Bob Corker, the man who, according to President Trump, “couldn’t get elected dog catcher in Tennessee,” was asked by a reporter if he’s just given up on his push for fiscal responsibility from the federal government.
His answer caused a bit of a stir.
‘Yeah, I’m over it... it’s just not going to happen. The American people today are not interested in it.’
Corker estimated that, if polled, only 6% of the people in this country would say they care about such fiscal issues.
“It’s just a fact,” the Tennessee senator said. “Nobody cares.”
Corker also said he’s lost hope that Trump will be up to the task. “You’ve got a president that’s certainly not going to deal with it. [He] made it clear in the campaign that he’s not going to deal with the major driver.”
Watch the exchange, which took place in Chattanooga on Friday:
VIDEO - @SenBobCorker in Chattanooga Friday on federal fiscal responsibility: “Yeah I’m over it....Nobody cares. And you know you’ve got a president who’s certainly not going to deal with it.” pic.twitter.com/FgD9UagRWB
— Katherine Marchand (@KatherineNC9) May 18, 2018
Corker’s jab at the president doesn’t come as a shock, of course, considering just last month he called out the government as “one of the most fiscally irresponsible administrations and Congresses we’ve ever had.”
A recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects $1 trillion annual deficits for the foreseeable future. The annual deficit is projected to stay around 5% of gross domestic product, which is well above its 2.9% average. Total debt held by the public is expected to rise from 76.5% of GDP in 2017 to 96.2% in 2028.
Corker warned at the event that a crisis will eventually have to be dealt with, “or we’ll have a president who will campaign on it,” according to WTVC
“We’re in a world of populism right now,” he added. “And in a world of populism, you never deal with the tough issues.”