Obama Ready To Rumble With Lobbyists And Special Interests

Ask Americans about their biggest frustration with government over the decades and they'll most likely say it's the power of lobbyists and special interests to get favors over the needs of the people. Americans are absolutely right about that, and President Barack Obama is ready to rumble to change the way this operates.

Obama said in his Saturday radio address that he plans to change the system in dramatic ways, and understands that the lobbyists are preparing for battle. Health care, education and energy policy is going to change in ways that people who are doing fine with the status quo are not going to like one bit. But he's determined to do what serves people, not special interests. We support him in this fight.

We can all identify specific things in the recent stimulus bill we disagree with, and things we like. Some of this is just partisan nonsense and a chess game of trying to make one side or the other look bad. When it comes to shaking up the lobbyist system, however, we all can agree this is long overdue.

Obama said insurance lobbyists won't like that they will have to competitively bid on Medicare contracts, but that it will lower the cost of health care. Oil companies won't like their subsidies cut, but it has to happen. Other industries will lose their taxpayer perks as well.

Part of the fight will be with members of Congress who thrive on lobbyist contributions. Obama knows that convincing them to do the right thing will be difficult, but says he's up to the fight. He needs to call out these elected officials who want to line the pockets of special interests and make sure the American people know who they are.

We have allowed special interests and lobbyists to dictate how our country is operated. They benefit while we struggle. It's time for our elected officials to stand up for the people who elect them, not the special interests that blow smoke up their dresses and line their election coffers.

It's going to be a difficult battle, because the lobbyists and special interests know their way of doing things is going to change. Apparently the president is ready, and all Americans should be as well. This is long overdue.