Retiring U.S. Senator(and former Chattanooga mayor) Bob Corker met with Chattanooga Christian School students in an auditorium, and he invited them to ask him questions on any topic. He also spoke with WUTC after the event.
Some highlights (listen to the story for more):
- President Trump is easy to get on the phone—in “five minutes,” Corker says, he can often reach Trump. “Whether you agree with him or disagree with him, he is probably the most accessible President in the history of the world… he has a very unstructured day.”
- Corker, who has sparred with Trump on Twitter in the past, has an opinion about Trump recently insulting LeBron James. “I think the president has a tendency to get involved in issues that maybe Presidents shouldn't get involved in. Whether it's pro football, whether it's pro basketball… there's just something in his DNA that causes him to want to pick fights.”
- Corker’s response to some critics—“show your independence.” Corker, who is retiring in November, has been willing to stand up to Trumpwhen Corker disagrees with the President. Some would say it’s easy for Corker to speak his mind, because he’s not worrying about a reelection campaign.
Corker’s response?
“Well, maybe more people ought to serve in a missional way,” he says, “where they are there to make a difference, and they're not worried about their political future. So, I would say that back.
“Of course, if you want to just stay in office for life, then maybe you hide under the table. But, I would say, look, I ran to serve two terms. I told people that on the front end. I think it does give you the ability to be independent. As I have been the entire time I've been there. So, I would say back to people, look, you know, get with it. Show your independence.”