Do the right wing Republicans really hate Bob Corker? According to several recent publications and the overall sentiment of the right wing blogosphere, apparently so. The Tennessee Journal reports yesterday, "Some activists on the right see him as a moderate, rather than a true conservative. They don’t trust him on abortion, believe he’s too cozy with Democrats, and consider him soft on taxes. Some label him a Sundquist Republican."
The Journal goes on to say, "That’s a long way down the road, though, and raising the most money — while very helpful — doesn’t guarantee victory. If conservative antipathy runs as deep as Corker’s detractors claim, he’ll be in for a bruising battle with Hilleary or Bryant. So far, it’s been relatively tame when compared with other elections."
Right wing blogger Jay Bush adds, "Yet, no matter how often Corker says he's a conservative, grassroots Republicans remain skeptical. Conservatives question why Democrat donors and liberal labor unions would financially support the candidacy of their ideological opposite. When questions are asked about these ties, the response is "Trust me, Corker's a conservative."
As I pointed out last week, I can't help but notice the similarities between the skepticism Tennessee conservatives have about Bob Corker and the skepticism conservatives across the country have about President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. The skepticism about Miers stems from the disastrous nomination of Justice David Souter in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. Like Miers, Souter was considered a "stealth nominee" because little was known about his judicial philosophy, thus making it easier to get him confirmed. Souter was confirmed and is now one of the most liberal justices on the Court. Much like the Republican establishment in 1990 told nervous conservatives, "Trust me, Souter's a conservative," we're hearing the same shallow promises from Republican elites in Tennessee backing Corker - the stealth candidate."
Despite having raised the most money by far in the Republican primary, Bob Corker faces the heat every day from fellow Republicans.
Blogs like Team GOP, Blogging for Bryant, Simply1, Van Wagon, Bill Hobbs and many more are all proud members of the anti-Corker pact.
Each label Corker as a being a liberal who is out of touch with core conservative values.
However, if Bob Corker is so out of touch with the main tenants of Tennessee Republicans like Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary say he is, then why do they feel so threatened by Corker?
