I have been and am an avid supporter of progressive Democrats. One of my short hand techniques for identifying candidates to support is to go to the JStreet PAC site — those congresspeople who are willing to declare their support for a two-state solution and good faith diplomacy in the Middle East despite AIPAC are almost always progressive on economic, social and environmental issues as well as on foreign policy. That is how I found Cheri Bustos — an excellent representative from western Illinois who should make all Illinoisans proud …… along with all but one Illinois Democratic representative. And there is the rub.
That representative is Dan Lipinski, who hails from a super blue district and who until 2018 never faced a serious primary challenge. Marie Newman gave Lipinski a run for his money; Lipinski had to rely on Republican canvassers sent by a neighboring Republican to stay in power. Lipinski may be a vote for speaker (though if he was the tie breaker he would likely vote Republican in my view) but on nearly every other issue he is wrong for the Democratic Party — largely for his extreme anti-choice positions which motivates him and inspired him to vote against Obamacare. Oh and he voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act, against DOMA and even against stem cell research (that probably even made Nancy Reagan mad).
In addition he is not a team player with the rest of the Illinois delegation and does not contribute funds to the DCCC, according to Illinois representatives with whom I have chatted.
So why is Cheri Bustos as chair of the DCCC headlining a fundraiser for Dan Lipinski? According to an email response I received from one of her staffers, the rationale is as follows:
“ Thanks for your email. When Cheri ran to become Chair of the DCCC, she made a promise to stand behind all of our incumbents in their campaigns- from the Blue Dogs to the Progressives. She believes in keeping her word, and she believes in keeping our focus on defeating Republicans so we can continue growing the most diverse Majority in our nation’s history. She’s proud of her 100 percent pro-choice record and does not agree with Congressman Lipinski on this issue, but Cheri is also leading the fight to hold Republicans across the country accountable for their relentless attacks on the health and well-being of women and their families.”
In what world is there any logic in this approach other than it continues the DCCC incumbent protection racket that Rahm Emmanuel perfected when he was in the House? Why support incumbents in primaries unless for example they were being challenged by a ………. nazi sympathizer (or fake, rat-f*cking Democrat) …. in which case the DCCC would have to take a stand. (Please note that Dan Lipinski’s Republican challenger in 2018 was in fact a nazi sympathizer, who while he made Republicans uncomfortable was not out of place in that cesspool of a party). Sure support all Democrats (except nazis if there were any) in general elections, but not in primaries.
There is another aspect of Lipinski which is maddening. Lipinski is a product of Illinois nepotism and smoke filled rooms who landed in the House without cutting his teeth in any other position of public service or political activity (though his dad got him some nternships). His father, Bill Lipinski, who occupied the same House seat, won the 2004 primary. Bill then announced his retirement, and as Democratic committeeman Bill helicoptered his putatively academic son onto the ballot for the general election. The late Ann Richards could have said something colorful about Dan too.
One barely has to pick apart the email I received from the Bustos staffer, to see the ludicrousness of her position that she has some sort of cross my heart hope to die commitment to support an anti-choice reactionary in a primary. Then again Cheri Bustos’ DCCC has said they are blacklisting any Democratic operative or consultant who helps a candidate challenge a sitting Democratic congressperson, apparently even one who is bent on sabotaging everything that matters to Democrats.
A women’s right to control her own body is the touchstone of nearly every aspect of progressive and sane public policy. It is a purity test. Empowered women are basic to genuine economic and social development, family values, effective education, public health, environmental responsibility and diversity, writ large.
That is why Lipinski is wrong for the Democratic Party and we should give no quarter to Blue Dogs. They helped stall and mire the Democratic agenda the last time we had a Democratic federal government. President Obama with his hope agenda raised expectations which were dashed by a Congress that could barely get a Republican health care idea (Romneycare) over the goal post, though it found time to rescue Wall Street — socializing the excesses of predatory capitalism while continuing the privatization of the commons — as evidenced by support for charter schools.
Let the Republicans have a monopoly on unhappy, humorless, narcissistic ugly aging reactionaries and their dedication to policies which are making America less secure, less prosperous, less equal while helping further the destruction of the planet.