Clinton LeSueur Black Republican challenges Bennie Thompson

- Delta Democrat Times ^ | 01-08-04 | By DAVID LUSH

[WKB]

Buoyed by taking 44 percent of the vote in the 2002 general election, Republican Clinton B. LeSueur is even more confident that he is the candidate to unseat incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

Thompson, a Democrat, is a five-term congressman from Bolton. LeSueur works as a consultant with the Yazoo County Community Action Agency in Yazoo City.

LeSueur of Greenville made his formal announcement on Wednesday of his candidacy for the Republican nomination on the steps of the Washington County Courthouse.

LeSueur will face off against two other announced Republican candidates in the March primary — Stephanie Summers-O'Neal of Jackson and James Broadwater, a Cleveland native.

Surrounded by green "I'm Voting for Clinton B. LeSueur" signs and supporters, LeSueur laid out the theme of his campaign while admonishing Thompson for not representing the people of the 2nd Congressional District over the past decade.

"I will be running again for the United States Congress," LeSueur said. "I received 44 percent of the vote cast a year ago with only 10 percent of the campaign costs my opponent had. And this year we will win."

LeSueur said that he has traveled throughout the 2nd District and "I have heard the cries and complaints from the people. I am 110 percent up to the task of handling the job. I want to restore and maintain the Christian values of this nation."

Thompson came under particularly harsh criticism from LeSueur in the area of family values.

He said Thompson has voted for same-sex marriages and that he was going to support former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean as the Democratic presidential nominee.

"And that's an absolute shame before God and this country," he said. "Howard Dean signed into law same-sex marriages as the governor of Vermont."

Voting for same-sex marriages and voting prayer out of the schools shows that "we as adults are irresponsible. These are all things our congressman has done. (Thompson) pretends to be something that he's not. I will put a stop to that," LeSueur said.

LeSueur also chastised the incumbent and the many preachers who have allowed the congressman to take to the pulpit with his political message.

"I have a message for the preachers," LeSueur said. "The Lord will hold you accountable for allowing people to come into your pulpit."

Despite the millions of federal dollars that have come into the 2nd Congressional District since Thompson has been in office, the mostly Delta district has gone from the third poorest in the nation back to the second poorest, LeSueur claimed.

On the issue of education, LeSueur said that in the district we "only graduate 52 percent of students from high school" and that's even with federal education funding.

"Our representative has been there 10 years and 10 years is enough," LeSueur said.

When asked about Stephanie Summers-O'Neal as a candidate and her political relationship with Gov.-elect Haley Barbour and state Republican leaders, LeSueur said "I don't know about her being Haley Barbour's girl."

But he understands the apparent connection with Bennie Thompson and Summers-O'Neal but he's not bothered by that either.

"Our campaign is so strong," LeSueur said. "We won't have a problem in the primary."

LeSueur supporters said the GOP has strong support among voters in Washington County.

"It's a strong campaign," said Mike Williams of Greenville who is LeSueur's Washington County campaign manager. "We did really well in the last election and this time we're going to do even better."

Meanwhile, Bess Condon of Greenville, secretary of the Washington County Republican Party, said she is solidly behind LeSueur's candidacy.

"He's a very fine young man," Condon said. "He has 15 brothers and sisters. I've met his mother and the children. Several have graduated from Rust College. He has a good background of service in Washington.

"He appeals to both races and he wants to give back to the community," Condon said. "He's straight forward and honest."

[WKB]

Missippy PING

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[jwalsh07]

A bump for Clinton LaSeur. I should have sent him the money I sent President Bush. :-}

[WKB]

[JohnnyZ]

I do find it a little curious that SS O'Neal got in the race. Seems to me that it would make sense for folks to let LeSueur have another shot at things, help him get more funding, and see what he can do.

Maybe she's practicing in case she has to run in 2006.

[doug from upland]

Good grief. He has to change his first name. Can we call him Clint? And his last name is French. He has to change that. Let's have a name contest for him.

[Tax-chick]

"He's a very fine young man," Condon said. "He has 15 brothers and sisters.

Wow, if they all vote for him, that's a good start!

A sharp-looking, and sharp-sounding, gentleman. I hope he does well.

[WKB]

BC PING

[WKB]

BC PING

[flying Elvis]

Another name for "welfare office" in the Delta is "Thompson Campaign Headquarters."

[onyx]

I like what I've read. He's going to be my congressman, you know. Yours also, right?

BlackElk: can we agree on this fine man?

[WKB]

Yours also, right?


Yes mine too and just about everybody else west of I-55

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Bogey78O]

Why?

He'll take the Dems base away... Illiterate idiots.

[onyx]

Hurricane had told me Gene Taylor wouldn't be my congressman (thank the good Lord) then I found out, mine is none other than that Bennie Thompson. WORSE than Taylor. Sorry, but I-55 means nothing to me at this point. Congress districts are huge here in CA.

[WKB]

A bump for Clinton LaSeur. I should have sent him the money I sent President Bush. :-}



The RNC spent all the money two years
ago to make sure their "Golden Boy"
Chip Pickering won and Clinton twist in he wind
and he still got 44%.
They are supposed to help this time.

[BlessedAmerican]

Thanks for your ping as I missed the announcement. This guy ran a great campaign last time with little money and no backing from the Republicans. I think he can beat Bennie. I am sending a donation even though he is not my representative....

[WKB]

I am sending a donation even though he is not my representative....


Thanks!! He is or will be my Rep.
Other than Kenny Stokes there is no lower scum
than Bennie Thompson.

[dixiechick2000]

The RNC should focus on this race this time. Chip shouldn't have any problems, and Gene Taylor is pretty much unbeatable.

He seems like a very fine man who would be an excellent Rep. for your district. I will keep him in my prayers.