Coming Soon to a Democratic Primary: Candidates Backed By Charles Koch

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The political arm of Charles Koch’s ambitious network is preparing to start playing in Democratic primaries for the Senate, House and local roles, according to a memo being sent Friday.

The decision is the result of a gradual shift away from aggressive and conservative politics inside the deep-pocketed donor network and one more toward comity and compromise.

Several major donors had bristled at the partisan image built around the Koch network and have been lobbying leaders to get behind candidates that promote progress on issues like immigration reform, regardless of their party. The groups will try to find candidates from either party that commit to pieces of the Koch agenda.

The passage of the Koch-backed First Step Act, a massive rewrite of the criminal justice code, sparked many donors’ imaginations on what other goals could be accomplished if they shed the partisanship and found allies from across the spectrum as they did on the crime bill.

-more-

https://time.com/5602691/charles-koch-democratic-primaries/?xid=tcoshare

[Tech]

1. They want to control the country

[Blue_true]

11. You come really close.

They want adherents to the things they care about. All they care about is whether those adherents can win office, they really don't give a crap about the party.

[AJT]

2. Funny, as there businesses depend on climate change deniers.

Of course the cheap labor they get out of immigrants is the only reason they will put money behind any dem.

[Blue_true]

12. They have expanded into a LOT more than oil and gas.

They want people to help them spread their tentacles, they don't care about the party those people come from.

[TheBlackAdder]

3. They were also the ones who started THIRD-WAY to dilute Democratic positions, moving CENTRIST.

[lapucelle]

9. The Koch brothers started Third Way?

[Blue_true]

13. I think that I remember that they were involved in it.

A tiny amount of what they want is somewhat forward looking. For example, they were among the first on the criminal justice reform effort. They really don't care about issues like abortion, people should be free to do what they please. And believe it or not, some of their companies are leaders in safe agriculture, forest management and watershed protection.

They are evil assholes that have some light within them, real head scratchers in some ways.

[TheBlackAdder]

32. They had a key role in its initial foundation, then left the org as it went to Ver. 2.0

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I don't agree with that

The third way came from a failed McCain and Leiberman Act to close the gun show loophole. At the state level it was very successful but failed in DC. The Third Way started in 2005 when Americans for Gun Safety was rolled into it.

I warned folks about this bullshit from the Koch brothers in the AfAm Group when they have a huge donation to the UNCF.

Regardless - we are probably on the same page regarding these insidious little maggots.

[TheBlackAdder]

33. The Kochs were one of the initial funders of this initiative. It was covered years ago, even here.

.

I'm sure there's search stuff that will back this up, but I have a lot of errands to do this morning.

.

[irisblue]

30. I don't remember that from Dark Money by Jane Mayer

Would you give me that source please? Thanks

[TheBlackAdder]

34. Here's a few. It will take a while to find the historical docs.

.

I've got a lot to do today, but here's a quickie, unverified.

https://www.thenation.com/article/gop-donors-and-k-street-fuel-third-ways-advice-democratic-party/

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2013/12/11/1261905/-Is-the-Third-Way-a-Bunch-of-Koch-Suckers

.

[irisblue]

36. Thx. I appreciate your doing this, politicial & historical research

Is catnip for me 😽💗

[gldstwmn]

4. Ugh. Can't see anything good coming from this.

[Blue_true]

15. They actually believe in some things that we want.

Criminal justice and sentencing reform and free access to abortion are two that come to mind.

My guess. They saw a few years back that the fundies were going to take over their party. They were slow to get started, but they are now trying to hedge their bets with a saner party that they likely see winning the societal debate long term.

[gldstwmn]

17. It's the things that we don't agree on that worry me.

When I think of how they messed up the state of Wisconsin with Walker as governor... I didn't realize that the Kochs weren't really religious. I thought they embraced the whole fundie, Neoncon type of politics.
With all of their money if they want something they're going to go ahead and buy it. So I guess we'll see how this all works out.

[Blue_true]

20. You hit it on the head. They want what they want and don't give a shit about anything else. nt

[DeminPennswoods]

28. Kochs are the old school "business" Republicans

They don't really care about the social issues as much as lower taxes, less regulation and oversight and other things that make life nice for rich business owners and companies.

[gldstwmn]

37. I was surprised to find out that they believe in evolution,

support criminal justice reform and are not Trump fans. Their beliefs are mainly Libertarian so I can see why some of our interests intersect but boy most of their positions suck.

[DeminPennswoods]

38. The David H Koch foundation

funds some of PBS' science programs.

