Updated January 10, 2004 at 12:30 am
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A former Cong. Bill Lipinski and current Cong. Dan Lipinski[D- Western Springs, 3rd Cong. Dist.] Blogathon
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Cong. Dan Lipinski on TV tonight, “Public Affairs,” throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. Partial transcripts of "Public Affairs," shows with Congressman Lipinski and Cook County Commissioner Claypool included, below. Also included, below, a partial transcript of an interview with Cook County Commissioner Peraica.
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--Claypool on Cong. Dan Lipinski’s appointment to the Ballot
--Peraica on Cong. Dan Lipinski’s appointment to the Ballot
--Cong. Dan Lipinski on “Public Affairs,” tonight. See, below, for more details.
***************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: What about the 3rd Cong. District? You know there were some shenanigans that went on there. Would you agree with that?
Forrest Claypool: What shenanigans?
Berkowitz: Well, [22 year] Cong. Bill Lipinski ran in the primary- his name got on the [general election] ballot and [Cong. Bill] said he was going to run and sometime after, he decided he wouldn’t. He met with the Committeemen in that District: Speaker Mike Madigan [13th Ward], John Daley [11th Ward]- you know John Daley, [Tom] Hynes [19th Ward] and they chose [Cong.] Bill Lipinski’s [23rd Ward] son- Dan Lipinski [to replace Bill Lipinski on the general election ballot]. Does that sound like the way in which you want to do things?
Claypool: No. I think there oughta be a law that there is always an election, regardless. There oughta be an election, period. There shouldn’t be an appointment after the fact.
Berkowitz: So, you think somebody will step up to challenge Dan Lipinski? In the Democratic Primary.
Claypool: I have no idea, but I think people oughta be guaranteed an election every two years, not just an appointment.
***************************************
Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D- Chicago, 12th Dist.), interviewed on “Public Affairs,” recorded on January 9, 2005 and as will be cablecast in the suburbs during the week of January 17 and in the City of Chicago on January 24, 2004.
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Updated January 10 at 12:45 am
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County Commissioner Tony Peraica on Cong. Dan Lipinski’s appointment to the Ballot
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Jeff Berkowitz: Would you think of running [in 2006] in the 3rd Cong. District? You are in that district, right?
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica: I am.
Berkowitz: You think you might run [in the Primary] for the opportunity to run against [Democrat] Dan Lipinski.
Peraica: Anything is possible, but I don’t see that as likely.
Berkowitz: Too tough a seat for a Republican to win?
Peraica: No, no. I, I want to do the business that I was elected to do at the County level. At this time, I am not focusing on that.
***********************************
Berkowitz: Is it a seat [3rd CD] that is winnable at all for Republicans, or is it—
Peraica: Absolutely.
Berkowitz: What about this guy Ryan Chlada [who ran in the 3rd CD Cong. Election as a Republican against Democrat Dan Lipinski]? Was he a plant [by the Democrats].?
Peraica: No question about it. Definitely.
Berkowitz: So, was it that the Republicans thought they had no chance; they thought Bill [Lipinski, 22 year incumbent Congressman] was running?
Peraica: That’s correct.
Berkowitz: And, the Democrats—
Peraica: Bill Lipinski lied to everybody on his staff. He lied to the Press. He lied to all of the political establishment. He misled everybody up until to the last minute, before-- you know-- two days before the Certification deadline. And, then he pulled out.
Berkowitz: Who lied? Who did you say? Bill Lipinski?
Peraica: Correct.
Berkowitz: I mean, you don’t think he did that because he wanted to see that—his argument or his son said that he [Bill Lipinski] wanted to get the Transportation bill through, he had been working on it for several years, or longer and it took two years longer than—
Peraica: No, I think that was all a lie.
Berkowitz: It was? Because it didn’t pass apparently until April, right?
Peraica: That’s correct.
Berkowitz: And, when did he notify people that he wasn’t going to run?
Peraica: Three days before the certification deadline. It was at the end of August.
Berkowitz: That’s what I thought. Because his son [now Cong. Dan Lipinski] on my show said …he [then Cong. Bill Lipinski] decided this in April. If he did decide it in April, he didn’t tell everybody until August, right?
Peraica: He told everybody he was running, he loved his job—“I’m going to be here until I shepherd the C-21 Transportation Bill through,” it was all a sham. The whole thing was a sham.
