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a kennedy

(29,647 posts)
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 06:11 PM Apr 2015

Charles Koch: We may back several GOP candidates in primaries

Charles Koch said he is considering throwing his political might into the Republican presidential primary for the first time and is likely to provide financial help to several contenders before settling on a single candidate.

Koch, his brother David and their team have identified five candidates who have the right message and "a good chance of getting elected," he told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview at Koch Industries' headquarters. They are Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida.

"Those are the ones we have talked to the most and who seem to be the possible leaders," he said.

"What we've told them all is that right now, we're not supporting anyone," Koch said. "We're telling them that if they want our support, one way to get it is articulating a good message to help Americans get a better understanding and a better appreciation of how certain policies … will benefit them and will benefit all America."

The Kochs run Koch Industries, a multibillion-dollar privately held conglomerate with interests in the energy industry, as well as building supplies and other products. They have been active donors to Republican candidates, which has led to numerous attacks from Democratic politicians, such as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and their supporters.

For the first time, Charles Koch also outlined what share of his network's staggering $900 million, two-year budget would be devoted to politics. He said only a third of that amount — roughly $300 million — would be spent directly on electoral politics in 2016, including federal and state elections. He said there's no breakdown of exactly how the political portion of the budget will be divided.

The $300 million would rival the almost $400 million the Republican National Committee raised and spent in the 2012 election cycle.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/21/charles-koch-on-gop-supports-candidates/26142001/

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Charles Koch: We may back several GOP candidates in primaries (Original Post) a kennedy Apr 2015 OP
Well this just says it all about the brothers don't it......my arse a kennedy Apr 2015 #1
Spend lavishly, boys Warpy Apr 2015 #2
And why not? gratuitous Apr 2015 #3
I remember a time when voters decided who upaloopa Apr 2015 #4
"We own the world. You are our property. There's nothing you can do. Mwahahaha" FiveGoodMen Apr 2015 #5
I know.....and it makes me sick...... a kennedy Apr 2015 #6
They might as well declare themselves as dictators and get it over with. Initech Apr 2015 #7
''You know, make it look like democracy.'' Octafish Apr 2015 #8

a kennedy

(29,647 posts)
1. Well this just says it all about the brothers don't it......my arse
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 06:13 PM
Apr 2015

Koch said. "We're telling them that if they want our support, one way to get it is articulating a good message to help Americans get a better understanding and a better appreciation of how certain policies … will benefit them and will benefit all America." benefit the top, top percenters. Ugh.....

Warpy

(111,245 posts)
2. Spend lavishly, boys
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 06:14 PM
Apr 2015

especially during the primary season.

The law of diminishing returns is going to kick in pretty soon.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
3. And why not?
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 06:18 PM
Apr 2015

There's no effective limit on how much they can spend bribing the candidates (thanks again, Justice Kennedy, you fucking twit), and they've got far more money than they know what to do with as it is, so what if they lavish several millions on this lunatic or that nitwit?

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)
4. I remember a time when voters decided who
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 06:27 PM
Apr 2015

was the candidate.
Today we look to see who the big money backs then resign ourselves to not having the power to effect the outcomes of elections anymore.
We may have the demographics but the right has the money.

Initech

(100,063 posts)
7. They might as well declare themselves as dictators and get it over with.
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 07:08 PM
Apr 2015

It's the waiting I can't stand.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
8. ''You know, make it look like democracy.''
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 08:24 PM
Apr 2015

"We can afford the high production values. Besides, it takes millions to make billions."

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