Kos Staff writer David Nir labels Illinois Congressman Dan Lipinski (D – Chicago Ill.) “The WORST Democrat” in Congress.
Why?
It seems that Mr. Nir (a life-long NYC D) objects to Rep. Lipinski’s position on same-sex marriage.
Lipinski, an adherent to the tenets of the Roman Catholic sect of Christendom is opposed to the decision by the US Supreme Court to declare that this social practice is protected by the US Constitution. In fact, Rep. Lipinski is so fervently opposed that he supports amending the Constitution to ban marriages between people of the same gender.
I’m confident that should I have the great misfortune to live in Chicago’s Third Congressional District, I would not be a supporter of the Congressman. But certainly not because he chooses to conduct his public business based upon his personal religious convictions.
Two of the best Democrats that I know, admire and respect, share Mr. Lipinski’s position on marriage for the same reason. They’re old school Roman Catholics who believe that homosexuality is a sin and that while one must Love the Sinner, while Hating the Sin, this does not include condoning support of public policy that gives legitimacy to people living in sin.
My friends are good people. And they’re good Democrats who have over many decades worked diligently for many progressive causes and to elect PROGRESSIVE Democrats. Not only have they have given generously of their time but they’ve put their money where their beliefs are.
They share Rep. Lipinski’s position on abortion and they have worked hard to support and encourage adoption as an alternative.
I’ve no way to gage the sincerity Rep. Lipinski’s religious convictions, but from what little exposure I’ve had in the past to Chicago’s Polish Catholic community (the congressman is, according to Wikipedia, co-chairman of the Congressional Poland Caucus) his Polish Catholic constituents would not tolerate his condoning “sinful” conduct.
My friends and I have discussed the inconsistencies (even the hypocrisies) of The Holy Roman Catholic Church’s position on homosexuality. But as “good” Roman Catholics they believe they have a moral obligation to oppose this sin. While they will not be expending their time or their money, nor using their considerable influence with Democratic Party leadership (or the rank and file) they know to advocate for a Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, I’m confident that they personally believe it would be good public policy.
Meanwhile there are Democrats who are pandering to Wall Street and the ultra-wealthy and advocating public policies that benefit these contemporary Robber Barons, while crippling those of us who are committed to Progressive policies and politics that will benefit far more Americans that the 10 to 15 percent who comprise the LGBT segment of our population.
These are truly the WORST Democrats currently in Congress. I was recently at a meeting of fellow Kos-ites and was told that I shouldn’t look to other Kos-ites or to the Democratic Party’s leadership to purge Congress of Closet Republicans such as Sen. Mike Bennet of Colorado, who has routinely put the interest of his Wall Street benefactors ahead of the interest of Main Street Coloradoans.
While Mr. Nir advocates for Chicagoans to rid Congress of Rep. Lipinski, I hope he is equally eager to rid Congress of Wall Street sycophant Sen. Schumer -- who like Mr. Nir is a life-long NYC Dem.
And Mr. Nir, one of the WORST, if not the WORST Democrat in Congress.