Back When The Koch Brothers Gave To Democrats

[mudwhistle]

By BYRON TAU | 3/19/14 12:15 AM EDT

The Koch brothers are the Democrats’ public enemy No. 1. But there was a time not too long ago that billionaires Charles and David Koch were modest Democratic Party donors.

Though the Kochs have poured untold millions into conservative and libertarian causes over the years, the political action committee for their privately held Koch Industries also has given money through the years to Democratic causes and candidates — including Mark Pryor, Mary Landrieu and Chuck Schumer — as part of the influence-peddling game that many corporations and wealthy donors play.

Those donations from Koch Industries Inc. Political Action Committee, or KochPAC, include nearly $200,000 to Democratic candidates and committees as recently as 2010 — including a $30,000 donation to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.



Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Democrats have made vilifying the Kochs part of a deliberate political strategy to rile up the party’s base and drive the party’s small-dollar fundraising efforts. Last week, Reid blasted the two brothers in a blistering Senate floor speech, accusing them of trying to hijack the political process with their donations and of meddling in the country’s foreign policy to protect their own interests.

But Reid’s fellow Democrats collected KochPAC money as recently as 2012.

Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas took $10,000 from KochPAC in 2012. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has taken $55,000 in Koch money since the 2000 cycle. Former Senate Democrats Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln and Ben Nelson took Koch cash in 2010. And Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York got $1,000 in the same year.


Since 2000, KochPAC has given more than $1.4 million to Democratic candidates, leadership PACs and party committees, according to numbers compiled by Congressional Quarterly’s Moneyline.

The DSCC even asked the Kochs to donate in 2011 — inviting them to a private donor retreat on South Carolina’s Kiawah Island in exchange for a five-figure contribution. The Kochs released audio of DSCC’s then-Chairwoman Patty Murray soliciting funds from them. The DSCC later called the request a “staff error.”

Democrats note that the cash the Kochs have given to the party pales in comparison to the massive sums of money their network of nonprofits and outside groups has spent against Democratic interests and Democratic candidates. The PAC is a relatively small share of the Koch’s overall political giving — with millions being spent through nonprofit organizations like Americans for Prosperity and the Center to Protect Patient Rights.

Read more: Back when the Kochs gave to Democrats ? - Byron Tau - POLITICO.com
​

 

[mudwhistle]

Crickets......

Figures.


Liberals only comment when the MSM gives them the talking points.

 

[LeftofLeft]

Democrats are consistent when it comes to this: Taking Monet regardless of the source.

 

[RandomVariable]

There is a lot more in this article than you allude to.

Between 1998 and 2002, the company gave about a quarter of its PAC donations to Democrats, according to CQ. By 2012, KochPAC gave just 2 percent of its campaign cash to Democrats. In the 2014 cycle so far, it has made only three small donations totaling $12,000 to Blue Dog Democratic House candidates. It has spent nothing on Democratic Senate candidates in 2013 or 2014.

A spokesman for Koch Industries said donations are based not on the party of the candidate but on the business and policy interests of the company.

Read more: Back when the Kochs gave to Democrats ? - Byron Tau - POLITICO.com

 

[Mr. H.]

Democrats are consistent when it comes to this: Taking Monet regardless of the source.

You think they'd be more careful. Art forgery is quite common these days.

 

[mudwhistle]

There is a lot more in this article than you allude to.

Between 1998 and 2002, the company gave about a quarter of its PAC donations to Democrats, according to CQ. By 2012, KochPAC gave just 2 percent of its campaign cash to Democrats. In the 2014 cycle so far, it has made only three small donations totaling $12,000 to Blue Dog Democratic House candidates. It has spent nothing on Democratic Senate candidates in 2013 or 2014.

A spokesman for Koch Industries said donations are based not on the party of the candidate but on the business and policy interests of the company.

