Jackson Free Press

"/> A native of Bolton, Mississippi, Congressman Thompson was educated in the public schools of Hinds County, Mississippi. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Tougaloo College, and a Masters of Science degree from Jackson State University. He went on to complete extensive coursework at the University of Southern Mississippi toward a doctorate degree in Public Administration.

Early in his career, Congressman Thompson exhibited the traits of a true civil rights activist. Nearly four decades ago, he became an active participant in the fight for equality. As a grassroots volunteer, labor organizer, student activist, community leader and politician, Congressman Thompson remains focused on improving the quality of life for all Mississippians, particularly the disenfranchised, poor and vulnerable.

The illustration that perhaps best defines Congressman Thompson's commitment to equality stems from his college days. Being a product of Mississippi colleges, he had first hand knowledge of the disparity between funding, equipment, and supplies provided to the historically black colleges and those provided to white colleges. Injustices such as these have helped provide the drive and motivation for Congressman Thompson to proceed in his fight for civil rights and equal opportunities for all. Because of the unequal funding among black colleges and universities in Mississippi, Bennie Thompson became one of the original plaintiffs in the Ayers Case. That bold move in 1975 brought an awareness of the unequal education opportunities for minorities and started a decades-long court battle that was finally decided in favor of the plaintiffs by the United States Supreme Court in 1992 and a final settlement agreement was signed by a federal district court judge in February 2002.

While racial equality and public education are causes that are dear to the Congressman, he is also a strong supporter of access to affordable, quality healthcare and for the labor rights for workers. At the age of 20, Congressman Thompson secured the first rural doctor for the town of Bolton and has been honored by the National Black Nurses Foundation for his support of quality and affordable health care for all Americans. The Congressman has also sponsored legislation, which called for congress to ensure that minority farmers are adequately compensated for years of discrimination in the operation of programs of the Department of Agriculture.

Congressman Thompson serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the Select Homeland Security Committee, where he is a champion for rural America. Even in the busy, high-profile, political atmosphere of Capital Hill, the Congressman has remained down-to-earth, steadfast to his principles, and close to his roots. In fact, he lives in the small town in which he was born. He is a founding member of the Mississippi Association of Black Mayors, and the Mississippi Association of Black Supervisors. Congressman Thompson is a lifelong member of the Ashbury United Methodist Church in Bolton Mississippi and has been continuously active in numerous civic, community, and professional organizations. In all his work, he has strived to remember and empower those who gave him an opportunity to represent the Second Congressional District of Mississippi.

The Congressman has been married to his college sweetheart, London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, for 35 years. The couple has one daughter BendaLonne and one grand-daughter, Jenna.

Bio and picture taken from official Bennie Thompson website

Previous Comments

ID

168402

Comment

Well looky here, Bennie Thompson votes to give corporations massive new tax breaks and bucks most Democrats who believe the bill accelerates the outsourcing of jobs overseas: "There are fewer incentives to keep jobs in this country and just as many incentives that will continue to move jobs overseas." said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. In the San Francisco Chronicle Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi blasts the bill as the pulled pork of corporate welfare: "The oinking is so loud, the Republicans can't even think straight," Pelosi said. Charlie Rangel, still smarting from voting against his own sham bill to draft the fortunate sons, is horrified: "It's Christmas in October for multinational companies and lobbyists with friends in high places but if you are a worker concerned about manufacturing jobs moving overseas, it's still the season for Halloween horrors." Of course, before Bennie voted to outsource Mississippi jobs, he consulted the John Kerry Flip-Floppers Handbook and decided to first vote against it. Now let's review. First, Bennie votes to take away states' power by voting for the amendment to ban gay marriage. Next Bennie votes against the bill to bring back an "equity" to fighting wars many in Mississippi find missing in our all-volunteer approach. Now Bennie votes to outsource more jobs to other countries? Will wonders never cease? Guess that race in the 2nd is way more competitive that Congressman Thompson wants anyone to really believe. Used to be the people of the 2nd could always count on Bennie to vote in lock step with his Democratic Party, er, the best interests of the people in his district. Well that was then, and this surely seems to be now.

