Most politicians are intelligent, at least from the perspective of their ability to manage people. With that said, I believe they're ignorant to the plight of those above them who really run the show. In all reality, politicians are nothing more than public relations for the masses. They can make small adjustments to the system to give the appearance of power, but they have very little ability to actually create any real change. This goes for congress, the president, Supreme Court Judges, etc.. They all have bosses, they all answer - whether they realize it or not - to a much more influential power consisting mostly of men whose names we don't know.
I can very confidently say - without speaking in their support or defense - that most politicians act no differenly than the working class from the perspective that all they're doing is obeying orders. Yes, they're better paid. Yes, everyone wants to judge and blame them. As a whole, I understand. But individually, the average politician is not much more than an extremely connected order-follower.