************************************
Cook County Board Member Tony Peraica, (R- Riverside), interviewed by Public Affairs Host Jeff Berkowitz on Friday, January 7, 2005
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Updated January 10, 2005 at 1:00 am
********************************************
Cong. Dan Lipinski on TV tonight, “Public Affairs,” throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 on Cable Ch. 21. Partial transcript of the show with Congressman Lipinski included, below.
********************************************
Berkowitz: … What do you say?… Speaker Mike [Madigan]-- his daughter, Lisa Madigan becomes the Attorney General. [Former State Senate President] Tom Hynes-- his son, Dan Hynes, becomes the State Comptroller … Richard J. Daley—has [his son] Richard M. Daley become the Mayor. … Ald. Mell has his son-in- law, Rod Blagojevich, become the Governor. Is there a problem? I mean you have some perspective on this because you have a Ph. D. in political science. If you were looking at it… objectively, you were looking at somebody else who had done this, would you say, “Oh, that is not the kind of country we want, we really don’t want that kind of nepotism.”
Lipinski: Well, it is not the case that, you know—what I would say is the case that I ran in the general election, umm, I went out there- and if I were someone who was not qualified—
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Jeff Berkowitz: Let me ask you this- while you were living in Tennessee, were you, were you registered to vote in Tennessee or registered to vote in Illinois?
Congressman-Elect Dan Lipinski: Hmmm. I was registered to vote in Illinois.
Berkowitz: Can you do that if you are working full time in Tennessee? Is that legal?
Lipinski: uh, you register to vote. I had not voted in a- once I moved to Tennessee, I did not vote—in Illinois.
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Tonight’s Coming Attractions on "Public Affairs":
Congressman Dan Lipinski on TV throughout the City of Chicago tonight [Jan. 10, 8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21, CANTV]. Partial transcript of the show with Congressman Lipinski included, below.
*********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, how did you get to be [a Congressman]? How did this work out? Now, you are sitting there. You are teaching at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, right?
Congressman Dan Lipinski: Yes.
Berkowitz: 2003, or so. And, what? The phone rings and somebody calls and says, would you like to be a Congressman?
Lipinski: Well, what happened wasn’t really until 2004. This year. I mean my father [Cong. Bill Lipinski, D- Chicago] has been in office, as you mentioned, twenty-two years.
Berkowitz: Right.
Lipinski: And, honestly, as far back as I can remember, my father was talking about retiring, moving on, doing something else.
Berkowitz: As far as you can remember, he was always talking about retiring?
Lipinski: As far as I can remember. When he first ran, back in 1982, he got in there- it was always, how long am I going to stay? You know, it was always—
********************************
Berkowitz: … when you got a call, from your dad-- is that right?… 2004?
Lipinski: 2004. What happens, the Primary is relatively early, pretty early in Illinois, in March.
Berkowitz: March, right.
Lipinski: And, my father ran in a [Democratic] primary. And, in April, the House of Representatives passed the Highway Bill, which was supposed to have been passed two years previous to that. And, this was a big thing that my father has really been working hard on. In getting the Highway Bill passed, a lot of important things—
Berkowitz: What is the name of the Committee he is on?
Lipinski: Transportation Committee or Transportation Infrastructure—
Berkowitz: [Is he] third or second ranking member of the committee?
Lipinski: He is the third ranking [member of the Transportation Committee].
Berkowitz: Third ranking, okay.
Lipinski: So, this is something that has always been of importance to him- transportation issues. And, he is at a point where he could have a significant amount of power in getting things for the [3rd Congressional] District, the City [of Chicago] and for Illinois. And, when it finally passed the House, two years late, he said “Okay, basically, my work is done, I have gotten this done.”
Berkowitz: I am going to retire?
Lipinski: Yeah, [he said] I am going to retire.
Berkowitz: So, when was that?
Lipinski: That was in April [2004].
Berkowitz: Okay, and then what happened?
