The hosts of Morning Joe talk with Harvard law professor Lawrence
Lessig about his latest Nation piece “How to Get Our
Democracy Back” that calls for reforming Congress. Mika asks Lessig
to explain his opinion that Obama betrayed Washington. Lessig argues
that Obama campaigned on a promise to fight for changing the way
Congress works, something Obama has given up as President. But the need
for reforming Congress is imperative.

“This institution is so weighed down with the favors that it needs to
give to those who fund it that it can’t possibly affect substantial
reform,” Lessig says. “As president, he gave up that fight… and what
he’s discovering is… that nothing will change until he changes that
institution.” The “real problem,” Lessig says, is the tight grip of
lobbyists.

—Morgan Ashenfelter

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