Posted on 11/24/2005 11:53:32 PM PST by SmithL
NASHVILLE - Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Van Hilleary is criticizing a GOP rival for helping secure corporate underwriters for a 2004 legislative retreat affiliated with the Legislature's Black Caucus.
The actions of former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker came up earlier this week during Hilleary's appearance on a conservative talk radio show in Nashville. Both Corker and Hilleary are vying to succeed Bill Frist.
"Bob Corker's raising money for the ultra-liberal Black Caucus in Tennessee," said the show's host, Steve Gill, addressing issues first raised in a Hilleary campaign news release. "Is he running in the right primary?"
"That's a good question," Hilleary responded. "He's supported about as many Democrats over the years as Republicans. So it would just be unfortunate if he were our Republican nominee."
Hilleary spokeswoman Jennifer Coxe said conservatives are questioning the true ideology of Corker, noting the Black Caucus is comprised entirely of Democratic lawmakers.
"He's supported by liberals; he's raised money for liberals. This is a liberal ... caucus of legislators who oppose conservative legislation in the state Legislature," Coxe said.
The Legislative Retreat and Training Conference held its 2004 meeting in Chattanooga while Corker was mayor. The city provided $5,000 for the event, according to retreat records.
Then-Mayor Corker and Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, a Republican, also helped persuade various local corporate sponsors to provide another $45,000 for the event, which was attended by some 1,500 people, according to records and officials.
Ben Mitchell, Corker's campaign manager, said assisting local organizations and bringing conventions to the community is normal for a mayor, and that Corker's assistance was "absolutely not" a reflection of sympathy for any liberal ideology.
"It was part of the function that any mayor of any city would do, especially a community that has a vibrant tourism community and relies in part on that tourism industry for its local economy," Mitchell said.
The retreat's founder, House Speaker Pro Tem Lois DeBerry, called the criticism by Hilleary's campaign "crazy."
"Corker did what Corker did because he was mayor of the city, and I'm telling you attendees probably spent more money in Chattanooga at the restaurants and the malls than the money they (corporate underwriters) gave," the Memphis Democrat said. "All they (Corker and Ramsey) did was ask the business community to come to the table."
For more than 30 years, the retreat has brought together state officials, lawmakers, community leaders and young people from around the state, mainly to discuss minority and youth issues at workshops and seminars. The 31st annual meeting was held last week at Paris Landing State Park in Henry County.
Finances for both the retreat and the Black Caucus have been scrutinized in the past two months. However, both have disclosed all or most of their financial records.
Organizers of the retreat are also restructuring the event to give an appointed board oversight and have hired a Nashville accountant to handle its finances.
What did Reagan say? Don`t speak evil of fellow Republicans. Yeah but this is different, sure.
Corker is, sadly, a RINO. He effortlessly passed off the Chattanooga Mayoralty to a 'Rat. But Hilleary is not the one who will get the nomination. This is Ed Bryant's baby.
Wow, what unfortunate names for a couple of Republicans to have to run with....
Being a RINO IS an issue.
Do you know what Hilleary's FULL name is ? It's WILLIAM Van Hilleary. And he managed to win... as a Republican... in 1994. Take a guess why he never used his first name (which is hard to find online, he doesn't want people to know that shame). ;-)
Amen. Don't turn on the party, even if the guy is a liberal tool. Beat him on the issues, beat through superior organization and mobilization.
TN freepers need to hold Dr Frist and Lamar! to their words when they promised to support Bryant for 2006 Senate race.
Liberals hijack the GOP = Buh-Bye GOP. Reference Massachusetts.
Lamar! will back Corker to the hilt. I want them both to vanish. As for Frist, I have no idea where his mind is at these days... (well, aside from his twisted fantasy about running for President).
So much for common courtesy by Lamar!. Bryant endorsed Lamar! after the primary. Why can't Lamar! return the favor?
If this means anything, a co-worker of mine recently relocated to Knoxville. He has family in East TN. I warned him to get ready for endless tv ads by Corker, Ford, and Bryant next year. He told me his ancestors supported the Union during the Civil War and his family lineage was GOP. A reversal of the Yellow dog RAT. He is unfamiliar with Corker, Hilleary and Bryant. But considers anyone involved with Memphis politics to be slimy. I told him that Bryant prosecuted Harold Ford's father. He said that anyone who is willing to fight the Ford family will be an asset to the country. If Memphis politicians carry this much baggage with the rest of state, then whoever wins the GOP primary (hope its Bryant) should win the general election with comfort.
The problem is now that Hilleary has ZERO business being in the Gubernatorial primary at all. We've got an unpopular 'Rat Governor, and NO REPUBLICAN AT ALL has made a move to run against him next year. Hilleary could move for a rematch with Pharoah Phil Bredesen and Bryant could get the Senate seat, correcting the horrendous wrong of 2002 (a VERY bad year for the GOP in TN, unlike some places elsewhere in the country). We cannot afford to have a disaster like Corker winning the nod and having no one challenge Bredesen. If Corker wins the primary, I will NOT support him in the general, period.
Bresden is unpopular now?!! Several months ago, the New Republic touted him as the Great Southern RAT Hope for 2008. But latey, the New Republic has forgetten about Bresden and is shilling for Mark Warner. What has Bresden done to damage his potential Presidential dreams? Is Bresden actually linked to the scandal involving Harold Ford Jr.'s uncle?
It wasn't so much a damaging of his popularity on the "right", so to speak, but more on the left. His handling of the TennCare "crisis" has been inept, and he had to deal with a daily barrage of protesters at the State Capitol in wheelchairs screaming that their coverage was being taken away. It more or less resulted in snickers from Conservatives. That's one issue, but there are a drip-drip-drip of other things (mass-scale 'Rat corruption at the Capitol which has resulted in umpteen indictments). However, despite his ineptitude, he has a gargantuan sum of $$ for his reelection (and as with last time, he showed no hesitation to break campaign finance laws to carry him to victory), and that sole issue has scared away a LOT of potential GOP opponents. I wasn't joking when I said that currently he HAS no opponent for next year, and that is disgraceful.
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