Koch thinks Walker recall is all that’s standing between trade unions and Highlander status

If the unions win the recall, there will be no stopping union power.
Billionaire David Koch • Speaking about the Wisconsin recall efforts against Gov. Scott Walker. Koch made the comments during a recent speech after a benefit dinner, and were quickly backtracked by his spokeswoman, who clarified, “[Koch Industries thinks] the best workplace relationships are fostered when the employer works directly with its employees. It is a mischaracterization of our principles to say this means we oppose unions or want to dismantle all unions.” The Koch brothers find themselves under ever-increasing scrutiny for supporting political causes around the country, most notably the recall campaign of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. source

Posted by Scott Craft • 0 Comments • Permalink

It ain’t the real Koch: Ian Murphy, editor of the website “The Buffalo Beast,” successfully got Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on the phone by pretending to be David Koch, one of the two billionaire brothers that’s a driving financial force behind the current anti-spending, pro-business conservative movement. One highlight, as pointed out by Slate’s Dave Weigel: Walker seems to lay out a plan he’s hatched to push the vote forward, wherein he agrees to hear Democratic concerns if all fourteen fled Democrats return to the capitol, which he and his team believe would allow them to hold the vote even if the Democrats then recessed and left again. In explaining this plan, Walker states that he’s willing to talk, not negotiate, and if “Koch” hears that he’s talking to the Democrats that’s the only reason why. Getting pranked is bad enough, but revealing your political endgame in the midst of said prank, thus poisoning the well? Pure political calamity. source

Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

Who are the Koch brothers? In what has to be one of the best senses of timing ever, The New Yorker just put up a lengthy article about Charles and David Koch, multi-billionaires, the owners of Koch Industries, and two long-time libertarian leaners who back the Americans for Prosperity organization, which has been something of a root backer of the Modern Tea Party movement. And thanks to a just-filed IRS complaint regarding the ad series above, we’ll be hearing more about the Koch Brothers in the next couple of weeks.

longtime libertariansThe brothers have deep roots in the libertarian movement, and David Koch actually ran for vice-president 30 years ago. The brothers found the process wasteful, and decided to work behind the scenes instead. So they ended up underwriting the libertarian movement. Then the Tea Party came along.
Very hands-offUnlike other big financial backers of political leaders like George Soros, they go out of their way to be hands-off from what their money does, and instead let the money do the work. While they’re very active in the philanthropy community, their Americans for Prosperity work does not bear their signature.
Tax-exempt statusAmericans for Prosperity is in a bit of trouble right now because they’ve been running ads that are inherently political in possible violation of their tax-exempt status, which says their work has to be nonpartisan. The organization says that their work is protected by the first amendment. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

20 Feb 2012 14:34