62 percent rating, however, the gay-lesbian activist Human Rights Campaign Fund agreed with his voting record 40% of the time. Given Lipinski's pro-life stand, it is not surprising that he received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee and a zero score from NARAL-Pro Choice America. And a strongly pro-life stand is not out of line with the views of the working class and heavily Catholic district that Dan Lipinski represents. After all, members of Congress should represent the values of their constituents.
The well-respected National Journal analyzed the voting record for Congressman Dan Lipinski and found that his voting record on economic and defense issues was more liberal than 71% of other members of Congress and more liberal on social issues than 58% of the members of Congress. See link http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/states/index.htm?state=il#vr I think this McCarthy-like witch hunt against Representative Lipinski shows just how radical the DFA and the Moveonners really are. You can have a 100% voting record from the AFL-CIO, the NEA and the Children's Defense Fund and maintain a voting record clearly to the left of most colleagues in the House and still be labeled as a "right-winger" and "Bush Dog." The anti-Lipinski crusade also casts light on the twisted priorities of the modern left. Supporting organized labor, fighting for the interests of children and working families isn't a priority anymore. To these extremists - the only important issues are immediate withdrawal from Iraq (we need to get out of Iraq but it would be irresponsible to cut off funding for our troops), absolute abortion rights, advancing secularism and gay marriage. The notion that a party must have a broad base and appeal to the center is lost on these fanatics.
I hope that the Democratic voters of the 3rd Illinois Congressional district will send a message that we need mainstream Democrats like Dan Lipinski in public office.
100% AIDS Action Council
100% AFL-CIO
70% Americans for Democratic Action
88% Americans for the Arts
89% Association of University Women
100% Campaign for America's Future
100% Children's Defense Fund
100% Citizens for Tax Justice
100% Disabled American Veterans
92% League of Conservation Voters
89% NAACP
100% National Breast Cancer Coalition
100% National Education Association
100% National Farmer's Union
Yeah, Dan Lipinski really sounds like a radical right-winger ! If anything, Lipinski's voting record is moderate to liberal on the vast majority of issues.
There are some socially conservative leanings reflected in Lipinski's voting record. He has voted against the Americans for Democratic Action position 30% of the time suggesting the presence of an independent mind but only has 16% rating from the American Conservative Union. Lipinski got a 71% rating from the Federation for Immigration Reform which indicates that he is not owned by the cheap labor lobby but also got a 66% score from the National Council of La Raza. The socially conservative Family Research Council gave Lipinski a 62 percent rating, however, the gay-lesbian activist Human Rights Campaign Fund agreed with his voting record 40% of the time. Given Lipinski's pro-life stand, it is not surprising that he received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee and a zero score from NARAL-Pro Choice America. And a strongly pro-life stand is not out of line with the views of the working class and heavily Catholic district that Dan Lipinski represents. After all, members of Congress should represent the values of their constituents.
The well-respected National Journal analyzed the voting record for Congressman Dan Lipinski and found that his voting record on economic and defense issues was more liberal than 71% of other members of Congress and more liberal on social issues than 58% of the members of Congress. See link http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/states/index.htm?state=il#vr I think this McCarthy-like witch hunt against Representative Lipinski shows just how radical the DFA and the Moveonners really are. You can have a 100% voting record from the AFL-CIO, the NEA and the Children's Defense Fund and maintain a voting record clearly to the left of most colleagues in the House and still be labeled as a "right-winger" and "Bush Dog." The anti-Lipinski crusade also casts light on the twisted priorities of the modern left. Supporting organized labor, fighting for the interests of children and working families isn't a priority anymore. To these extremists - the only important issues are immediate withdrawal from Iraq (we need to get out of Iraq but it would be irresponsible to cut off funding for our troops), absolute abortion rights, advancing secularism and gay marriage. The notion that a party must have a broad base and appeal to the center is lost on these fanatics.
I hope that the Democratic voters of the 3rd Illinois Congressional district will send a message that we need mainstream Democrats like Dan Lipinski in public office.
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