Today, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek called on Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole to step aside in any congressional considerations of the growing controversy over the Bush Administration's proposed sale of the management operations at six U.S. ports to a corporation owned by the United Arab Emirates. Sen. Dole's husband, Bob Dole, "has been hired by Dubai Ports World to help shepherd the company through a $6.8 billion deal to control terminals at six U.S. ports." [Raleigh News and Observer, 2/23/2006]

"[Dole's spokesperson] said she didn't know how long Elizabeth Dole had known about her husband's consulting for Dubai Ports World. Bob Dole, a registered lobbyist, former senator from Kansas and GOP presidential candidate, is among a team of lawyers at the Washington law firm Alston & Bird that has been working with Dubai Ports World. Dubai Ports World is owned by the United Arab Emirates." [Raleigh News and Observer, 2/23/2006]

Senators and Representatives in both parties have expressed outrage at the Bush Administration's secret deal to transfer the port management.

"Today, I call on Senator Dole to recuse herself from any congressional oversight and considerations of the Dubai port deal," said Chairman Meek. "The fact that Dubai is paying her husband to help pass the deal presents both a financial and ethical conflict of interest for Senator Dole. Congress does have a role in such a consequential deal, but once again, the coziness of lobbyists with Republicans in Washington is both troubling and inappropriate."