Read more: Back when the Kochs gave to Democrats ? - Byron Tau - POLITICO.com

They gave to Democrats. It doesn't matter if the left doesn't approve of how much.

It's pretty damned clear they don't like to share.

 

[Moonglow]

and unions used to support repubs,,,so what?

 

[hangover]

Back When The Koch Brothers Gave To Democrats

Just goes to show, liberals can't be bought. But cons will sell their souls....cheap.

 

[Howey]

Crickets......

Figures.


Liberals only comment when the MSM gives them the talking points.

I just get tired responding to stupid. In case you didn't know, there are some democrats in red states and some who support Republican causes beneficial to their district. That the Koch's gave 1% of their political contributions to them doesn't phase me.

 

[Kosh]

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014 | OpenSecrets

59 - Koch Industries

Number 59 on this list as the unions dominate the top 25.

Here are the top PAC's for 2014 so far.

Top PACs | OpenSecrets

Again showing the far left is disconnected from reality.

 

[ClosedCaption]

By BYRON TAU | 3/19/14 12:15 AM EDT

The Koch brothers are the Democrats’ public enemy No. 1. But there was a time not too long ago that billionaires Charles and David Koch were modest Democratic Party donors.

​

....and that means shit. So what?​

 

[ClosedCaption]

This thread is an example of how Republicans can take an issue that Dems find important. (Koch Bros) Dismiss their criticism as "hating" (So what the Kochs give money GOOD!), then post threads supposedly showing how Dems doing the same thing but this time its bad (Dems got Koch money Ohhhhhhh) while the whole time being ok with all of it and not critisising anything or anyone.

Once you corner them they give the same ol bullshit reasoning for the duplicity.

"Uhhh I was just showing that the Dems are hypocrits but I totally support it so I dont really have a gripe with it"

 

[Howey]

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014 | OpenSecrets


Again showing the far left is disconnected from reality.

I'm afraid you're the one disconnected from reality. From your link:

It's also important to note that we aren't including donations to politically active dark money groups, like Americans for Prosperity, a group linked to the Koch brothers

 

[Kosh]

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014 | OpenSecrets


Again showing the far left is disconnected from reality.

I'm afraid you're the one disconnected from reality. From your link:

It's also important to note that we aren't including donations to politically active dark money groups, like Americans for Prosperity, a group linked to the Koch brothers

Actually that is false and a lie and continues to prove that the far left is disconnected from reality.

Here is what it actually says:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014

This list includes the organizations that have historically qualified as "heavy hitters" — groups that lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. Individuals and organizations have been able to make extremely large donations to outside spending groups in the last few years. While contributions to outside groups like super PACs do not factor into an organization's designation as a "heavy hitter" (a listing of about 150 groups), those numbers are included for the roster below.

For example, this list does not include casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. He and his wife Miriam donated nearly $93 million in 2012 alone to conservative super PACs — enough to put him at No. 2 on this list. Similarly, the list excludes former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has donated more than $19 million in the past two years, largely to groups that support gun control. Neither Adelson nor Bloomberg — or the organizations they report as their employers — qualifies as a "heavy hitter" under our current definition. It's also important to note that we aren't including donations to politically active dark money groups, like Americans for Prosperity, a group linked to the Koch brothers, or the liberal group Patriot Majority — because these groups hide their donors; see a list of top donors that we've been able to identify to such groups. We are working to revise this list to take into account the new realities of campaign finance created by the Citizens United decision, but as it currently stands, there are significant omissions.

It is also worth noting that certain organizations, such as ActBlue [A known far left organization] and Club for Growth, are included although they function for the most part as pass-through entities: individual donors give to them with the contributions earmarked for specific candidates.

 

[Howey]

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014 | OpenSecrets


Again showing the far left is disconnected from reality.

I'm afraid you're the one disconnected from reality. From your link:

Actually that is false and a lie and continues to prove that the far left is disconnected from reality.

Here is what it actually says:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014

This list includes the organizations that have historically qualified as "heavy hitters" — groups that lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. Individuals and organizations have been able to make extremely large donations to outside spending groups in the last few years. While contributions to outside groups like super PACs do not factor into an organization's designation as a "heavy hitter" (a listing of about 150 groups), those numbers are included for the roster below.

For example, this list does not include casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. He and his wife Miriam donated nearly $93 million in 2012 alone to conservative super PACs — enough to put him at No. 2 on this list. Similarly, the list excludes former New Y*ork City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has donated more than $19 million in the past two years, largely to groups that support gun control. Neither Adelson nor Bloomberg — or the organizations they report as their employers — qualifies as a "heavy hitter" under our current definition. It's also important to note that we aren't including donations to politically active dark money groups, like Americans for Prosperity, a group linked to the Koch brothers, or the liberal group Patriot Majority — because these groups hide their donors; see a list of top donors that we've been able to identify to such groups. We are working to revise this list to take into account the new realities of campaign finance created by the Citizens United decision, but as it currently stands, there are significant omissions.

It is also worth noting that certain organizations, such as ActBlue [A known far left organization] and Club for Growth, are included although they function for the most part as pass-through entities: individual donors give to them with the contributions earmarked for specific candidates.

Why is it a lie? That came from your source. They did not include AFP.

 

[ClosedCaption]

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014 | OpenSecrets


Again showing the far left is disconnected from reality.

I'm afraid you're the one disconnected from reality. From your link:

Actually that is false and a lie and continues to prove that the far left is disconnected from reality.

Here is what it actually says:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014

This list includes the organizations that have historically qualified as "heavy hitters" — groups that lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. Individuals and organizations have been able to make extremely large donations to outside spending groups in the last few years. While contributions to outside groups like super PACs do not factor into an organization's designation as a "heavy hitter" (a listing of about 150 groups), those numbers are included for the roster below.

For example, this list does not include casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. He and his wife Miriam donated nearly $93 million in 2012 alone to conservative super PACs — enough to put him at No. 2 on this list. Similarly, the list excludes former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has donated more than $19 million in the past two years, largely to groups that support gun control. Neither Adelson nor Bloomberg — or the organizations they report as their employers — qualifies as a "heavy hitter" under our current definition. It's also important to note that we aren't including donations to politically active dark money groups, like Americans for Prosperity, a group linked to the Koch brothers, or the liberal group Patriot Majority — because these groups hide their donors; see a list of top donors that we've been able to identify to such groups. We are working to revise this list to take into account the new realities of campaign finance created by the Citizens United decision, but as it currently stands, there are significant omissions.

It is also worth noting that certain organizations, such as ActBlue [A known far left organization] and Club for Growth, are included although they function for the most part as pass-through entities: individual donors give to them with the contributions earmarked for specific candidates.

It says exactly what you said was a lie in your link and in your own post

 

[mudwhistle]

More proof that the far left is not connected to reality:

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014 | OpenSecrets


Again showing the far left is disconnected from reality.

I'm afraid you're the one disconnected from reality. From your link:

It's also important to note that we aren't including donations to politically active dark money groups, like Americans for Prosperity, a group linked to the Koch brothers

Dark money groups is a misnomer.

To liberals any money they can't get their filthy hands on is deemed Dark Money.....

They simply cannot tolerate any opposition. Anyone who points out their corruption is either a terrorist, a racist, or criminals.

 

[chikenwing]

Back When The Koch Brothers Gave To Democrats

Just goes to show, liberals can't be bought. But cons will sell their souls....cheap.

Guess you missed the part about Dems still asking for money.

 

[Howey]

Dark money groups is a misnomer.

Nah...looks like it's definition is spot on...


Dark money

Dark money is a term that refers to funds used to pay for an election campaign that are not disclosed to voters prior to voting. Funds can be spent on behalf of a candidate running in an election, or to influence voting on a ballot question.