Credit Thompson For Holding Townhalls

Bennie Thompson knows where he stands with Second District voters. He knows he will get re-elected as long as his names on the ballot. But the veteran Congressman held a townall in Jackson yesterday (and will have three more this week), where several hundred heard him talk and answer questions about healthcare.

Make no mistake about it. Thompson is one of Barack Obama’s strongest allies in Washington and is firmly in support of his healthcare proposals, including a government option. I think it’s also fair to say that his constituents- from the only Congressional district in the state that supported Obama in 2008- also support it.

I will give credit to Thompson, however, for holding open meetings where he could potentially face difficult questions. Last week, Rep. Childers- who faces a much more difficult re-election in 2010- opted for the safety of a “tele-townhall” where people who wanted to speak with the Congressman were directed to his staffers before the questions could be asked.

Maybe Thompson feels like he has nothing to lose, but at least he is hosting public townhalls and defending his positions and opinions.