Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Toggle search form
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Former Chicago Attorney Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Tax Fraud and Witness Tampering Crime
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar with Chicago region veterans. No one supports veterans more than Aguilar
    Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar honors veterans at first of monthly VetConnect Workshops at district office Cook County
  • Coffee & Conversation for the public on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, featuring two speakers who will address individual fatigue and how to empower your personal health and activism.
    Orland Fire hosts Coffee & Conversation on individual fatigue and personal health Events
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Man Sentenced to a Year and a Half in Federal Prison for Covid-Relief Fraud Crime
  • Photo submitted by Jeffery M. Leving and Associates
    Leving team protected dad’s daughter from danger and restored his peace of mind Chicago
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays Blogger
  • Muslim prayer tent, O'Hare Airport Uber/Lyft Staging Area
    O’Hare Officials say they will pursue “more permanent solutions” for Muslim prayer Tent Chicago
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Gives Update on His Work to Support Victims of July Floods in Cook County’s 16th District Cook County
  • Adel and Omar Nofal Eagle scouts, the 224th and 225th Eagle Scouts in Troop 318’s 87-year history
    Twin Brothers from Orland Park’s Troop 318 Achieve Scouting’s Highest Honor: Eagle Scout Government
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago Creates New Section to Prosecute Criminal Healthcare Fraud Violations Business
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Don’t Pay for What You Can Get for Free: How to Claim Your Property Tax Refunds  Cook County
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Dad reunited with grieving children after tragic death of mother Dads' Rights
  • Arthur Kallow CLE August 20 2025
    Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar to Address Complex Litigation Motions and Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule Arthur Kallow
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Village of Orland Park Receives Clean Audit Opinion for Fiscal Year 2024 Government
  • US Congressman Mike Quigley, who represents the 5th Congressional District in Illinois and serves as the Congressional Ukraine Caucus.
    Congressmen slam President Trump’s meeting on Ukraine with accused war criminal Putin breaking news
Statue of Liberty. Photo courtesy of Fabian Fauth on Unsplash

Right from the Middle: The Need for an Ethnic America Caucus in our Congress

Posted on April 11, 2022June 14, 2022 By William Lipinski No Comments on Right from the Middle: The Need for an Ethnic America Caucus in our Congress
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Right from the Middle: The Need for an Ethnic America Caucus in our Congress

American politics needs to balance by creating an ethnic caucus to ensure that everyone’s rights are represented in America.

By William O. Lipinski

William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
William O. Lipinski former Congressman

When I was sworn in as a member of the United States house of representatives in January 1983, one of the first things I noticed was there were three democratic caucuses. An African American caucus. A Hispanic caucus. And, a Women’s caucus.

But there was no, what I called, an “Ethnic caucus.”

I define the Ethnic caucus as being composed of the following first, second, third generation immigrants’ daughters and sons. These include immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Yugoslavia, and other eastern and Central European immigrants.

The immigrants and their descendants that formed the strong backbone of the Democratic Party since the days of President Martin Van Buren.

Statue of Liberty. Photo courtesy of Fabian Fauth on Unsplash
Statue of Liberty. Photo courtesy of Fabian Fauth on Unsplash

 

Individuals that talked to their friends and canvassed their neighbors on behalf of the Democratic Party. White middle class, white working class and union people who campaigned for Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and they succeeded in getting them elected.

 

Individuals who voted for the 1964 civil rights legislation empowering African Americans. This legislation banned segregation based on race, religion, color, national origin, or gender in public places.

They also voted for the 1965 Voting Rights Act which banned literacy tests end allowed federal oversight of voter registration they also supported the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of property, individuals who believe in God, Family, and Country, and individuals who are proud to be Americans. Yet they had no formal organized representation in the national Democratic Party or in the United States House or Senate.

I believed that should change. So, I set about trying to change it. I first spoke to other Ethnic members of the House. Most were very enthusiastically for establishing an Ethnic American caucus.

Leaders in the effort were Congress members: Barbara Ann Mikuiski, Mario Biaggi, Dan Rostenkowski, John Dingell, and Frank Annunzio.

Within a relatively short period of time we convinced the Democratic house leadership to support our efforts, they established a committee to determine if there was a desire and a need for such a caucus.

At this time, the Democrats in the Senate established a committee, chaired by Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, to mirror the objectives of the house Committee. It was determined at this time that Sen. DeConcini and I would Co-Chair the committee.

The first order of business was to conduct hearings across the country in Ethnic-American communities. The purpose was
to obtain information from the grass-roots on how the National Democratic Party was viewed in these communities.

I chaired such meetings in Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis.

Other members of the committee held hearings in a number of other cities The results were all the same. Ethnic-Americans believed the Democratic Party was taking them for granted and ignoring their hopes dreams and ambitions.

And President Reagan was winning more of them for the Republican party each and every day. The Democratic National Committee the Senate leadership and the House leadership received a report on all of these hearings.

I sent a letter to every delegate of the 1984 democratic Convention, expressing the results of those hearings. To much to our surprise, the Democratic National Committee decided to do away with all caucuses.

That certainly was not the goal of the individuals who worked very hard to establish an Ethnic-American caucus in the national Democratic Party.

Our appeal to the House Democratic leadership was to no avail. They said the national Democratic Party had done away with all caucuses for “the good of the party.”

