Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) shot back at Bob Dole on Tuesday by arguing that a lack of political experience can be seen as positive.
Speaking to reporters in Chicago, Paul said that he was first a physician and then became a senator, despite people advising him to work his way up through the public service ladder as mayor and state legislator.
“I absolutely disagree with that because I think in some ways, when you have people who are career politicians, they’ve been beaten down by the system and are so part of the system that they can’t see all the problems of the system,” Paul said, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
{mosads}Dole, 90, said in a recent interview with The Wichita Eagle that Paul and other junior senators considering a White House bid in 2016 don’t yet have enough experience.
The former Kansas senator and GOP presidential nominee also named Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and freshman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
“A number of the younger members, first-termers like Rand Paul, Rubio and that extreme right-wing guy, Ted Cruz — all running for president now. I don’t think they’ve got enough experience yet,” Dole said.
Paul, the son of former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), and Rubio were elected to Congress in 2010. Cruz was elected in 2012.
All three senators have expressed interest in running for president, and Paul has won several conservative straw polls predicting frontrunners in the GOP field.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), however, has been floated as a viable frontrunner for the Republican ticket if he decides to run.