Poll: Special interests more influential under Obama

Hope and Change:

Washington Times

Contrary to President Obama's promises, voters say special interests have more influence on the political process now than they did a year ago, according to a new poll.

The poll, paid for by groups looking to curb the Supreme Court's recent campaign finance ruling, found that majorities of both Republicans and Democrats say special interests have increased their influence since the president took office, and they say Mr. Obama has not done enough to fight back.

"People think special interests are dominant," said Stan Greenberg, a leading Democratic pollster who worked with Republican pollster Mark McKinnon.

Mr. Obama promised to usher in a new era of government responsible to voters, but back-room negotiations over the health-care bill, and the president's own broken promise to televise those negotiations on C-SPAN, have dented his credibility.