6/24/2005 09:11:00 AM|||Nathan Moore|||

For those not in Tennessee who might happen upon this and other blogs, we have a very early starting, and very contentious race for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate seat currently held by Bill Frist, who is resigning when his current term expires in 2007.

There are four candidates, three of which are officially declared. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary are former congressmen, Beth Harwell is currently a state representative out of Nashville, and recent past Tennessee Republican Chairman, and Bob Corker, who is the mayor of Chattanooga and successful businessman. Harwell has not officially filed, and the other three already have done so.

Corker jump-started the race early by holding some very large, very lucrative fundraisers. Ed Bryant and Beth Harwell, who were both considering a run for the office, were then forced to start organizing their respective campaigns. Talk has it, and I believe it to be reliable, that there was a gentlemen's agreement between Bryant and Hilleary, where if Bryant were to run, Hilleary would not. Bryant previously ran for the US Senate against Lamar Alexander, and Hilleary lost his gubernatorial bid to the current governor, Phil Bredesen. Hilleary is now in the race, stating that he decided to jump in when he determined that Bryant could not beat Corker. Hilleary despises Corker for reasons I have not been able to figure out, and Bryant, I think, is probably not terribly happy with Hilleary.

Harwell is now rumored to be considering a run for governor instead of senate. Our current Democratic governor, Phil Bredesen, is beset with all sorts of problems with his base stemming from poorly conceived promises regarding TennCare. He is now in the midst of cutting 300k+ off the state healthcare rolls, and once reliable Democratic forces are thumbing their collective nose. There are further questions, not of his ethics, but his handling the obvious ethical problems that exist at the highest levels of state government after the springing of Tennessee Waltz, that may also plague his reelection campaign.

So here we sit. Hilleary and Bryant contend for moreorless the same base. Corker and Harwell are certainly more moderate, but are both, by any definition, conservatives and staunch Republicans. The tact that the Hilleary and Bryant camps seem to be taking against Corker is to paint him as some sort of neoliberal RINO. This, quite simply, is absurd.

As a point of disclosure, I have decided to support Bob Corker for Bill Frist's senate seat. I have never had my Republican credentials questioned, but am sure I will from this point forward. My friend Bill Hobbs noted that Corker has received money from a labor union, as disclosed by those guys over at TeamGOP. This is true. It is also true that this donor is a construction union. Many may not know this, but Bob Corker's business is construction. I would imagine he has dealt with these people in a business relationship on a repeated basis for years, and they like him. And quite honestly, this can be said of any other supporter of Corker's that has to this point been used as political fodder by the other campaigns. Business relationships extend beyond politics. If as a lawyer I only worked with Republicans, I would limit my business prospects greatly. If I can associate or work with someone who holds my political beliefs, so be it, and it is a welcome event. But I never ask that question on the front end, and it's never a condition of a business relationship or friendship.

In essence, it seems that the other candidates are criticizing Corker for being the most electable in the general election. It's an odd strategy, to say the least. If Corker was running in Wisconsin or Michigan he would be labeled a hardliner conservative. It's shocking to some, I suppose, but it's ok if you're a Republican and Democrats like you. Just ask Ronald Reagan.

|||111962378825149165|||Latest Corker Attacks6/24/2005 10:03:14 AM|||JB|||Nathan, I can't speak for Hilleary, but the Bryant camp hasn't attacked Corker because he accepts contributions from Democrats. Rather, Bryant has some major ideological differences with Corker.

I'm sure you already know this, but Corker pushed for and got property tax increases as mayor, fought against sales tax exemptions and pushed for an income tax as finance commissioner under Sundquist.

On abortion, Corker is on record as stating it's a personal choice. He's also on record as saying he doesn't believe life begins at conception.

I understand that he now says differently, but many Republicans are still skeptical when Corker says he's a conservative, but has a record of raising taxes and has flip-flopped on the abortion issue.

I'll support Corker if he wins the nomination, but as a Republican primary voter, I'm just not comfortable with his record.6/24/2005 10:07:53 AM|||Anonymous|||jb,

For the record, Corker was not around when the income tax was pushed. Corker was Commissioner of Finance during the first term and long gone by that time.6/24/2005 10:16:37 AM|||Nathan Moore|||JB,
If I recall, though I don't have the numbers in front of me (and I should really be working!) Corker also shrunk the size of the government of Chattanooga, while redeveloping the waterfront and reinvigorating a diminishing city. If I recall, the Chattanooga budget has barely, if at all, edged out inflation during Corker's administration.

To be fair, you are correct. The "supporter attacks" are coming from Hilleary and TeamGOP. I have nothing but respect for Ed.

Regards,
NSM6/24/2005 12:09:57 PM|||Jeff Ward|||I respect you guys greatly, and if you do not have a problem with many of the same goup of millionaires who ran Bredesen's campaign also running Corker's fine...that is your choice.

And, respectfully again, pointing out the truth is not an attack. If rather important members of the TN Democrat Party are hosting Corker events...that is real news and Corker should answer questions instead of hiding.

Corker raised taxes twice in 4 years as Mayor. Corker was pro-choice according to a survey he signed for the TN Right to life. These are facts.

Many Dems don't want a "Ford" and Kurita can't win...Corker is their choice.

Even Speaker Naifeh has defended Corker recently is a discussion at the Capitol.

This is about the future of our Party, the attacks on Corker have not even begun.

JW6/24/2005 01:24:08 PM|||Nathan Moore|||Once again, attacks based on facts which mean what, exactly. Fred Thompson was supported by many Democrats. Is he to be tossed overboard as well? It's not just millionaries supporting Bob Corker, nor is it all that many Democrats. The list is quite full of reliable Republicans whose credentials are beyond reproach. The top people in Corker's camp are as Republican as the day is long.

As an aside, I've never made it a practice to support or oppose someone based on their wealth or lack thereof. Such things do not, and should not, matter.

Regards,
NSM