President Obama's campaign against Washington's so-called "special interests" has had "paradoxical results," the National Journal asserts in a special report that quotes Council President Doug Pinkham about how the president's rhetoric may be creating public relations problems for himself.

"Obama has created PR problems for himself by being so strident about keeping special interests out of deal-making," Pinkham says in the special report titled "The K Street Paradox: President Obama's fight against special interests boomerangs as lobbying firms just get richer." "Because when he does meet with them, he leaves himself open to criticism for meeting with them."

The special report explores how the president's ambitious policy reforms have forced him to cut deals with business groups, even at a time when he has criticized "backroom" deal-making and tried to limit the influence lobbyists have on the executive branch.

"Those seeking to sway Washington spent a record $3.47 billion in 2009, the influence industry's most lucrative year ever, even as the nation's economy was struggling to emerge from the recession," the National Journal reports. "And none of the president's efforts have gotten to the root of what many say is the real problem in Washington -- money in politics."

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