The rancid ethics of the Senators Dole

Dubai Ports World has hired former senator Bob Dole to represent the government-owned company's interests in Washington.

That means Senator Dole's wife, Senator Dole of North Carolina, is about to have her household income enhanced by a check from Dubai Ports World, just as the Senate is about to consider legislation to block the company's takeover of operations at six major U.S. ports.

Before anybody in the family cashes that check, one of the Senators Dole should wake up and smell the ethics. This is national security, not corn subsidies.

This would be a fine time for the Senate leadership to demonstrate their understanding of the problem by banning the spouses of lawmakers from accepting money for lobbying services. Let's not hear any 1970s whining about women having the right to their own careers. A U.S. senator's spouse doesn't have to make a career out of lobbying the U.S. Senate.

Copyright 2006

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