Lipinski: So, my father—as I said, he has talked before about retiring—but when he called me up and said, “I have talked to some of the committeemen in the [3rd Congressional] District, Democratic Committeeman and told them –you know- I am going to retire,”-- then I knew, Okay, he is serious; this had gone on outside of just talking with the family, things like that. So, he said to me—he said, “there have been a couple of the committeemen who I have talked to who have said, you know—is your son interested in- in running?” And, my father said, “Well, let me—I will talk to him and see if he is interested.” And, so, he- you know- gave me a call and talked to me about it and I really have- I worked for a number of members of Congress. My area of study as a political scientist has been Congress. And, I have written articles. I have written a book that just came out with the University of Michigan Press-- on Congress-- something that has always interested me. And, I have watched my father and all that he has been able to do for people over the years. And, the reason that I have been teaching is that I just really value public service. And I think it sort of goes back to my St. Ignatius [High School] days, to a large extent, but also in my family. The whole idea is if you have an opportunity, if you have the talent- you should go into public service.
Berkowitz: So, you said yes, you will do it?
Lipinski: Well, the first thing I did—I talked to my wife about it.
Berkowitz: Judy?
Lipinski: I talked to Judy. We had been married less than a year at this time and I said, you know- is this something we want to do? Because, I know it is not just me. I know what politics is like. I know what kind of dedication it takes.
Berkowitz: So, you never really thought of doing this before?
Lipinski: Did I ever think about it? Maybe somewhere in the back of my mind, I had--
Berkowitz: So, Judy says OK and you are off and running. Is that basically it?
Lipinski: That was basically it.
Berkowitz: Now, the Committeemen. You mentioned the 19th Ward, Tom Hynes-- he is still a committeeman there [in the 3rd CD], right?
Lipinski: Yes.
Berkowitz: John Daley, brother of Mayor Daley [and] a Cook County Commissioner- he is a Committeeman [in the 3rd CD], right [11th Ward, Bridgeport]?
Lipinski: Yeah.
Berkowitz: [Illinois House] Speaker Mike- Mike Madigan, he is a Committeeman [in the 3rd CD], right?
Lipinski: Um, Um.
Berkowitz: What is his ward?
Lipinski: 13th Ward.
Berkowitz: So, here. I mean I understand what you have just said. But, some people would say, is there an issue of nepotism here? And, what do you say to those folks because it kind of looks like-- here, you didn’t run in a primary. Your father decided to retire. He talked to the Committeemen [in the 3rd CD]. They talked to him. Your name goes on the ballot. The Republican? Who is the Republican who was running against you?
Lipinski: Uh—
Berkowitz: Ryan--
Lipinski: Ryan Chlada.
Berkowitz: Chlada. See, we can’t even remember his name. Now, people say: he was a plant; he was really a Democrat; this was really all set up so you wouldn’t have any opposition in the general election. What do you say? Because, you know, speaker Mike [Madigan]-- his daughter, Lisa Madigan, becomes the Attorney General. [Former State Senate President and Cook County Assessor] Tom Hynes-- his son, Dan Hynes, becomes the State Comptroller. [21 year Chicago Mayor] Richard J. Daley—has [his son] Richard M. Daley become the Mayor. [33rd Ward Alderman Dick] Mell has his son in law, Blagojevich, become the Governor. Is there a problem? I mean you have some perspective on this because you have a Ph. D. in political science. If you were looking at it- I know its hard—if you were looking at it objectively, you were looking at somebody else who had done this, would you say, “Oh, that is not the kind of country we want, we really don’t want that kind of nepotism.”
Lipinski: Well, it is not the case that, you know—what I would say is the case that I ran in the general election, umm, I went out there- and if I were someone who was not qualified—
Berkowitz: No real opposition. This guy didn’t run a campaign. He didn’t do anything. I mean--
Lipinski: He was, he was—
Berkowitz: It was like [you were running as] a judge, you were running, you know—will they retain you? or not, almost.
Lipinski: Well, he was the man that the Republicans- who won the Republican Primary.
Berkowitz: Yeah.
Lipinski: And, you know, if I were not qualified; if I had been someone who, you know, did not have the background that I have—have the experience that I have, umm, not only working in Congress—studying Congress from the outside; if I wasn’t confident that I was the best candidate to step in there and that I would not be the best Congressman and best represent the people of the 3rd District, then I certainly would not have done that. But, I think I am. I went out there during the campaign, campaigned with as many people as I could; talked to them about what I wanted to do—
Berkowitz: Let me ask you this- while you were living in Tennessee, were you, were you registered to vote in Tennessee or registered to vote in Illinois?
