In their endorsement today, the Knoxville News Sentinel says:

...both are working very hard to be the next U.S. senator from Tennessee.

...their styles and backgrounds present striking contrasts.

And it is largely on their differences in background - solid business experience and a Tennessee lifestyle - that we endorse Bob Corker.

OK, then. But, where is Bob Corker actually from? Why, I believe he's from South Carolina. Curiously, the KNS failed to mention that. And where is Harold Ford Jr. from? He's from Tennessee.

As for Corker's solid business experience, we agree that he is a successful businessman. And if he hadn't lost the 1994 primary to the ineffective and embarrassing Bill Frist (which has to make you wonder, if Frist has turned out so bad how bad was the second choice?), Corker would now be touting his Congressional experience instead. Sort of like the Congressional experience Harold Ford Jr. already has today. Harold Ford Jr. knows how a bill becomes law. Bob Corker knows how to work the law to bill somebody for services rendered.

As for his "Tennessee Lifestyle", Corker is probably in the top 0.2% or so in terms of income and wealth in the state of Tennessee. I'm guessing that not many of the 14% of people living in poverty in the state of Tennessee can relate to Corker's "Tennessee Lifestyle". Nor can the hundreds of thousands working for minimum wage that Corker doesn't support raising unless there are strings attached for his business pals. Nor can the one million without health insurance, or nearly half the people in this state either without insurance or on Medicare or Medicaid. Maybe they could relate to Bob Corker's "Tennessee Lifestyle" if only they could be admitted to the country club.

Corker is also proud of the fact that he attended the University of Tennessee, where he says he graduated with a bachelors in Industrial Management. Apparently, the KNS and Bob Corker think government and politics are an industry to be managed for personal gain and for the benefit of their special interest pals.

And we agree that their "styles and backgrounds present striking contrasts." The contrast is that Harold Ford Jr. will represent the working people of Tennessee. Bob Corker will represent special interests, big business, big oil, and the status quo.

I am R. Neal and I approve this message.