Author

TC Stein

Date

2004-10-08T02:06:05-06:00

ID

168403

Comment

Thanks for those links, TC. I hope you'll do the same thing on the Pickering page. ;-) You won't get any argument from me that too many Democrats supports bad trade policies and outsourcing. I've mentioned before that was one of my first big problems with Clinton. And I tend to agree that that race is probably more competitive than the Thompson people might think. LeSueur is very charming and accessible, while Thompson seems quite high-and-might and unaccessible -- same as Pickering. Personally, I think that's silly for congresspeople who have to run every two years. Too bad there isn't a viable challenger this year for Pickering (sorry, Giles). All that said, I think Thompson is pretty in touch with the needs of his district. It's frustrating to hear white Mississippians harangue him without being familiar with his policies or voting record. And no doubt he's more liberal than a lot of people would like him to be. Thank goodness not everyone in the state is a clone of Lott and Co. And he does come across smarter than Pickering. Those press releases Pickering sends out should insult children, they're so silly. I suspect he's modeling himself after Lott's and Barbour's success at the "our values" rhetoric, but I suspect he's in for a rude awakening, not so far down the road. But this is Thompson's page, so I'll save that for another blog.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-08T10:09:54-06:00

ID

168404

Comment

if one takes the time to look at Rep. Thompson's voting record, it is : at ACLU 80% , compared to Cochran's 11% for example. PFAW, NOW, AAUW, AFL-CIO, Public Citizen, all pretty much the same. Some sites do not have MS records, e.g. Planned Parenthood.. overall he votes with the basic values of the Democratic Party. Not always great on outsourcing etc. as we know. But , it's the best we've got . 'Charming' Leseuer reminds me of the 'likeable' Bush. dangerous.

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-10-08T15:16:54-06:00

ID

168405

Comment

Not always great on outsourcing etc. as we know. But , it's the best we've got . 'Charming' Leseuer reminds me of the 'likeable' Bush. dangerous. I don't disagree with you, Sunshine. I admire much of Thompson's record and am proud to say it, especially on the ACLU, PFAW, NOW, etc., scorecards. That said, I think criticism is in order when it's deservedóand on the topic of anything to do with jobs and workers, the congressman for the Mississippi Delta ought to be right on the money. And I still maintain that he could come across as more accessible to average Mississippians. If not, the "charm" of LeSueur may stick with more voters than he'd like. And I agree wholeheartedly that LeSueur's fundamentalist viewpoints are very disturbing, and have no place in a democratic government. I, however, have never seen why anyone would think Bush is "likable." I have not personally met him, but I have not seen two seconds of him on tape when I thought he would be interesting to have a conversation with or comfortable to be around, which is how I gauge likeability. He strikes me as someone who makes fun of everything he doesn't understand. That time he and Cheney were whispering about that "asshole" from the New York Times and the mic picked it up comes to mind. Ick. Didn't Barbara teach that boy some classóat least when he's on the job as president?!? He clearly has contempt for anyone he thinks might be smarter than he is, and I expect that means he has contempt for a lot of people. And that isn't meant as a joke or a swipe. But that's about Bush, so I digress.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-08T15:31:56-06:00

ID

168406

Comment

yes, critcism is well-deserved, I hope he reads this and other commentary. As for Bush's likeabilty, I do not understand it either , but many do. Scary but true. not to digress, but see Salon.com article today, 'was he wired at the last debate?' people will vote for him anyway, no matter what he does. Back to Rep. Thompson, is there any reason to think it would be better to vote for his charming challenger? Inquiring minds want to know.

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-10-08T15:41:28-06:00

ID

168407

Comment

Funny, Sunshine, we're reading each other's minds. I just posted info on that over on the Bush blog.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-08T15:47:47-06:00

ID

168408

Comment

whoa, the link http://www.isbushwired.com/ to the website investigating the rumors was temporarily down but ok now,, let's see if the rumor shows up in the mainstream news tonight. and, glad to see it showed up in JFP so soon!