Lipinski: Hmmm. I was registered to vote in Illinois.
Berkowitz: Can you do that if you are working full time in Tennessee? Is that legal?
Lipinski: uh, you register to vote. I had not voted in a- once I moved to Tennessee, I did not vote—in Illinois.
Berkowitz: Once you moved to Tennessee, you did not vote in Illinois but you were registered to vote in Illinois?
Lipinski: Yes.
Berkowitz: So, did you vote in Tennessee?
Lipinski: No.
Berkowitz: So, you just didn’t vote- while you were there [in Tennessee, about three years, teaching Political Science courses as an Assistant Professor].
Lipinski: I didn’t vote.
Berkowitz: Because you couldn’t vote in Illinois because even though you were registered here, you didn’t have a residence here, right?
Lipinski: Umm, the- I mean, to go through the whole- the whole process, I had my registration- because I was moving around a lot, ummm, I had, from the time that I, you know, went to college, spent a lot of time in, I decided that I wanted to get my, my Ph. D. and that required a lot of time going to school—
Berkowitz: So, you just didn’t change your registration while you were—
Lipinski: I didn’t change my registration because I always considered Chicago to be my home.
Berkowitz: Do you expect significant opposition in the Democratic Primary in 2006?
Lipinski: Well, I am sure that there will be challengers in 2006.
Berkowitz: You think? Okay.
Lipinski: I have confidence that I am going to do a good job. You know, I am going to take my record to the people in March of 2006 and the voters of the 3rd [Congressional] District will decide.
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Congressman Dan Lipinski interviewed on "Public Affairs," as is being cablecast throughout the City of Chicago tonight, Jan. 10 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. The show was recorded on Dec. 19, 2004.
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Congressman Dan Lipinski [D- Western Springs, 3rd Cong. Dist.] debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz issues related to Midway, Peotone and O'Hare airports, the Iraq War, Abortion, School Vouchers, Gun Control, the Assault Weapon Ban, Trade, Protectionism, Off-Shore Out Sourcing and Dan Lipinski’s appointment by the Committeeman to replace his father, Bill Lipinski, on the ballot as the Democratic Nominee for the 3rd Cong. Dist. seat.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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A former Cong. Bill Lipinski and current Cong. Dan Lipinski[D- Western Springs, 3rd Cong. Dist.] Blogathon
***************************************
Cong. Dan Lipinski on TV tonight, “Public Affairs,” throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. Partial transcripts of "Public Affairs," shows with Congressman Lipinski and Cook County Commissioner Claypool included, below. Also included, below, a partial transcript of an interview with Cook County Commissioner Peraica.
****************************************
--Claypool on Cong. Dan Lipinski’s appointment to the Ballot
--Peraica on Cong. Dan Lipinski’s appointment to the Ballot
--Cong. Dan Lipinski on “Public Affairs,” tonight. See, below, for more details.
***************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: What about the 3rd Cong. District? You know there were some shenanigans that went on there. Would you agree with that?
Forrest Claypool: What shenanigans?
Berkowitz: Well, [22 year] Cong. Bill Lipinski ran in the primary- his name got on the [general election] ballot and [Cong. Bill] said he was going to run and sometime after, he decided he wouldn’t. He met with the Committeemen in that District: Speaker Mike Madigan [13th Ward], John Daley [11th Ward]- you know John Daley, [Tom] Hynes [19th Ward] and they chose [Cong.] Bill Lipinski’s [23rd Ward] son- Dan Lipinski [to replace Bill Lipinski on the general election ballot]. Does that sound like the way in which you want to do things?
Claypool: No. I think there oughta be a law that there is always an election, regardless. There oughta be an election, period. There shouldn’t be an appointment after the fact.
Berkowitz: So, you think somebody will step up to challenge Dan Lipinski? In the Democratic Primary.
Claypool: I have no idea, but I think people oughta be guaranteed an election every two years, not just an appointment.
***************************************
Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D- Chicago, 12th Dist.), interviewed on “Public Affairs,” recorded on January 9, 2005 and as will be cablecast in the suburbs during the week of January 17 and in the City of Chicago on January 24, 2004.
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Updated January 10 at 12:45 am
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County Commissioner Tony Peraica on Cong. Dan Lipinski’s appointment to the Ballot
***********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you think of running [in 2006] in the 3rd Cong. District? You are in that district, right?
