Posted on 03/28/2010 5:57:06 AM PDT by raptor22
The only Illinois Democrat in Congress to vote against Obamacare was on the phone.
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski — one of the few pro-life Democrats who didn't cave in to White House pressure — was explaining how it felt to be very much alone.
"It was rather lonely, yes," Lipinski said of voting against President Barack Obama's federalized health care agenda. "But I could not vote for a bill that would change the status quo on funding for abortion."
By voting "no," Lipinski has put a target on his back for smears from the White House staffed by the guys from Chicago.
"There were aspects of the president's package that I liked. Helping people get insurance, that sort of thing. But we weren't really voting for health reform. We were voting for a bill that is financially unsustainable. And I couldn't support that bill," he said.
As a Roman Catholic against abortion, he's formally a pariah among most Democratic elites. And predictably, he's been attacked by unnamed White House sources in media reports. Who's behind that? Perhaps when White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel (D-Tomczak) asks me out to lunch, he'll tell me.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
It's a shame, but I'm afraid I can't believe him. It is likely he was given permission to vote no. If he were really committed pro-life, he would change parties and simply become another liberal Republican. He would find a home in The Republican Party.
I have to agree with those who warned me. There is no such thing as a pro-life Democrat. Nor are there "moderate" Democrats. They are all infanticidal Marxists.
And he voted NO because HusseinCare had enough votes without him. Otherwise he would have voted yes. This was a typical “scam the constituents” fraud.
A “pro-life” Democrat is an oxymoron.
You are not believable to say ‘I’m a pro-life Democrat”
Sorry it just doesn’t work any more
Even if a democrat is pro-life, they help keep Pelosi & Reid in power, and that is unacceptable. To be Pro-State is to be Anti-Life.
We don't know that for a fact.
What we do know is that they didn't need his vote either time.
After Stupak it will be hard to convince anyone that when the chips are down, Lipinski, or any other Democrat for that matter, will not vote in favor of abortion.
We cheered him on only because there was no other hope.
Stupak, Lipinski, or anyone else with a D behind their name, was going to vote for HC if their vote was needed.
He represents Chicago, albeit the district is less liberal than others in the area because it includes a lot of suburbs. Almost everyone in the city is a registered Democrat and Republicans rarely win. In 1994, Republican Mike Flanigan defeated Dan Rostenkowski in the 5th district by two points. But that race was much like the one in Louisana District 2, where Joseph Cao won in a heavily Democratic district because of a scandal-plagued Democrat incumbent. It was a one time deal and Flanigan was handily defeated by none other Blago in 1996.
Illinois ping
It doesn’t matter. They’re all stupaks if they get the chance.
Lipinski voted for Pelosi to be speaker. QED. They cannot be allowed to do this “moderate” two-step any longer.
“Lipinski voted no both times. He is consistently pro-life.”
Fine...he still needs to get voted out...just to teach Democrats that pro-lifers will not support ANYONE who votes to seat Pelosi as Speaker.
I know nothing about Lipinski...but Stupak certainly had a PERFECT pro-life voting record, until this issue (where his vote was needed), so that convinces me that ANY ‘pro-life’ Democrat is a DEMOCRAT FIRST, and pro-life second. 6 months ago I would have never believed it...now it is a FACT.
There is no way any person who is really pro-life should EVER vote for a Democrat again...and expect him to support life over Democrat ideology. Stupak just proved it was NOT POSSIBLE - the party simply does not all that...when they need the votes.
I know this district! I lived there for 30 years. I ran against the old man Eilliam O, and on my past life got Republicans elected to state legislative and aldermanic posts directing their campaigns in a solid blue area. Something none of you can say you’ve done and currently have a website conservatives for legislative offices can use to get elected.
http://www.theusmat.com/home.htm
Lipinski, did not have a viable candidate to run against him. He was under no pressure to vote yes in his district from his constituents who opposed it vigorously using some of my material. They urged him to vote no and he did. The pressue to vote yes came from the administration which he bucked and he’s gonna get smeared for doing so....By smearing him here your helping the socialists....
If there was any pressure on him, it was to vote yes because he is from the Chicago metropolitan area and the Democrats didn't want him to embarrass the president. But he stood firm and voted his conscience. God bless him. Now that he voted no, the white house will probably provide backing to a primary challenger who will do their bidding if he wins.
All of the Freepers on here attacking him are shameless. If you read the article Lipinski states that it wasn't just the abortion issue, but we cannot afford socialized health care. We should encourage Democrats to vote their conscience when it comes to social issues.
Which Republican should oppose Lipinski, in 2012? I hope that a conservative state senator, state rep., and/or county commissioner, who lives in or near his district, is already planning on opposing him, in two years.
Unless Lipinski does something awful, it would be a waste of money to run a Republican challenger.
Thanks for the ping/post, mosesdapoet.
Bravo. God bless him indeed.
Ah ha, at last! I found a FR in the IL 5th... where in the 5th ?
(Please reply privately if you choose)
I worked with civic groups in his district and they let their voices be heard. The pressure did not come from within his district but outside of it and the administration. The 5th district./Garfield Ridge,Clearing,Archer Heights,West Lawn, Summit,amd most of those suburbs are Catholic/ and or conservative.
What may happen and where they will screw him because this is a very vindictive bunch in the WH is in the remap of the 5th. When Billy had it,it was the 3rd and that ran all the way down into Bridgeport. They might swing north and into Lyons Township and beyond, and bring Guterrez furthur west. A lot depends on what the IL House does.
Ok Phil, who’s running ? Are any of the ward organizations doing anything ? You have a remap comming up, which nobody is talking about. I haven’t checked with IL SOS (sec of state) on the list of candidates but is there anyone out there running for state senate or house on the SW side making noise ? Because I feel the WH is going to remap this guy into a hodge podge district no conservative Democrat or Republican will ever win unless Brady wins the governorship and conservatives can make noise in the IL house and senate. BTW check your private mail
Other way around, it used to be the 5th, now it's the 3rd. And it still includes that corridor into the city and all of those areas that you mentioned. Illinois' 3rd congressional district
Gutierrez wouldn't stand a chance unless they dramatically changed the district borders. His district isn't even contiguous and if they messed with it he could very easily lose. Plus, Lipinski's dad was good friends with old man Daley. I don't think that Richie would stand by and allow Rahm to change the districts.
Dan Lipinski may not be everything I want, but he is about as conservative as Democrat can be.
Here is one of his previous Republican opponents.
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