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I met Sen. Bob Corker when he was running for office. He was a nice guy, looked you in the eye and honestly answered some questions. He was speaking to a history class in Gleason which is one of those towns where the school is the heart of the community. From academics to basketball, the town is tiny and is almost like walking back in time but it has its charms. Even its mayor has one of those names from a novel like “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

The kids were asking questions and he was answering them in a way that I liked because he was self-deprecating, knew he was in front of a tough crowd and he didn’t back down when the questions reflected that 16-year-old angst ridden kids were asking him.

Corker has always confused me. I admit it.

Then I read his press release and he says this and he’s not willing to back down again, just like the guy I saw a few years back and I have to say, it gave me pause.

“I am glad that President-elect Obama has rolled out his economic team and would encourage them not to take this administration’s bait by coming to the rescue of the U. S. automakers without making them take the painful steps necessary to ensure their viability which probably include Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reorganization and consolidation,” said Corker. “Unfortunately, the Bush administration has made it clear they are willing to throw money at any problem as long as future generations are left paying it back.”

I was talking to a moderate republican who lives here a few months back and he had a meeting with the Senator which was basically about cuts in law enforcement funding. His experience was also positive. He didn’t get everything he wanted necessarily but from what he told me, Corker at least listened. Not his handlers, but Corker.

And Corker was willing to rearrange his schedule to listen to this man.

Listen, I’m not praising Corker one way or the other but I have seen him doing things that other politicians don’t usually do in small significant ways that have people talking. Now it could be said that Corker is distancing himself from an extremely unpopular president and that would be fair. But on the other hand, it is interesting to watch him walk outside the partisan lines.

And I might add, that he’s saying things that people here in Hoots are also saying. They could care less that he has an “R” by his name. Yesterday, I talked to three businesses that are talking about shutting their doors down and it is a reflection of this rotten economy.

These folks are my friends, campers. And they are scared because they see their livelihoods going into the toilets.

So Corker is willing to put pen to paper and say things that might make Dick Cheney contemplate shooting him in the face.

And that takes nerve.

I’ll give credit where it’s due. I like it when politicians are willing to make a comment and stand behind it despite the letter next to their name.

Anyway, if you were wondering, the mayor of Gleason is named Little Jack.