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica: I am.
Berkowitz: You think you might run [in the Primary] for the opportunity to run against [Democrat] Dan Lipinski.
Peraica: Anything is possible, but I don’t see that as likely.
Berkowitz: Too tough a seat for a Republican to win?
Peraica: No, no. I, I want to do the business that I was elected to do at the County level. At this time, I am not focusing on that.
***********************************
Berkowitz: Is it a seat [3rd CD] that is winnable at all for Republicans, or is it—
Peraica: Absolutely.
Berkowitz: What about this guy Ryan Chlada [who ran in the 3rd CD Cong. Election as a Republican against Democrat Dan Lipinski]? Was he a plant [by the Democrats].?
Peraica: No question about it. Definitely.
Berkowitz: So, was it that the Republicans thought they had no chance; they thought Bill [Lipinski, 22 year incumbent Congressman] was running?
Peraica: That’s correct.
Berkowitz: And, the Democrats—
Peraica: Bill Lipinski lied to everybody on his staff. He lied to the Press. He lied to all of the political establishment. He misled everybody up until to the last minute, before-- you know-- two days before the Certification deadline. And, then he pulled out.
Berkowitz: Who lied? Who did you say? Bill Lipinski?
Peraica: Correct.
Berkowitz: I mean, you don’t think he did that because he wanted to see that—his argument or his son said that he [Bill Lipinski] wanted to get the Transportation bill through, he had been working on it for several years, or longer and it took two years longer than—
Peraica: No, I think that was all a lie.
Berkowitz: It was? Because it didn’t pass apparently until April, right?
Peraica: That’s correct.
Berkowitz: And, when did he notify people that he wasn’t going to run?
Peraica: Three days before the certification deadline. It was at the end of August.
Berkowitz: That’s what I thought. Because his son [now Cong. Dan Lipinski] on my show said …he [then Cong. Bill Lipinski] decided this in April. If he did decide it in April, he didn’t tell everybody until August, right?
Peraica: He told everybody he was running, he loved his job—“I’m going to be here until I shepherd the C-21 Transportation Bill through,” it was all a sham. The whole thing was a sham.
************************************
Cook County Board Member Tony Peraica, (R- Riverside), interviewed by Public Affairs Host Jeff Berkowitz on Friday, January 7, 2005
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Updated January 10, 2005 at 1:00 am
********************************************
Cong. Dan Lipinski on TV tonight, “Public Affairs,” throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 on Cable Ch. 21. Partial transcript of the show with Congressman Lipinski included, below.
********************************************
Berkowitz: … What do you say?… Speaker Mike [Madigan]-- his daughter, Lisa Madigan becomes the Attorney General. [Former State Senate President] Tom Hynes-- his son, Dan Hynes, becomes the State Comptroller … Richard J. Daley—has [his son] Richard M. Daley become the Mayor. … Ald. Mell has his son-in- law, Rod Blagojevich, become the Governor. Is there a problem? I mean you have some perspective on this because you have a Ph. D. in political science. If you were looking at it… objectively, you were looking at somebody else who had done this, would you say, “Oh, that is not the kind of country we want, we really don’t want that kind of nepotism.”
Lipinski: Well, it is not the case that, you know—what I would say is the case that I ran in the general election, umm, I went out there- and if I were someone who was not qualified—
***************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Let me ask you this- while you were living in Tennessee, were you, were you registered to vote in Tennessee or registered to vote in Illinois?
Congressman-Elect Dan Lipinski: Hmmm. I was registered to vote in Illinois.
Berkowitz: Can you do that if you are working full time in Tennessee? Is that legal?
Lipinski: uh, you register to vote. I had not voted in a- once I moved to Tennessee, I did not vote—in Illinois.
*********************************
Tonight’s Coming Attractions on "Public Affairs":
Congressman Dan Lipinski on TV throughout the City of Chicago tonight [Jan. 10, 8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21, CANTV]. Partial transcript of the show with Congressman Lipinski included, below.
*********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, how did you get to be [a Congressman]? How did this work out? Now, you are sitting there. You are teaching at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, right?
Congressman Dan Lipinski: Yes.
Berkowitz: 2003, or so. And, what? The phone rings and somebody calls and says, would you like to be a Congressman?
