Vines: Hilleary scraps at GOP forum {US Senate primary in Tennessee}

Van Hilleary, the Republican nominee for governor in 2002, showed what a scrapper he can be at the first televised debate of the three major U.S. Senate candidates in the GOP primary on Aug. 3.

In fact, the former congressman and Gulf War veteran was downright feisty at Thursday's debate sponsored by WATE, Channel 6, at the University of Tennessee.

His opponents, former U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, pretty much stuck to the script they've developed for their campaigns. Corker's opening statement sounded like one of his TV commercials.

The candidates sounded alike on many issues, although Bryant and Hilleary constantly hammered on Corker's record, which they said is different from positions he's taking now, especially on abortion. All claim to be anti-abortion, although Corker's position when he ran for the Senate in 1994 was that he was anti-abortion but didn't feel government should get into the issue. He says now that is a mistake.

Because of attacks on Corker during the debate, he was given extra time to answer charges, and several times said to Hilleary and Bryant, "Thank you for continuing to mention my name."

Corker frequently called Bryant and Hilleary "my friends from Washington," a reference to their congressional service and lobbying activities.

"If I'm your Washington friend, you're my pro-choice, tax-raising- through-the-roof buddy!" Hilleary exclaimed at one point, turning to face Corker.

Some in the audience responded with a gasp as though some imaginary line had been crossed.

Hilleary's reference to taxes addressed whether property taxes were increased during Corker's term as mayor. Corker said while mayor he "controlled spending" so property taxes were the lowest since the 1950s, while Hilleary and Bryant previously said that is misleading since Corker raised taxes 24 percent his first year in office.

Not that one no. I was in and out of the room. But of the three I think Van Hilleary would honestly be the best to fight for the Conservative cause. We need somebody who will stand up even to some within the GOP and so no when a no is needed.

Corker has some major D.C. support behind him . One evening maybe three weeks ago or so I did get a recorded message call from my congressman {Wamp} asking me to support Corker. Here's some more of the problem the Mayor of Knox County Mike Ragsdale supports Corker and that person is not native Knox County but rather from Corkers area {Bradley County} and is a family friend. Wamp is from the Chattanooga area as well even though his district reaches north of Knoxville.

My wife called Van Hilleary's office while he was a congressman and even though we were not in his district they did listen and offer help. It was over some Tenncare/Medicare issues. He doesn't come off as being something he's not. Had he not ran for governor he'd still likely be in congress. But if he was governor I think he possibly would be the best since John Sevier.

Tennessee historically with some exceptions has not had good luck with the governors office. At least not in my lifetime and I'm old enough to remember as a kid in the mid 60's hearing the John J Hooker campaign song from a Mitch Miller song..ARGHH that blasted tune still haunts me. "Vote for Hooker vote for Tennessee vote for progress vote for you and me ..." Yech what a joke...

I unapologetically voted for Hooker in the '98 general election when I got wind of the foul stench coming from RINO Scumquist. It would've been a hoot and a half watching Mr. Constitution get elected and giving mass coronaries to his fellow 'Rats. Unlike in his earlier runs, by 1998, Hooker was more a Republican than a lot of Republicans in this state.

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