The following post is our third in a series of posts that will compare the Bob Corker of 1994 to the Bob Corker of 2006:During the current Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate, Pro-Abortion, Pro-Tax Increase, and Pro-Illegal Immigration Bob Corker has said on several occasions that he will honor Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment of "thou shall not attack a fellow Republican."
Corker recently emphasized that point when he told the Kingsport Times News, "My daddy, when I was growing up, said, ‘Son if you gotta talk somebody else down to get ahead, you need to pursue something else,'" Corker answered. "I've tried to point out my strengths. ... We've never said anything negative about any of our opponents."
He has also said, “We really think we have an awesome opportunity to differentiate ourselves from the other candidates without being negative.” (Kingsport Times-News, 1/18/06)
However, I find those comments very questionable due to the fact that a recent article by Clint Brewer of the Lebanon Democrat, reported that Corker recently retained the services of Gary Maloney, the same media hatchet man he had back in 1994.
In 1994, Corker and Maloney got down right nasty in their attacks on Bill Frist as indicated by the quotes below:
- Corker lambasted Frist for performing experiments on cats as a medical student: “Corker also poked fun at Frist's admission in an autobiography, Transplant, that as a medical student he would adopt cats ostensibly as pets so that he could conduct medical experiments.” Commercial Appeal, 08/04/94
- Frist called Corker desperate and accused him of trying to drag the campaign into the mud: “Frist's response ad attacks Corker as ‘‘. . . desperate. He's behind in the polls and now he's trying to drag this election into the mud.'' Commercial Appeal, 07/27/94
- Corker called "rotten on the inside," "a coward" and "pond scum." by Frist consultant: “Striking back at campaign ads he says were unfair, Perdue has blasted Frist's chief opponent, Chattanooga builder Bob Corker, as "rotten on the inside," "a coward" and "pond scum." Atlanta Journal Constitution, 08/02/94
- Attack ad by Corker questions Frist's Republican credentials: “opening shot in what is fast becoming a sizzler of a campaign was an Ad questioning Dr. Frist's credentials as a Republican, given his less than glowing record as a voter. The ad points out that Frist became eligible to register to vote in 1971 but "didn't get around to it until 1988." The caption and voice-over run against a background shot of a Vietnam War protest.
The ad goes on to say that the Nashville heart surgeon turned politician has never voted in a Republican primary, never voted "for Howard Baker or Lamar Alexander. And he never voted for Ronald Reagan."” Knoxville News-Sentinel, 08/01/94
Further, both Democrats and Republicans have described Gary Maloney in some very unflattering ways:
- "a sleaze merchant" -- The Record, 10/29/93
- "the sleaze king of opposition research" -- Clarion Ledger, 6/6/98
- "a serial smearer" -- Associated Press, 2/16/94
- "unhanded and unethical" -- Dallas Morning News, 1/3/90
- "one of the bottom feeders of American politics" -- The Record, 10/29/93
- "one of the nastiest elements our party has to offer" -- The Plain Dealer, 2/17/ 94
- "the harbinger of a nasty campaign to come" -- New York Observer, 7/27/94
My question for Bob "I raise taxes, but don't pay taxes" Corker is if you intend to stay positive throughout the entire primary campaign, then why did you hire the same man you had in 1994 that launched a litany of vile personal attacks against Bill Frist, a fellow Republican?
Maybe Bob assumes he has already won the primary and is looking ahead to the general election, thus hiring Maloney only to go after Congressman Ford. Because as we all know, the Corker campaign has already unleashed several false attacks on the Congressman.
That would be a pretty bold move for someone who is not even known by 80% of Republican voters. (And also for someone with fairly high negatives)
In any case, I am confident that there will come a time in August, near the date of the primary election, that Corker will unleash some desperate last minute attacks on his Republican opponents. And when he does, I will be right here ready to call him out on his double standard.
Once again, Pro-Abortion, Pro-Tax Increase, and Pro-Illegal Immigration Bob Corker has set himself up for disaster.
But hey, I am not complaining!
Read the other posts in our series of Corker of '94 Vs. Corker of '06 here! (1,2)
54 Days
Days of Congressional Inaction on Ethics
Above is the number of days that have passed since Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to bribing Congressman.
It is also the number of days in which Congress has failed to pass an ethics reform bill that would limit private travel, ski and golf junkets, and would call for a full disclosure of expenses by lobbyists on members of Congress.
It is time for Congress to step up and pass an ethics reform bill that would do all of the above. In addition, it is time to end the pork barrel spending system as we know it and establish an independent ethics commission that would review ethics complaints against members of Congress.
I am proud Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is fighting for that reform!
Read Congressman Ford's call for reform of the House rules here!