Lipinski: Well, what happened wasn’t really until 2004. This year. I mean my father [Cong. Bill Lipinski, D- Chicago] has been in office, as you mentioned, twenty-two years.
Berkowitz: Right.
Lipinski: And, honestly, as far back as I can remember, my father was talking about retiring, moving on, doing something else.
Berkowitz: As far as you can remember, he was always talking about retiring?
Lipinski: As far as I can remember. When he first ran, back in 1982, he got in there- it was always, how long am I going to stay? You know, it was always—
********************************
Berkowitz: … when you got a call, from your dad-- is that right?… 2004?
Lipinski: 2004. What happens, the Primary is relatively early, pretty early in Illinois, in March.
Berkowitz: March, right.
Lipinski: And, my father ran in a [Democratic] primary. And, in April, the House of Representatives passed the Highway Bill, which was supposed to have been passed two years previous to that. And, this was a big thing that my father has really been working hard on. In getting the Highway Bill passed, a lot of important things—
Berkowitz: What is the name of the Committee he is on?
Lipinski: Transportation Committee or Transportation Infrastructure—
Berkowitz: [Is he] third or second ranking member of the committee?
Lipinski: He is the third ranking [member of the Transportation Committee].
Berkowitz: Third ranking, okay.
Lipinski: So, this is something that has always been of importance to him- transportation issues. And, he is at a point where he could have a significant amount of power in getting things for the [3rd Congressional] District, the City [of Chicago] and for Illinois. And, when it finally passed the House, two years late, he said “Okay, basically, my work is done, I have gotten this done.”
Berkowitz: I am going to retire?
Lipinski: Yeah, [he said] I am going to retire.
Berkowitz: So, when was that?
Lipinski: That was in April [2004].
Berkowitz: Okay, and then what happened?
Lipinski: So, my father—as I said, he has talked before about retiring—but when he called me up and said, “I have talked to some of the committeemen in the [3rd Congressional] District, Democratic Committeeman and told them –you know- I am going to retire,”-- then I knew, Okay, he is serious; this had gone on outside of just talking with the family, things like that. So, he said to me—he said, “there have been a couple of the committeemen who I have talked to who have said, you know—is your son interested in- in running?” And, my father said, “Well, let me—I will talk to him and see if he is interested.” And, so, he- you know- gave me a call and talked to me about it and I really have- I worked for a number of members of Congress. My area of study as a political scientist has been Congress. And, I have written articles. I have written a book that just came out with the University of Michigan Press-- on Congress-- something that has always interested me. And, I have watched my father and all that he has been able to do for people over the years. And, the reason that I have been teaching is that I just really value public service. And I think it sort of goes back to my St. Ignatius [High School] days, to a large extent, but also in my family. The whole idea is if you have an opportunity, if you have the talent- you should go into public service.
Berkowitz: So, you said yes, you will do it?
Lipinski: Well, the first thing I did—I talked to my wife about it.
Berkowitz: Judy?
Lipinski: I talked to Judy. We had been married less than a year at this time and I said, you know- is this something we want to do? Because, I know it is not just me. I know what politics is like. I know what kind of dedication it takes.
Berkowitz: So, you never really thought of doing this before?
Lipinski: Did I ever think about it? Maybe somewhere in the back of my mind, I had--
Berkowitz: So, Judy says OK and you are off and running. Is that basically it?
Lipinski: That was basically it.
Berkowitz: Now, the Committeemen. You mentioned the 19th Ward, Tom Hynes-- he is still a committeeman there [in the 3rd CD], right?
Lipinski: Yes.
Berkowitz: John Daley, brother of Mayor Daley [and] a Cook County Commissioner- he is a Committeeman [in the 3rd CD], right [11th Ward, Bridgeport]?
Lipinski: Yeah.
Berkowitz: [Illinois House] Speaker Mike- Mike Madigan, he is a Committeeman [in the 3rd CD], right?
Lipinski: Um, Um.
Berkowitz: What is his ward?
Lipinski: 13th Ward.
Berkowitz: So, here. I mean I understand what you have just said. But, some people would say, is there an issue of nepotism here? And, what do you say to those folks because it kind of looks like-- here, you didn’t run in a primary. Your father decided to retire. He talked to the Committeemen [in the 3rd CD]. They talked to him. Your name goes on the ballot. The Republican? Who is the Republican who was running against you?