[rurallib]

5. Wonder how we will be able to find out if Koch money is backing someone

The candidate will never say and all their donations hide the real source through a series of bogus PACs.

Fucking Citizens United.

[Blue_true]

16. How do you tell.

Look at all the proposals from a candidate and then read up on what the Kochs believe (plenty info out there on that). If there is a more than 30% match you should really check more into that democrat before you vote for him or her.

[rurallib]

27. Republicans never tell the truth about where they stand on issues

why would a Democrat who is taking Koch money tell the truth?
My guess is a Dem would lie about their positions just like a republican. Then when they start voting the Koch line, come up with more BS to cover it.

Good luck getting them out once they get in.

[Blue_true]

40. Unless that democrat change his or her name to run, they have left a footprint.

With the Internet, that footprint is impossible to hide, even by lying. If we don't check their history or spend time fighting eachother then they get elected because the Press is not going to do it's job.

[marble falls]

6. We'll see. Why would Koch buy a Democrat when they already own the Republican?

[Midnight Writer]

8. It is never enough for a Koch Brother. They have stated that in the past.

You would think an 80 year old with 50 billion dollars would spend his remaining days enjoying the good life, but these guys can't get past the thrill of screwing over working folk.

[Blue_true]

18. Why?

The Kochs want what they want. They are not social warriors. The fundies have taken over the Republican Party and it is likely clear to the Kochs that is not going back to simpler times. They really screwed up when President Obama getting elected caused them to embrace the fundies, the fundies got a leg up and don't care a lot about exactly what the Kochs want anymore.

So the Kochs are now the person that brought someone to the dance only to get dumped. They are now fishing around for someone else to go home with.

[Polybius]

21. Because they don't have Republicans at the moment

They hate Trump.

[DBoon]

7. Accepting Koch money should be a career ending move for any Democratic candidate

NT

[Blue_true]

19. Exactly. Unless they pay for 100% of what WE want. Don't see that happening. nt

[Blue_true]

10. This isn't new. The Kochs talked about this three years ago.

I think they realize that the Republican Party has become so extreme that society may reject that party, so the Kochs want to get some debt built up in the only alternative.

[GulfCoast66]

22. Bingo! The religious shit rubs them wrong.

The monied class though they could use the religious rubes to get them their economic dream. Now the are realizing the religious Nationalist have actually taken over he party.

They don’t know what to do.

[Blue_true]

23. Yeah.

The owner class has played footsies with the fundies since Goldwater. They knew the fundies were crazy but they thought they had the means to control them, as shown by Bush Sr' "crazies in the basement" description of the religious right. Except the super rich miscalculated, Reagan brought them into the house, Bush Senior kept them at arm's length, Bush Jr let them eat at the dinner table. The whole time the super rich played along, until the fundies started giving orders and getting their desires taken care of by politicians. Here in my part of Florida and maybe in yours, a business type republican simply can't beat the nut in a republican primary now.

[Buckeyeblue]

31. The monster cannot be controlled by its creator

I was telling my 16 year old daughter just the other day how once upon a time, Republicans were pro-choice and slightly left leaning on most social policies. They were conservative on economic policies, didn't care for unions and not really interested in helping the poor.

It's just interesting how much they have changed.

[Blue_true]

39. The Republican Party has created a monster in the form of the religious right.

Some of those people are actually fantasizing about a civil war that end with them battering everyone into their way. Really a group of people that have lost moorings to rationality.

[Buckeyeblue]

41. They have dangerous ideas

And Mitch McConnell and others seems willing to let those ideas play out if it keeps him in power make sure the rich have all the advantages.

[pecosbob]

24. I always felt their emphasis was on state and local politics for the most part

Governors, Secretaties of State...people that have their actual hands on the levers of state and county government and elections, state environmental and other regulatory agencies, etc.

[Crunchy Frog]

25. So what do we do when they've bought up large swaths of the Dem party?

Will we still be expected to unconditionally support anyone with a "D" after their name, even if they're a wholly owned Koch subsidiary?

[Nay]

29. That's what I want to know. I feel that there have been some iffy Democrats running in VA,

ones that came out of the woodwork and seem to be somewhat conservative with plenty of money. Former Dems who ran for the same position(s) couldn't get a dime from national Dems or anybody else. Whose money started gushing into these races all of a sudden?

[greymattermom]

26. When the Koch money starts to go to more Dems

they will change campaign finance laws.

[Generic Brad]

35. I long suspected they would be coming for us next

They have ridden the Republican brand into the ground. That, coupled with shifting demographics, means the Democratic party will eventually be the only game in town. Once their data convinces them of that, they will begin pouring money to specific Democrats and rot us from within.