A new Washington Post profile of Sen. Bob Corker as he nears retirement begins with this brilliant lead:
It took Bob Corker 21 seconds to begin answering the question.If the election were held today, would you vote for Donald Trump?
Eventually Corker tells the Post's Ben Terris “If the election were held today between the same two candidates, I would" before retreating a bit, asking Terris to mark him down as a "probably." Throughout the rest of the day the two spent together, Corker returns to the question, asking for more time to answer. Four days later, Terris writes, Corker called back to say he didn't "have any desire to make news,” so he'd leave his answer where it was.
It's amazing. By asking Corker a simple question and letting it slowly eat him alive, Terris has given us a clear picture of Corker, a man who has proven too small for this huge moment. Faced with a candidate whose past is overflowing with allegations of sexual assault, petty cruelty and grift, Corker stood up and said in a clear voice, Well, actually, can you hold please, just one moment? Now, having helped elect a president who Corker himself has said could bumble his way into World War III, the senator boldly says, Hey, can I have a few days to collect my thoughts?
I genuinely can't figure out what Corker's deal is at this point, why he says the things he does and why he doesn't say other things. And then why he contradicts himself about all of it. It would appear to be a soup of cowardice, indecision and the privilege of knowing you're going to be filthy rich no matter what. In any case, here is an incomplete timeline of the senator's waffling, wavering and wimping out on everything to do with Trump over the past two years or so.
- May 20, 2016 — Corker becomes a contestant in Trump's Veepstakes. As speculation swirls about who the presumptive GOP nominee will pick as his running mate, Corker makes the pilgrimage to Trump Tower to dance for The Donald. He would later withdraw his name from consideration.
- July 15, 2016 — The Klan? Never heard of 'em. In a press gaggle following Corker's remarks to the National Association of Secretaries of State, the Scene's Cari Wade Gervin asks the senator about Trump's support among white supremacists and prominent former Ku Klux Klan members. After dodging a bit, he says, "I have no knowledge of what the groups that you’re talking about think or know or who they’re supporting."
- Sept. 7, 2016 — Corker dances around questions about Trump's preparedness. The senator spends most of an appearance on Morning Joe avoiding giving a straight answer as to whether Trump, the man Corker is supporting for the presidency, is actually qualified to be president.
- Sept. 23, 2016 — Should Donald Trump release his tax returns? Corker won't say. Trump was the first major presidential candidate in 40 years not to release his tax returns. We ask Corker — by text, email and phone — if the then-candidate should do so. We hear only silence.
- Oct. 9, 2016 — The Access Hollywood tape. A video from 2005 catches Trump talking to Billy Bush about sexually assaulting women. "When you're a star, they let you do it," Trump says, going on to utter the now-famous "grab them by the pussy" line. A number of Republican figures call for Trump to step aside. All Corker can muster? "These comments are obviously very inappropriate and offensive and his apology was absolutely necessary." He continues supporting Trump's bid for the presidency.
- Oct. 20, 2016 — Trump must accept election results. After Trump refuses to pledge that he would accept the results of the election even if he lost, Corker tweets, "It is imperative that Donald Trump clearly state that he will accept the results of the election when complete." This is good. We're noting it here because, even after becoming president, Trump has continued to falsely claim that millions of people voted illegally in the election, and Corker has basically said nothing about it.
- Nov. 15, 2016 — Steve Bannon? Never heard of him. Amid widespread criticism of Trump bringing Breitbarter-in-chief and white nationalist Steve Bannon into the White House as his chief strategist, Corker plays dumb about the whole thing.
- Aug. 3, 2017 — Damn leakers! Leaked transcripts of Trump's early presidential phone calls with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reveal the new president to be duplicitous, self-obsessed, etc. Corker, however, is mostly just outraged that someone leaked the conversations. "These people should be fired!" he says. "They should be out of government! They're disloyal to our government!"
- Aug. 17, 2017 — He speaks! After apparently mulling it over for a day or so — but after Trump equivocates on who the bad guys were at a neo-Nazi rally — Corker finally suggests Trump might not be great. Trump hasn't demonstrated the "stability" or "competence" to be successful, Corker says, adding that Trump "has not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation."
- Oct. 9, 2017 — Now he's crossed the line. Corker held his fire as Trump attacked minorities, women and the parents of dead soldiers. But after announcing his plans to retire and ending up on the receiving end of Trump's tweets, Corker lets it fly. "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning." This is a great dunk. 10/10. Again, we're noting it here because after suggesting the president is an addled old man who needs constant monitoring, Corker just kind of goes on with his life and seeks to do nothing about it.
- Oct. 24, 2017 — World War! For the second time in a month, Corker says that the man he helped become president is so reckless he could lead the country into a global war. Trump responds on Twitter: "Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts....Corker dropped out of the race in Tennesse when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!" Corker, who has really gotten a feel for the Twitter spat at this point, responds: "Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff." Importantly, given today's Post profile, Corker says in a CNN interview later this same day that he would not support Trump for president again.
- Feb 14, 2018 — Let bygones be bygones. The New York Times reports that Corker is being urged to reconsider his retirement and has embarked on a "sudden charm offensive," refraining from criticism of the president and meeting with Ivanka Trump in the hopes that Trump might endorse him. This does not happen, and having embarrassed himself yet again, Corker announces he will stick to his plan and retire.
All that more or less brings us back to today, when we learn that Corker is back to struggling over whether, given a second chance, he would still support a man he has essentially called a dishonest, childish, existential threat to much of the world. Thank you for your service, senator.
