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Yet the Court has not affirmatively recognized lobbying as a constitutionally protected activity anchored in the petition clause. Whether a lobbyist, as a paid agent, stands in the same position as a citizen requesting government consideration is unclear. The Court has recognized the right to freely associate and take collective action as inherent in lobbying, but it has not highlighted the unique role petitioning plays in such activities.
Having some experience with lobbyists (or the less noxious "consultants"..whetever you want to call them), it's pretty easy to make the case that they do. Most lobbying outfits don't act without direction from those they represent. That direction may not be specific (go to talk to John Jones in the Appropriations Committee), but I'd say the affect a client has on a lobbyists activities is substantial.
I'm also not certain how you could seperate the activities of a lobbyists from groups like MoveOn, the NRA, AARP, etc etc etc. This is not the best analogy, but it's not forbidden for someone accused of a crime to seek a high-priced lawyer for the purposes of defense when the state can provide one for free, nor is it forbidden for a defendant to provide their own legal defense with no help at all. I think a version of that same thinking would end up applying to lobbying activities.
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