Pelosi says Dems and Tea Party movement have common ground

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Democrats "share some of the views" of the Tea Party movement, even though it "takes direction from the Republican Party."

She has referred to the Tea Party movement as Astroturf, "but, you know, we share some of the views of the Tea Partiers in terms of the role of special interests in Washington D.C., as --it just has to stop," she said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

"And that's why I've fought the special interests, whether it's on energy, whether it's on health insurance, whether it's on pharmaceuticals and the rest," Pelosi said.

The Tea Party movement emerged last year in response to Congress' stimulus package and has gained momentum in recent months.

The common ground between the movement and Democrats only goes so far, Pelosi was quick to add.

"Some of it is orchestrated from the Republican headquarters," she said. "Some of it is hijacking the good intentions of lots of people who share some of our concerns that we have about the role of special interests and many Tea Partiers, not that I speak for them, share the view."

One point of agreement between Democrats and Tea Party members is their response to the recent Supreme Court decision lifting limits on corporate contributions to political campaigns.

"The recent Supreme Court decision, which greatly empowers the special interests, is something that they oppose," Pelosi said.

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