Bob Dole is a war hero, a politician, and soon he will be a Congressional Gold Medal winner.
The elder Republican is also a corporate lobbyist. An associate at Alston & Bird, Dole has lobbied for everyone from the pharmaceutical industry to anti-democratic African strongmen. But this latest honor is the most telling accomplishment of the primordial swamp creature.
After losing his feet at a California campaign rally and subsequently losing his challenge to President Bill Clinton in 1996, the then-septuagenarian turned his almost four decades of political experience into a political asset. Dole became a lobbyist and, by later turning on his own party, something of a liberal darling.
To be sure, Dole did plenty of good while serving in the Senate. When Clinton tried forcing his version of socialized healthcare through Congress, Dole closed the pass. “Turning over one-seventh of our economy to the United States Government,” he told the New York Times at the time, would be “concerning.”
And Dole did plenty of heroics during the Second World War. While leading a platoon of the 10th Mountain Division against the Germans in Italy, 2nd Lt. Dole was hit critically by machine gun fire. He earned a Purple Heart and lost the use of his right hand.
Both his political leadership and his military heroics are good and notable. But they cannot camouflage the fact that Dole didn’t so much register as a lobbyist as he dove through the revolving door. Giving Dole an award, honoring a man who embodies the special interest of Washington, doesn’t bode well for a GOP supposedly serious about cleaning up D.C.
Soon, the Gold Medal legislation will head to President Trump’s desk. He should take note of a conflict of interest before he offers his signature. Dole is currently under contract to lobby the Trump administration.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
