Bob Corker and his campaign handlers continue their refusal to debate the issues of this election, outside the comfort zone of the paid-for 30-second-television-spot.
Remember this past January? The Corker campaign refused invitation to the Main Street Journal sponsored debate here in Memphis, opting instead to head to Washington to attend a fundraiser. Ben Mitchell, campaign manager, seemed “concerned” with media involvement for the Memphis debate. Sound familiar? Well, the Corker camp is at it again, this time offering their critique on what is “serious” media in Nashville.
So who exactly is “serious media” to the Bob Corker Campaign? I mean, the panel for the Main Street Journal debate included the Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Flyer, the Bartlett Express, the Information Radio Network, and the Main Street Journal. What better list could there be from the Memphis media market? We are open to suggestions.
Mr. Corker, serious debate is not 30 seconds of paid-for smiling and waving between episodes of Desperate Housewives. If Bob Corker and his handlers are not interested in discussing the “serious” issues facing Tennessee for longer than 30 seconds, in a forum that is not paid-for or bought by campaign dollars, then he has no business running for Senator of this state, or any state.
Jonathan Lindberg
Publisher, Editor
Main Street Journal
Memphis
Corker does not plan to participate in GOP forums
Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker does not plan to participate in a series of five “town hall” forums proposed by Republican U.S. Senate rival Ed Bryant, Mr. Corker’s campaign manager said Tuesday.
Corker won’t participate in debates
U.S. Senate hopeful and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker will not participate in a series of debates initiated by one of his Senate Republican primary challengers.
3 comments so far
I agree. I have sent both Van and Bob an email asking them if the will vote Yes or No on the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and have yet to receive a response. (Ed of course if For it)
Jonathan: With all due respect, Corker did not turn down participating in the January debate to attend a DC Fundraiser. Your continuing to misstate the facts on this point undermines the credibility of this post. He has attended forums, dinners, the Washington County Young Republicans Debate in March; Corker has shown a willingness to debate that you clearly ignore in your article here. Corker declined to participate in the debate sponsored by your fine publication. That was his perrogative. You should accept this and move on.
He has attended forums, dinners, the Washington County Young Republicans Debate in March; Corker has shown a willingness to debate that you clearly ignore in your article here.
Forums and dinners are not debates, and with all due respect to the Washington County YR’s, their debate wasn’t covered by any media outside the county. It hardly gave Republican voters on a widescale the opportunity to hear from the candidates in depth.
Corker will continue to insist he’s willing to debate, but so far he’s only been involved in forums where the moderator goes down the line and asks each candidate the same question. These kinds of “debates” have proven themselves good for allowing the candidates to show voters how they’re similar. A townhall format like Ed Bryant has proposed would be an opportunity for candidates to differentiate themselves.
What Ed Bryant is talking about is all three Republican candidates sitting down, much like the famous Cheney/Lieberman debate in 2000, and having a real dialogue about the issues, their qualifications, records and plans for Tennessee. Instead of giving each candidate 60 seconds to answer a question and move on, each candidate can take as long as they need to go in depth. Also, because the townhall forums are on one issue, there’s no changing the subject or moving on to another topic. Let’s do it like it’s done in the U.S. Senate!
Steve Gill has already stepped up and offerred to moderate a townhall forum on taxes on June 6 in Nashville. Bryant has proposed other conservative talk radio hosts, like Mike Fleming in Memphis, hosting similar townhalls that give Republican primary voters the chance to hear in depth from the candidates and the opportunity to ask questions.
I really do hope Bob Corker will go for this plan. Conservative talk radio is a “serious media outlet” and one that’s accessible to lots of voters.
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