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-10-08T16:02:08-06:00

ID

168409

Comment

What can I say? I read too much news (and rumors, it seems). ;-) Remember, for more discussion on this one, head to the Bush page, so we can keep Bennie's focused on Bennie. ;-)

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-08T16:04:08-06:00

ID

168410

Comment

I'm glad to know that other people see Thompson as aloof and inaccessible as I have found him to be. Over the past two and a half years that I have lived in his district, I have tried to contact him at least a half a dozen times on various issues. The only reply I ever received was an occasional form letter. About four weeks ago, I contacted his office asking where I could get a yard sign to display-I'm still waiting for a response. I don't expect to hear from him personally, but I haven't heard from anyone. Just a call or an email, even a form letter would do. On the other hand, I contacted LeSueur to question him about a position of his. (By the way, his PERSONAL email address and phone number are available to anyone) Within in an hour he contacted me personally and answered my concerns. Who do I want representing me? - Someone that will at least listen to what I have to say. LeSueur doesn't seem to mind whether I am black or white, rich or poor, influential or not. He still takes time to listen. Isn't that what a representative should be doing? By the way, I no longer need a Thompson yard sign. Clinton LeSueur's sign is already in my yard. M Brady

Author

M Brady

Date

2004-10-09T18:52:49-06:00

ID

168411

Comment

You make a good point M Brady, how can we get Thompson to realize he needs to listen? Seems like this is the year he should be, given the competition! An editorial in the Sunday Vicksburg Post attacked him quite strongly on one particular issue, gay unions, in which he did not vote with his party for allegedly election-sensitive reasons. ( Did anyone else see that article?) I don't care if Thompson calls me personally, or sends a personal letter, he probably did such things when he first ran for office and has indeed become complacent (which could be a mistake.) And Leseur might well become complacent after a few terms, so that's not the main point, tho it is important! But I do expect Thompson to at least vote mostly with the not-even-so-great but fundamentally good Democractic values in this country or at least explain why, when he does not. The main concern should be not whether someone will give you a lawn sign, but what their voting record is to start with and maybe can be edged forward. LeSueur's positions are so far off, how can a letter or lawn sign matter that much?

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-10-12T13:13:19-06:00

ID

168412

Comment

Just took a look at the LeSueur page and what I just said is pretty much what Ladd said two days ago.. also, I see M Brady posted there as well, so it seems to make sense to maybe combine these two areas as a general free-for-all maybe? so we don't have to check both?

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-10-12T13:36:08-06:00

ID

168413

Comment

ok, we all just have to move on over to the LeSueur page, that's where it's going on. well, a few too many Bible quotes maybe... of course there will have to be negotiations over who moves where ? this is a pretty important contest . A TV or radio debate would be great. not likely I guess, just a thought. how about a print media debate?? not too late.

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-10-12T13:51:36-06:00

ID

168414

Comment

Yep, sunshine, it seems that the LeSueur page is a happenin' place this week. ;-) I'm just emerged from the deadline cave, so I'll have to catch up on the posts before I jump back in. This is a topic that I feel strongly about, as you can see. But right now I wouldn't be very coherent, I'm afraid--so M, I'm not ignoring you! I've really enjoyed the dialogue. I hope you stick around on the blog.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-12T14:05:17-06:00

ID

168415

Comment

Sunshine, Come on over to the LeSueur page. It has been a very interesting conversation (to me at least). As for the Thompson/LeSueur debate, there has been some squabbling between Thompson and LeSueur. Thompson only wants to debate in Jackson and Vicksburg and LeSueur wants at least one debate in the Delta region where people there could attend. The folks in the delta apparently feel slighted by Thompson's refusal. HOWEVER, there is a debate between these two scheduled to be aired on WLBT on October 23 at 12:30 p.m.

Author

M Brady

Date

2004-10-12T14:06:01-06:00

ID

168416

Comment

See Ayana's Taylor story, "Questions of Faith, about the role of religion in this race.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-27T23:23:49-06:00

ID

168417

Comment

Ledge endorses Thompson today: First elected in a 1993 special election, Thompson has established himself as a leader in agriculture and, with a demonstrated passion for the poor, worked with local officials to create jobs in one of the nation's poorest regions. LeSueur, even after running four years, appears to have little grasp of the job or the issues. A former Bolton mayor and Hinds County supervisor, Thompson is an experienced politician. With more leavening, he could be a great one. He is the better choice Nov. 2.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-10-28T08:44:59-06:00