Did the DNC just tip the scales in Clinton's favor?

(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

published 12 February 2016

The Democratic National Committee quietly reversed its ban on donations by federal lobbyists and political action committees "at some point during the past couple of months," The Washington Post reported Friday. The reversal of the ban, which was introduced by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008 as part of his promise to "change how Washington works," sparked concerns that the DNC is backtracking on efforts to limit special interest influence in Washington — and, in the process, providing an unfair advantage to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Critics contend that Clinton, who relies more heavily on large contributions than competitor Sen. Bernie Sanders, will reap a greater benefit from this rule change and, consequently, see a boost to her campaign. As reform advocate Fred Wertheimer told the Post, this reversal could be "opening up opportunities for influence-buying 'by Washington lobbyists with six-figure contributions to the Hillary Victory fund.'"

The DNC, however, says it removed the restrictions simply to ensure a Democrat is elected to the White House to continue "building on the progress we've made over the last seven years." "The DNC's recent change in guidelines will ensure that we continue to have the resources and infrastructure in place to best support whoever emerges as our eventual nominee," Mark Paustenbach, deputy communications director for the DNC, said in an email to the Post explaining the decision.