The Jackson Free Press has a tough choice. Thompson’s advantage is his experience. He’s a ranking member of the powerful Homeland Security Committee, and a ranking member on that committee—such as Thompson—will be able to wield considerable power with it if Democrats take Congress this year—which is looking likely according to poll results.

Thompson’s disadvantage is, however, his experience. Experience in Washington breeds connections with some fairly seedy characters, and Thompson’s campaign-finance reports detail donations from critters like Exxon-Mobil. Thompson’s record as an environmentalist is fairly strong—that is, until he let loose with a suggestion in a recent debate to make oil cheaper by allowing oil exploration in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve.

But Thompson also has a high voting record for voting non-apologetically along progressive lines and being a champion of traditional Democratic issues like better funding for education, more access to health care and leaving the abortion debate to women by staying staunchly pro-choice.

Espy is described as an easy guy to work with in the Mississippi Legislature. He rarely makes a political hit on anybody and isn’t nearly as mouthy or combative as some of his colleagues. Espy is also the generous type. He regularly gives money to constituents who have had problems paying their energy bills, and he plans to take this generosity a little further, if elected, by personally funding two educators for a pilot reading program devoted to bettering reading skills in low-achieving schools.

Espy’s political arguments, though, can be shallow. His chief weapon in most arguments against his opponent is that Thompson abandoned the Agriculture Committee for the Homeland Security Committee and that getting back on it is a kind of save-all for the Delta’s troubles—despite the fact that Thompson’s been occupying it for around 10 years, has consistently voted in favor of farming and social welfare issues—and yet the Delta remains poor.

Also, Espy’s political career is marred by empty chairs, according to Thompson, who delighted in revealing that Espy rarely showed up for Agriculture and Juvenile Justice committee meetings. Espy’s fierce anti-abortion position could also have a lasting impression on Congress.

It is Espy’s political choices and inexperience, in comparison to Thompson’s burgeoning seniority, that forces the JFP to endorse Thompson. This is not to say that Thompson won the endorsement easily. Thompson is clearly succumbing to the influence of the lobbying machine in Washington, and if a more progressive candidate with fair experience were running against Thompson, the JFP would have had a hard time making a decision.

Previous Comments

ID
66377
Comment

Good decision, William.

Author
Ray Carter
Date
2006-05-31T17:05:08-06:00
ID
66378
Comment

Pat didn’t write that, Ray. The editorial board did. He just posted it. 😉

Pat, please add a tagline to these so people aren’t confused.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2006-05-31T18:35:26-06:00
ID
66379
Comment

**Good decision, William.** <---Ray Carter I agree. Thompson is the right choice. BTW, did anybody hear Thompson on Charles Evers' show tonight?

Author
Kacy
Date
2006-05-31T21:52:41-06:00
ID
66380
Comment

I’m not surprised about this endoresement but I’m not so sure about Thompson. On paper I think he looks great for the delta. He has many years of experience, is very concerned about environmental issues and, I think, generally wants to do his part. But the delta is in much worse shape now than it was when he was first elected. Of course, it isn’t all his fault. But it concerns me that in all this time he has not been able to at least slow the outflow of money and people from the delta.

As for Espy, I’m not sure that he is the go-to-guy but i think it’s time for a change. I think that Espy will be able to work with Dem. and Rep. alike, something which will be a challenge for the devisive Thompson. I personally am tired of hard lined left and right politicians cutting each others throats.

I hate to lose seniority but seniority without the ability to make the necessary changes doesn’t help the delta. And we all know the delta needs the help.

Author
graham
Date
2006-05-31T22:35:48-06:00
ID
66381
Comment

Very good move. Benny Thompson……..an officer and a gentleman.

Author
lance
Date
2006-06-02T10:07:28-06:00
ID
66382
Comment

The Clarion-Ledger also endorsed Thompson today.

(Is it possible that that they learned after they endorsed a non-Democrat in the Democratic primary for mayor last time that the strategy can come back and bite you in the butt!?!)

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2006-06-04T11:14:20-06:00
ID
66383
Comment

Wow. I’m very pleased and very surprised.

Cheers,

TH

Author
Tom Head
Date
2006-06-04T13:34:52-06:00
ID
66384
Comment

Well, I suspect the Ledger has been so embarrassed by recent endorsements that they’re trying to piece their own legacy back together. It would be something to be a fly on those walls these days. I’ve never watched a newspaper melting down in such close range as we all have them lately. I think it reached a height of ridiculousness when they endorsed a man who had never tried a case for district attorney a couple years back, and then really went sour with their doating coverage of Melton and then that endorsement.

The Clarion-Ledger has got a ways to dig out, but it’s good to see them starting to dig.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2006-06-04T14:27:51-06:00
ID
66385
Comment

A bit of a surprise: Today, Kim Wade endorsed Bennie Thompson, based largely on seniority and clout.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2006-06-05T17:48:04-06:00
ID
66386
Comment

Wow. Thompson just won, and it looks like by a pretty huge margin. This is very good news.

Cheers,

TH

Author
Tom Head
Date
2006-06-06T22:24:18-06:00
ID
66387
Comment

Well, no surprises in our elections last night that I can see. Mr. Espy simply didn’t mount a convincing campaign in this one. That was clear from the beginning. However, I think he has good potential; he just needs to watch tainting himself by pandering too much to extremists. That probably cost him more votes than it gained him.

Author
DonnaLadd
Date
2006-06-07T09:10:33-06:00