Lobbyist and Special Interest Spending and Influence Worse Now Than at Any Time Before Obama

Associated Content (AC) ^ | April 2, 2010 | Marc Schenker

[Suvroc10]

Remember way back —all the way back in time to that distant memory known as the year 2008—when Barack Obama made a big deal about cleaning up special interests and lobbyists that were buying influence all over Washington? Remember when he used that crafty angle in part to make himself appear as the long-awaited outsider or "messiah" who could, in a hope-like fashion, "change" Washington from its special interest-heavy influence? It's not going well! Obama's been caught lying again regarding his empty promises versus his actual record. But the extent of his lie hits at a major policy promise Obama used specifically to sweet talk his way into the White House. In 2009, his first year as president, lobbying and special interest spending and influence was the worst it's ever been. In fact, such influence worsened from 2008—when he made his deceptive campaign promise to get elected—to 2009, hitting an antagonistic $3.47 billion.