Staff Photo by Dan Henry
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., speaks to concerned citizens about health care after holding a town hall meeting at Lee University, in Cleveland, Tenn., on Monday. Lee University's Dixon Center was filled above capacity as area residents attended and voiced their opinions about the current and future of healthcare.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., today answered pointed questions from an audience of about 700 people at Lee University in Cleveland while more than 100 others watched on TV at the school’s student union.

“I think America has been awakened,” Sen. Corker said. “And I think that is a great thing.”

Tennessee’s junior senator said he was glad that it appears the Obama administration is backing away from a public option in health care reform, but he said he still had some questions about money being removed from Medicare and Medicaid and regarding tax increases.

Sen. Corker took questions from the audience. Many questions were about government intervention and spending.

The White House indicated Sunday that President Barack Obama is willing to embrace insurance cooperatives over a government-run plan, the Associated Press reported.