There's a fairly common trajectory for many notable politicians: get elected, serve, leave, become a pundit, cash in as a lobbyist.
In Scott Brown's case, he's completing the same cycle we've seen before, but he's doing so with remarkable speed.
Former Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who was defeated in his re-election bid last year, announced Monday that he had landed a new job with the international law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP.Brown will serve as counsel in the firm's Boston office.According to a statement from the firm, Brown will be involved in business and governmental affairs, with a focus on the financial services industry and commercial real estate.
The news comes just three weeks after the Massachusetts Republican also became a Fox News pundit.
Stepping back, Scott Brown has gone from the state legislature, to the U.S. Senate, to media, to a lobbying gig, all in the course of about three years. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone else who's been able to spin the revolving door quite so quickly.
As for Brown's newest gig, becoming a lobbyist for the "financial services industry" -- i.e., banks and Wall Street -- seems like a natural fit for the former senator. During his 2012 campaign, no one received more financial support from the industry than Brown.
Then again, if Brown intends return to politics, his new careers may be tough to explain. His shtick has been to present himself as a regular guy with a truck, not a Wall Street lobbyist with a Fox News gig.
Update: To clarify, Brown cannot literally serve as a lobbyist until he's been out of public office for two years. However, when a former senator joins a firm like Nixon Peabody, and takes on a role in "governmental affairs," the common definition of such a position is a job in "lobbying," though it is not literally the case.
As a practical matter, for example, Brown will not be able to go to Capitol Hill, visit a former colleague's office, and represent a financial company's interests. He will, however, be able to offer strategic advice to his new colleagues at Nixon Peabody on how best to go to Capitol Hill, which senators' offices to visit, which staffers to contact, etc.