Mark Brown of the Sun-Times did a little digging into a “charity” called “Bill Lipinski’s All-American Eagles” set up by, you guessed it, retired Congressman Bill Lipinski.

Bill Lipinski is the same fellow who retired his position just in time for his son, Republican-leaning Dan Lipinski, to be “annointed” to the seat a few years back, as political commenter Russ Stewart put it.

Many thought this turn of events odd since the Younger Lipinski hadn’t lived in the district (let alone the state) for years. Despite the fact it’s a Congressional office, not a throne, Lipinski the Younger has been the incumbent Representative since then. Both Lipinski men run under the Democratic banner, despite the Younger’s record of voting with Republicans on important issues. The district itself went 59% for Kerry in 2004 so it’s true blue, not DINO blue.

Turns out that this Lipinski charity — which is supposed to help kids — is actually helping out Lipinski the Elder (in the form of currying political favor) and his own kid, Congressman Dan Lipinski, whose political fund received at least $1000 from the “charity”.

From a recent fundraising solicitation sent by the Elder Lipinski:

The All-American Eagles program has included various events for middle school youngsters throughout the years, including an art contest, track and field meet, bicycle races, spelling and history bees and other programs designed to build the confidence and poise of young men and women. The All-American Eagles program is open to all young people in the 7th and 8th grades who wish to participate.

Sounds great, no?

Problem is instead of helping 7th and 8th graders have athletic fun and challenge their minds the money raised looks to have been funneled to political patronage. Mark Brown notes this “charity” (which, in Lip’s defense, is clearly set up as a non-tax deductible political account) has sent funds toward:

  • a car lease for Bill Lipinski
  • $1000 to the Congressional campaign of his son, Dan Lipinski
  • $500 to Republican State Sen. Christine Radogno’s failed state treasurer campaign last year
  • a whopping $5,000 straight to the Mike Madigan-run Democratic Party of Illinois
  • and even rent for the lobbying office that the Elder Lipinski started up after he retired

Yoda, posting at Prairie State Blue, notes that this “charity” also funneled thousands of dollars to Lipinski family political consultant Jerry Hurkes. Mr. Hurkes worked for the Congressional staff of Bill Lipinski before also being hired by sudden-Congressman Dan Lipinski. Mr. Hurkes is also the tough guy who started roughing up a Lipinski political opponent while she was videotaping a speech by Dan Lipinski (h/t Proviso Probe publisher Carl Nyberg).

As both blogger Yoda and reporter Mark Brown dug through this group’s finances, they found little money actually being devoted toward its stated purpose. Instead, the dollars appear to be divvied up among politicians and friends who have themselves done little to advance the causes of junior high extracurricular activities like athletics, art, and trivia bees.

It’s disgusting when Republicans and conservatives set up fake charities to pad the wallets of themselves and their friends and it’s disgusting when people pretending to be Democrats (their actual records speak differently) try to get away with it too.

Shame on you Lipinskis.

To learn more about Dan Lipinski’s current real opponent for the upcoming February primary (as opposed to the placeholders who’ve endorsed him in the past but are now mysteriously coming out against him), you can read up about Mark Pera.

State’s Attorny Mark Pera is an actual, honest progressive who just wants to do right by his family and his neighbors in that district and who has been endorsed by local area organizations.

Mr. Pera has even coached youth athletics in the district and served on the boards of various civic, religious and charitable groups — so he knows a thing or two about charities that are supposed to be for kids.

(I didn’t intend for this to turn into a quasi-endorsement for Mark Pera but after seeing that he coached kids sports and served on charitable boards it seemed important to note the contrast between challenger and incumbent, or at least ‘incumbent’s father’.)