Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity
By Peter Fenn

Posted: February 2, 2011


Few in America had heard about the third-richest Americans, brothers David and Charles Koch, until just recently. Aside from David Koch’s gifts to the Lincoln Center in New York and the naming of a theater after him, few outside a small, elite circle would recognize the name or know how to pronounce it. (“Koch” as in “coke”)

For decades, they were under the radar. They and their father had amassed an incredible fortune, mainly in the oil business. Their privately held company revenues last year were estimated at $100 billion. Each brother is worth $21.5 billion. That is a very big “B” in both cases.

For many years, they have been involved in politics but not terribly open or transparent about it. It is true that David Koch ran as vice president on the 1980 Libertarian ticket, to the right of Ronald Reagan. According to New York Times columnist Frank Rich, “his campaign called for the abolition not just of Social Security, federal regulatory agencies and welfare but also of the FBI, the CIA, and public schools.” Since the Libertarian party’s 1 percent showing in 1980, David Koch has very much been behind the scenes, until now. [See who donates the most to your member of Congress.]

Jane Mayer, of The New Yorker, in her 10,000 word piece last August, peeled the cover off the onion of the Koch brothers' empire. And she focused not only on their personal wealth and family, but on their political empire building.

It was not, and is not, easy to get the details on the extent of their tentacles. They funnel money through 501c3 tax-exempt foundations, and they give money to other foundations, lobbying organizations, and right wing think tanks. They have PACs; they support candidates. Only a small portion of what they control do they divulge.

But it has now come out how involved they have been in funding Tea Party groups, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and Citizens for a Sound Economy ($12 million). [Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the Tea Party.]

We do know, from Mayer’s reporting, that the Koch brothers have personally given over $2 million to candidates over the last 12 years, their PAC has contributed $8 million to candidates, and they have spent $50 million on lobbying. The Charles Koch Foundation has given $48 million, and another foundation they control gave $28 million. David Koch’s foundation gave more than $120 million. According to Mayer, $196 million dollars in total was distributed in the last 10 years to conservative causes and institutions.

That all, as they say, is not chicken feed, and it begs the question: How in the heck did they stay under the radar for as long as they did?

Part of the reason is that much of what they did was not reportable but, more important, until recently they were not pouring the millions into campaigns through advertising and expenditures allowed due to the Citizens United Supreme Court case. [Read the U.S. News debate: Is the Citizens United decision hurting democracy?]

Now, to the paranoia. These folks would make Richard Nixon’s enemies list look tame. This could be a movie akin to George Clooney’s Michael Clayton.

This past weekend the Koch brothers hosted a conference in Palm Springs that resembled an armed camp. Private Koch security was everywhere—manning every doorway and stairway within range of the conference. Reporters were confronted by private security guards and told to leave or they would be arrested, and a Common Cause official had his lunch reservation canceled and was told to check out of the hotel by Koch’s security detail. Young environmental activists were slapped with $100,000 law suits for demonstrating and engaging in pranks. A Politico reporter describes being thrown out and threatened with “a night in the Riverside County jail.”

All this while hiring an army of lawyers, PR flacks, political consultants, and pollsters to protect their “empire.” Everywhere there were folks spinning. Even reporters, who had been paid by Koch, attended the conference to “report” on what they “learned.” Well, Lord knows they have the money.

My guess is that anonymity will not be the Koch brothers’ middle name any longer.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/Peter-Fenn/2011/02/02/tea-party-funding-koch-brothers-emerge-from-anonymity

The protest demonstration at Rancho Mirage actually got a little press in the MSM. The right must be slipping.

Just go to show you.

Nobody can hide forever.

Can you see the converging of Philosophies with Ron Paul?

I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half.
Jay Gould
US financier & railroad businessman (1836 - 1892)

Interesting how roughly 3 years ago... (Just before MR. Obama ran for President) the same accusation was pandered about the internet about them 'funding' the opposition to him... re the Republican party...

Now of course (since they are a funding source) they are being used to 'whip' up those that easily join the 'torch' procession...

While others use people like G. Sorros to 'whip' up the 'torch' bearers for the other side.

The truth lies somewhere inbetween... But the big 'smoke' and 'mirrors' from each side obscures that...

The only way our country arrived at where it is now is if both those sides were 'colluding' to grab a piece of the pie...

Cept the pie is now at the point where those that were 'colluding' now fight amoung themselves for the crumbs.

Biggest problem when the hyenas fight over the kill of the lions is that eventually they wake up the lion...

and become food themselves.

Denial is futile.

The truth is there.

Here's an interesting little article from 2001 about how the Koch brothers do business.

Yes!
There crimes go back years.
Interesting article. Thanks for the read.

The sads part isn't that people were fooled by the Tea Party/ Republican Rhetoric.

The sad part is how many can still believe it after seeing the truth.

Aye...

The truth is that the 'koch' empire is the stick used to incite those that do not follow the left...

and G. Sorros is the stick used to incite those that follow the right...

What would you classify as the 'carrot' for each of these sides?

I think it's a little more cogent than that. We want to know who benefits, especially financially, by the funding of one side or the other. It's that old "follow the money". That's one of the things that makes Citizens United a crime against democracy.

Why is it so hard for people to understand this?

They incorporate agendas as if there is a mass conspiracy and all are in lock step of thought! One man's agenda is different from the other! Ideals may ally on both sides but no one on either side is in complete lockstep unless your a moron! There are thousands of agendas on both sides of the aisle and the American citizen is at odds with most! So just cause you see a wealthy man standing beind a politician don't beleive they are in lockstep okay? Trust me they have their own personal agenda!

SAD!

No argument here. Still, we want to know who benefits by the success of one side or another.

Don't ya know?

Obama signed a Presidential order for restrictions on corporate lobbying because he wants lobbyist money.

The Dem's want HC reform because they are all on the Insurance lobbyist's payrolls.

They want the country to go green because they are all taking oil company donations.

Come on argue something even worth thought! Obama has his supporters just like they all do! Unions are probably the main source of cash but he has many! It's a matter of economics to run a successful campaign and i wouldn't say Obama agrees with everything his supporters think i would only know that he will give them consessions like Republicans will give consessions to their supporters. But Obama a Saint? Wake up and smell the coffee sir!

You've got to play the game to stay in it.
The effort shows where his heart is.
What was the Republican's effort.

I'll tell you.
They sued in the SC, saying the law was unconstitutional, and had all restrictions on lobbying lifted.
Even those that existed before the effort by Obama, and those that prohibited foreign corporations from lobbying.

The Republicans gave corporations around the world more influence in governing your country than you have.