MEMPHIS, Tenn —
Just over two years after leaving office, former Tennessee senator Bob Corker is breaking his silence, and he’s saying what a lot of national Republicans want to say but can’t. Their party has been taken over by Trumpism, which simply means total devotion to Donald Trump over anything, or anyone else, and it must be rooted out.
That’s the message Corker gave to a Knoxville newspaper one day after Trump was impeached for the second time by the House of Representatives. Corker’s direct quote is that his party must “never, ever, ever allow someone like Trump to become the Republican nominee or be president of the United States.”
And there’s more. Corker said as the debate begins about the future of the GOP, he wants a seat at the table. Whether that means he intends to seek office again is uncertain, but it’s an interesting comment from someone who gave up his senate seat after a hot and cold relationship with Trump.
I have often credited Corker for being willing to speak up when Trump was wrong. But the party moved away from Corker and went all in with Trump. Now that the 45th president is leaving office in disgrace; Corker is angling to regain a voice.
Whether he gets it, is doubtful because while Trump will be gone in five days, Trumpism will be much more difficult to defeat.
And that’s my point of view. I’m Otis Sanford for Local 24 News.