It’s a warning to all right wing Democrats in Congress. In spite of his power as a long-time incumbent, and in spite of the political machine built up for him by his father even years before that, Dan Lipinski only barely held out against his Democratic primary challengers, getting just 53 percent. Only the split between Lipinski’s challengers, Mark Pera most capable among them, enabled Lipinski to keep his seat in the House of Representatives.

Lipinski’s recent vote for the ironically-entitled Protect America Act was just the latest in a series of shameful embraces of Bush Republican politics. Lipinski has also helped the Bush White House continue its torture programs, gave his voice to big oil corporations seeking to exploit the resources on public lands, voted in favor of the Iraq mess, and even voted to allow religious discrimination by employers against any worker.

Dan Lipinski is the kind of politician who gives Democrats in Congress a bad name. That’s why it’s time of Democrats of good conscience in the 3rd congressional district in Illinois to stop enabling Lipinski’s anti-progressive abuse and support author Jerome Pohlen in his alternative campaign to challenge Lipinski for his seat in Congress.