It wasn’t long after that the Democratic National Committee decided they needed three cochairs, a Woman, a Hispanic and an African American. In the following presidential election, the democratic candidate captured only his home state and the District of Columbia.

President Reagan captured 525 electoral votes to Mondale’s 13.

The President took 59 percent of the total vote, including 54 percent of the votes of White males earning less than $5,000 and 57 percent of those earning $5,000 to $10,000. He also received 75 percent among those earning more than $50,000.

I truly believed if we had an Ethnic-American caucus, we could have cut down those margins significantly.

The Democrats face a very tough election in November, I wonder if they have learned anything.

(William O. Lipinski served in Congress representing the 5th and 3rd Congressional District from 1982 until 2005. Email Bill at [email protected]. This column originally appeared in the Des Plaines Valley News newspaper group.) 

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
William Lipinski
William Lipinski
William Oliver Lipinski is a former U.S. Representative from the State of Illinois. He served as the Democratic Committeeman from the Chicago 23rd Ward from 1975 and as Alderman of the Ward until he was elected to the Congress in 1982.

Lipinski writes the "Right from the Middle" Column twice each month.

Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill and graduated fromSt. Patrick High School, Chicago, Ill., 1956; attended Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1956-1957; United States Army Reserves, 1961-1967.

Lipinski was elected alderman, Chicago, Ill., city council, 1975-1982; He was a delegate to: the Democratic National Midterm Convention, 1974; Democratic National Convention, 1976 and 1984; Illinois state Democratic convention, 1977.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 3, 2005)

His email is [email protected]
William Lipinski
Latest posts by William Lipinski (see all)
  • Right from the Middle: Real estate industry problems weaken Communist China - February 3, 2024
  • Right from the Middle: Programs based on Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness undermine merit in America - January 26, 2024
  • Right from the Middle: Both candidates for President are lacking - December 27, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Bill Lipinski, Blogger, Commentary, Federal, immigrant, National, Opinion Tags:African-Americans, America, Civil Rights, Congressional caucuses, creating a caucus, Democrats, Ethnic America Caucus, freedom, immigration segregation Fair Hosuing, need for a centrist party, Reagan Democrats, religion, Republicans, Voting Rights Act

Post navigation

Previous Post:  Sheriff Dart, State Lawmakers Applaud Federal Rule on Ghost Guns 
Next Post: Orland Township Celebrates Older Americans Month

Related Posts

  • Ray Hanania home at 89th and Luella Avenue. Picture 2017
    Midnight Flight: Chapter 2, Dividing Lines Baby Boomers
  • Ray Hanania joins Thom Serafin on The Crisis Cast Podcast this week discussing presidential politics, journalism and how to understand Trump's reality TV persona style
    Podcast: Musk vs Trump and the impact of media distortion on news Commentary
  • Colin Kaepernick and NFL disrespect America with protest Commentary
  • TIF Expert and author Tom Tresser discusses the hazards of a TIF DIstrict and how it applies to Orland Park taxpayers
    Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers Blogger
  • Ray Hanania on Politics podcast logo
    Podcast: The Politics of Massacres, race in America and are we great? Blogger
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    Congresswoman Marie Newman votes to strengthen postal service Chicago

More Related Articles

BNSF Train. Photo courtesy of BNSF Railway www.BNSF.com Congresswoman Marie Newman leads letter in urging BNSF Railway to engage workers on new attendance policy Chicago
Book Cover "Laptop from Hell" by Miranda Devince Questions remain unanswered about Hunter Biden’s ties to Ukraine Blogger
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel CAIR Condemns Rahm Emanuel for Anti-Muslim ‘Sunnis and Shiites’ Trope Government
Book cover for Roger Stone's new book "Stone's Rules" available through Amazon.com Roger Stone releases new book, “Stone’s Rules” Books & Films
Store destroyed by looters and arsonists who participated in the Black Lives Matter protests in Chicago at the end of May 2020. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has abandoned victims of looting along with the members of the Chicago Police Department. Photo courtesy Ray Hanania White House push probes “Capitol riot,” but continues to ignore the post-Floyd riots Blogger
Senior homecare dominik-lange-VUOiQW4OeLI-unsplash A bipartisan fix for America’s looming homecare crisis Baby Boomers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    How My Office Handles Billions — And Protects Every Penny
    July 25, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast on Trump’s problems with Jeffrey Epstein, Netanyahu’s coalition in jeopardy
    July 19, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN
    July 12, 2025
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • NEWS
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Former Chicago Attorney Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Tax Fraud and Witness Tampering
    August 28, 2025
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar with Chicago region veterans. No one supports veterans more than Aguilar
    Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar honors veterans at first of monthly VetConnect Workshops at district office
    August 28, 2025
  • Coffee & Conversation for the public on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, featuring two speakers who will address individual fatigue and how to empower your personal health and activism.
    Orland Fire hosts Coffee & Conversation on individual fatigue and personal health
    August 28, 2025
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Man Sentenced to a Year and a Half in Federal Prison for Covid-Relief Fraud
    August 28, 2025
  • Photo submitted by Jeffery M. Leving and Associates
    Leving team protected dad’s daughter from danger and restored his peace of mind
    August 28, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme