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Charles Koch, Liberal Crusader?
Politico ^ | March/April 2015 | Michael Hirsh

Posted on 03/05/2015 7:59:21 PM PST by nickcarraway

He’s one of the left’s biggest bogeymen. Now he’s teaming up with George Soros.

It was something of a surreal moment. Charles de Ganahl Koch, the nerdy multibillionaire from Wichita who has become known as the Rasputin of the American Right, was trying to explain to me why he was getting into bed—politically speaking—with people like George Soros, his progressive archrival in the big-money-and-politics set, and Cory Booker, the liberal black senator and former mayor of beleaguered (and very Democratic) Newark, New Jersey.

The vast apparatus of foundations, advocacy groups, corporations and think tanks that Koch oversees and supports—what his critics darkly call the “Kochtopus”—was busy this winter launching programs and initiatives aimed at reeling in the worst excesses of one of the few industries larger than his own: the criminal justice-industrial complex. Koch had decided to help pull together a new coalition of left-right advocacy groups in Washington, including the Hillary Clinton-aligned Center for American Progress, to fight what he calls the “overcriminalization of America.” He was underwriting a documentary screening at the Newseum about Weldon Angelos, a marijuana dealer serving a 55-year sentence that even Angelos’ judge called “unjust” and “cruel”—and helping to train attorneys to aid poor people across the country. In March, Koch’s general counsel, Mark Holden, plans to join with Van Jones, a former Obama administration official who took the liberal side on CNN’s since-canceled “Crossfire,” in mounting the #Cut50 Bipartisan Summit, which will explore strategies for reducing America’s incarcerated population by 50 percent over the next 10 years. (Jones’s old CNN adversary, Newt Gingrich, is also involved.)

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 03/05/2015 7:59:21 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

so is politico on full tilt deflate and divide the opposition?

1st the Boner thing now a Koch is a Lib...?

Not that I’m a Boner backer - but...


2 posted on 03/05/2015 8:15:06 PM PST by acw011 (Great Goooogly Mooogly!)
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To: acw011

Koch was never a conservative.


3 posted on 03/05/2015 8:17:12 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
[Article]
The vast apparatus of foundations, advocacy groups, corporations and think tanks that Koch oversees and supports—what his critics darkly call the “Kochtopus”—

Oh, please. "Kochtopus" indeed. How 'bout "Soropus"? It's manifold bigger than anything the Koch brothers put together.

But when I read this damply screeding article from PolRatico, suddenly I hear the voice of David Horowitz whispering in my ear..... " It all comes together at the top. "

Sort of like Poe's raven. Not exactly encouraging.

4 posted on 03/05/2015 8:19:30 PM PST by lentulusgracchus ("If America was a house, the Left would root for the termites." - Greg Gutfeld)
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To: nickcarraway

Koch has been a libertarian for a long time, and libertarians have been advocates of Easy Dope for a very long time. It’s Issue # 1 for them.


5 posted on 03/05/2015 8:19:45 PM PST by cookcounty (IRS = Internal Revenge Service.)
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To: acw011

Big money is not our friend. Most big money men are mostly big liberals. They use their money like heroin to control elected officials etc. There is a reason why Boehner and McConnel don’t listen to their most loyal voters its because they are too busy listen to their most biggest donors. I don’t have a particular hatred for Koch but I’m not surprised either. His support of the tea party was never about the cause nor conservatism. It was about his power and now that the Tea Party is not the rising star it once was he’s going to try another tack since he’s done co-opting the movement. He is well on his way to remaking his image into that of a happy lovable liberal whose friends with George Soros. How I wish that big money didn’t also so many men into monsters who believe in nothing.


6 posted on 03/05/2015 8:24:17 PM PST by Maelstorm (America wasn't founded with the battle cry of "Give me Liberty or cut me a government check!".)
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To: Maelstorm
It was about his power and now that the Tea Party is not the rising star it once was

Who's rising star? What do you mean by that? I attended a meeting last night in our community that included leaders of multiple "tea parties" There were about 20 leaders in attendance. Maybe our community is more active than others, but we are everywhere and we are not going away.

7 posted on 03/05/2015 8:48:46 PM PST by GILTN1stborn ( #rememberbenghazi #extortion17 #impeachobama)
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To: GILTN1stborn

Hey, keep it quite damnit! We are trying to stay under the radar you know! People like you keep trying to put us into the spotlight again - keep the liberal media out of it!


8 posted on 03/05/2015 9:09:12 PM PST by Deagle (gardless of)
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To: Deagle

No worries, The media will never pay attention to us unless there is a crime they think they can blame on us.


9 posted on 03/05/2015 9:12:13 PM PST by GILTN1stborn ( #rememberbenghazi #extortion17 #impeachobama)
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To: GILTN1stborn

Heh, so true!!! Was trying for a bit of humor but have decided that it is not worthwhile as too many believe what they will... We are doomed I think!


10 posted on 03/05/2015 9:17:32 PM PST by Deagle (gardless of)
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To: acw011
1st the Boner thing now a Koch is a Lib...?ertarian.
11 posted on 03/05/2015 11:34:35 PM PST by itsahoot (55 years a republican-Now Independent. Will write in Sarah Palin, no matter who runs. RIH-GOP)
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To: nickcarraway; cookcounty
Its an elitist versus populist thingy.

The GOP is a coalition between economic elitists and cultural populists while the dem party is a coalition between cultural elitist and economic populists.

Koch is a economic elitist and Soros is a cultural elitist.

Sarah Palin is a cultural populist and Elizabeth Warren is a economic populist

12 posted on 03/06/2015 6:35:23 AM PST by Ben Ficklin
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