Lipinski: Uh—
Berkowitz: Ryan--
Lipinski: Ryan Chlada.
Berkowitz: Chlada. See, we can’t even remember his name. Now, people say: he was a plant; he was really a Democrat; this was really all set up so you wouldn’t have any opposition in the general election. What do you say? Because, you know, speaker Mike [Madigan]-- his daughter, Lisa Madigan, becomes the Attorney General. [Former State Senate President and Cook County Assessor] Tom Hynes-- his son, Dan Hynes, becomes the State Comptroller. [21 year Chicago Mayor] Richard J. Daley—has [his son] Richard M. Daley become the Mayor. [33rd Ward Alderman Dick] Mell has his son in law, Blagojevich, become the Governor. Is there a problem? I mean you have some perspective on this because you have a Ph. D. in political science. If you were looking at it- I know its hard—if you were looking at it objectively, you were looking at somebody else who had done this, would you say, “Oh, that is not the kind of country we want, we really don’t want that kind of nepotism.”
Lipinski: Well, it is not the case that, you know—what I would say is the case that I ran in the general election, umm, I went out there- and if I were someone who was not qualified—
Berkowitz: No real opposition. This guy didn’t run a campaign. He didn’t do anything. I mean--
Lipinski: He was, he was—
Berkowitz: It was like [you were running as] a judge, you were running, you know—will they retain you? or not, almost.
Lipinski: Well, he was the man that the Republicans- who won the Republican Primary.
Berkowitz: Yeah.
Lipinski: And, you know, if I were not qualified; if I had been someone who, you know, did not have the background that I have—have the experience that I have, umm, not only working in Congress—studying Congress from the outside; if I wasn’t confident that I was the best candidate to step in there and that I would not be the best Congressman and best represent the people of the 3rd District, then I certainly would not have done that. But, I think I am. I went out there during the campaign, campaigned with as many people as I could; talked to them about what I wanted to do—
Berkowitz: Let me ask you this- while you were living in Tennessee, were you, were you registered to vote in Tennessee or registered to vote in Illinois?
Lipinski: Hmmm. I was registered to vote in Illinois.
Berkowitz: Can you do that if you are working full time in Tennessee? Is that legal?
Lipinski: uh, you register to vote. I had not voted in a- once I moved to Tennessee, I did not vote—in Illinois.
Berkowitz: Once you moved to Tennessee, you did not vote in Illinois but you were registered to vote in Illinois?
Lipinski: Yes.
Berkowitz: So, did you vote in Tennessee?
Lipinski: No.
Berkowitz: So, you just didn’t vote- while you were there [in Tennessee, about three years, teaching Political Science courses as an Assistant Professor].
Lipinski: I didn’t vote.
Berkowitz: Because you couldn’t vote in Illinois because even though you were registered here, you didn’t have a residence here, right?
Lipinski: Umm, the- I mean, to go through the whole- the whole process, I had my registration- because I was moving around a lot, ummm, I had, from the time that I, you know, went to college, spent a lot of time in, I decided that I wanted to get my, my Ph. D. and that required a lot of time going to school—
Berkowitz: So, you just didn’t change your registration while you were—
Lipinski: I didn’t change my registration because I always considered Chicago to be my home.
Berkowitz: Do you expect significant opposition in the Democratic Primary in 2006?
Lipinski: Well, I am sure that there will be challengers in 2006.
Berkowitz: You think? Okay.
Lipinski: I have confidence that I am going to do a good job. You know, I am going to take my record to the people in March of 2006 and the voters of the 3rd [Congressional] District will decide.
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Congressman Dan Lipinski interviewed on "Public Affairs," as is being cablecast throughout the City of Chicago tonight, Jan. 10 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. The show was recorded on Dec. 19, 2004.
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Congressman Dan Lipinski [D- Western Springs, 3rd Cong. Dist.] debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz issues related to Midway, Peotone and O'Hare airports, the Iraq War, Abortion, School Vouchers, Gun Control, the Assault Weapon Ban, Trade, Protectionism, Off-Shore Out Sourcing and Dan Lipinski’s appointment by the Committeeman to replace his father, Bill Lipinski, on the ballot as the Democratic Nominee for the 3rd Cong. Dist. seat.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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