Corker: ‘Who wouldn’t have’ written op-ed?
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker is wishing President Donald Trump and the rest of Washington good luck in discovering the author of an anonymous New York Times opinion column attributed to a “senior administration official.”
The column described efforts by top Trump advisers to “thwart” parts of the president’s agenda they believe are “detrimental to the health of our republic.”
The column infuriated the president, who on Friday told reporters he wants Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate and uncover the author.
Speaking with Washington-based reporters, Corker, a Chattanooga Republican who has crossed swords with the president on several occasions, downplayed the controversy.
“Again, I didn’t look at it as new news,” Corker said in a video clip posted on CNN. “Anyone who’s had any dealing over there knows this is the reality we’re living in. And so, I don’t know, I think a lot’s been made of nothing.
“I think the biggest issue they’re going to have is to figure out who wouldn’t have written a letter like that,” Corker said.
Corker and Trump dueled on Twitter in October. Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the White House “an adult day care center” after the president attacked him in three tweets.
Trump tweeted that Corker had “begged” him for his endorsement, didn’t receive it and decided to retire because he “didn’t have the guts” to run for re-election in 2018.
Returning fire, Corker tweeted that “it’s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.”
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Alexander backs Kavanaugh
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., released a statement of support Friday on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
“Despite the rudeness by Democratic senators who tried to turn his hearing into a circus, Judge Kavanaugh kept his cool this week and demonstrated the qualities that I look for in a judge or a Supreme Court justice – good character, good temperament, high intelligence and respect for the law,” Alexander said.
“I look forward to voting for him, as I did when I voted for him to be a member of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. I think he will make an excellent member of the United States Supreme Court.”
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Harris touts Dean in new TV ad
Democrat Karl Dean’s gubernatorial campaign is running two new TV spots, one narrated by award-winning singer and songwriter Emmylou Harris, who describes the former Nashville mayor as as “far from flashy” but someone who “knows how to lead.”
A second 30-second spot, narrated by Memphis pastor Linwood Dillard Jr. with Citadel of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, also touts Dean’s low-key approach to leadership.
The ad featuring Harris, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, is airing in East and Middle Tennessee. The Linwood spot is airing in the Memphis media market.
Dean is vying with Republican nominee Bill Lee in the Nov. 6 election to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Haslam. An NBC/Marist poll released this week shows Lee leading Dean 53 percent to 40 percent among likely voters.
In the “Again” ad, Harris asks: “What makes a good governor? Because Tennessee has had some good ones. They’re usually successful mayors, and modest, but with records of transforming their cities – like this mayor. He led Nashville through the Great Recession and the Great Flood, helping create over 70,000 jobs.
“Far from flashy, shy even, but he knows how to lead,” Harris says of Dean. “We can elect a great governor – again.”
Dillard’s spot, “What Kind,” alludes to Dean’s past as a public defender and asks, “What kind of lawyer chooses to work for those who have no money to defend themselves? What kind of mayor lifts a city from the Great Flood but gives the credit to others? What kind of leader recruits major companies to his city and still rode the bus to work?”
Dillard answers that it’s “one who would rather listen than talk – and then leads with ideas, strength and decency. That’s the kind of governor we can have.”
Lee has an ad seeking to expand his reach to independents and Democrats. He calls running for public office before “an interesting experience” and says he’s learned “politics isn’t the solution, it’s generally the problem.”
“People are the solution,” Lee continues. “So, whatever your party, or if you’ve just given up on politics altogether, I hope to earn your support. Tennessee is a great state, but you and I, we can make it even better.”
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Helton to hold voter meetings
Esther Helton, the Republican nominee for state House District 30, says she will hold a series of voter meetings to build support ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
In a news release, Helton said she “pledges to run a grassroots, voter-focused campaign that will be void of the political stunts and theatrics that have been rejected by voters and harm voter trust.”
“In the primary, our team knocked on thousands of doors, sent multiple direct mail pieces and ran a positive campaign based on the issues important to District 30 voters. I pledge to do the same thing” for the Nov. 6 election, she said.
A nurse with more than 35 years’ work in direct patient care, Helton said voters are frustrated by the “hype and mud-slinging that seems to dominate political races today.”
The meeting schedule is:
Week of Sept. 17: Maple Street Biscuit, 2114 Gunbarrel Road
Week of Sept. 24: Wally’s Restaurant, 6521 Ringgold Road
Week of Oct. 1: Panera Bread, 1810 Gunbarrel Road
Week of Oct. 8: Wired Coffee, 5707 Main St. in Collegedale
Week of Oct. 15: Chick-fil-A, 5830 Brainerd Road
Exact dates and times will be announced.
District 30 includes East Brainerd, East Ridge, parts of Collegedale, Apison, East Lake, Missionary Ridge and the area on the southern side of Brainerd Road. Early voting begins Oct. 17.