What is the Definition of a Lobbyist?

" To close that credibility gap we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue -- to end the outsized influence of lobbyists" - Barack Obama

Obama slammed the "lobbyists" six times in his State of the Union address.   What goes through the minds of  Americans when they hear the word?

The answer seems to depend on party affiliation.

One finding from the Pew survey -- which I blogged about previously (here and here) -- perplexed me greatly at first glance.    You see, I think reducing corporate influence over the political system -- i.e. cutting back the power of lobbyists -- should be a top priority.    Yet, according to the survey, it is mainly Republicans who agree with me on this point.  Today, most Democrats don't see the power of lobbyists as a big problem.  Yet, just three years ago, it was the reverse:  Democrats were concerned about the lobbyists and Republicans were indifferent (see table below).

It occurs to me that  these survey results suggest that lobbyists are mainly perceived as a problem when your party is not in power.  I think what must be happening here is that when Republicans are in power, the word "lobbyists" to a Democrat refers to "big business lobbyists."  But when Democrats are in power, to a Republican,  the word  "lobbyists" refers mainly to groups like Acorn, unions, minority rights groups, etc.

I think both Democrats and Republicans are being naive.  Democrats ought to realize that big business lobbyists have been just as influential -- if not more so -- under this Democratic administration.  And Republicans ought to stop obsessing over Fox News generated conspiracy theories regarding groups that have relatively little power in Washington.