Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) reportedly read President Obama the Riot Act during a heated exchange today at the Senate GOP’s policy lunch, which the president attended for a behind-closed-doors Q&A.

Four officials present at the rare session said that when Obama appealed for bipartisanship, Corker accused him of “audacity” given the administration’s handling of the financial reform package and other legislation. Corker was a lead GOP negotiator on the bill to regulate Wall Street.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the private session, said Obama bristled and defended his negotiations over the bill.
Applause could be heard as Obama exited the room. Obama described the lunch-hour session as a frank discussion on a range of issues.

I can understand Corker’s frustration. Like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) on cap-and-trade or immigration, Corker is another deal-making moderate Republican who posted a ton of political capital in his lengthy negotiations with Democrats on financial reform only to be hung out to dry.

UPDATE: Longer, better AP story with Corker reactions here. The Senator’s point in a soundbite?

Corker told reporters, “I just wanted him to tell me how when he wakes up in the morning, comes over to luncheon like ours today, how does he reconcile that duplicity?”

UPDATE II: Politico has more from the luncheon, including this great description of the president’s “testy” mood:

“The more he talked, the more he got upset,” Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said. “He needs to take a valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans and just calm down, and don’t take anything so seriously. If you disagree with someone, it doesn’t mean you’re attacking their motives — and he takes it that way and tends then to lecture and then gets upset.”