Wichita — Charles Koch, the billionaire industrialist who has funneled millions of dollars into conservative causes and candidates, says he and his brother have been getting death threats and hate messages in recent months.
The comments from the head of Koch Industries, one of the nation’s largest privately held companies, came in a rare interview Thursday on the eve of a three-day protest dubbed “Occupy Koch Town,” which is expected to draw hundreds of activists upset with the billionaire brothers’ influence on politics and government policies on climate and the environment.
“We are under attack from various directions, both with threats of violence against us personally, and with threats of attacks on our businesses,” Koch told The Wichita Eagle on Thursday.
Among some of the emails released was one saying, “The Koch brothers will DIE!!!!!” ‘‘Choose your expiration Date, Brothers ...” another said. “I hope you all DIE,” one said last year.
Wichita Police Lt. Doug Nolte said Friday that the last reports the department had on file from Koch were in 2010 involving a complaint about someone putting signs on his property and a 2009 arrest for trespassing at his house.
Koch Industries general counsel Mark Holden told The Associated Press that the death threats were reported to the FBI because they crossed state lines. One involved a telephone call last year from California in which the caller threatened to put a bullet in the heads of both Koch brothers. Others involved online postings advocating the Kochs’ murder.
An FBI spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment.
Koch said he has merely exercised his free speech rights in taking political positions and supporting causes.
“I have been involved in trying to advance freedom and prosperity for 50 years now, and because we are considered by some to be more effective, we are often the focus of these attacks,” he said. “But I have decided there is no way, after spending two-thirds of my life speaking out about these matters, that I’m going to quit doing it now.”
Wichita-based Koch Industries decided to go public with the emails on the day before hundreds of activists were expected to gather in Wichita for three days of “Occupy Koch Town” events.
Yvonne Cather, conservation chairman for the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the groups organizing the event, said the Koch people are overreacting to the planned activities.
“The Sierra Club prides itself on high integrity, so violence is not the way we want to get our point across,” she said.
Comments
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FarneyMac (Pádraig O'Connell) says…
Aw, poor downtrodden guys. They really just can't catch a break. :(
cait48 (anonymous) says…
They set up the conditions for class warfare. i guess they have to deal with the consequences.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) replies…
Seriously? So death threats are OK if the politics of the person differ from yours?
Were you blowing off the death threats against the Dems when they passed healthcare reforms?
JustNoticed (anonymous) replies…
He didn't say it was ok. Noting that there are consequences to what the Kochs do is not approval of those consequences.
WilburNether (anonymous) replies…
That is one of the most asinine posts in history.
tuschkahouma (anonymous) says…
awww, the Koch Brothers can't under report Osage tribal oil production and
Dole won't defend them.....poor manipulative billionaires....awwwww,,,,,,
TinmanKC (anonymous) says…
Interesting that in the KC Star article, Koch compared himself to Martin Luther, who took on the corrupt connection between the Catholic Church and the governments of that time. The Catholic church sold indulgences and made their religion one of simple personal morality while blessing the corrupt kings of their era. I personally think Martin Luther would be more inclined to the Occupy movement than the Tea Party movement.
cait48 (anonymous) replies…
Really? The same man that said this?
“If a woman grows weary and at last dies from childbearing, it matters not. Let her only die from bearing; she is there to do it."
scarletbhound (anonymous) replies…
TimanKC is showing a sad lack of historical knowledge. Luther allied himself with the German princes who wanted to grab land and political power from the Roman Church. He also urged the princes to repress the "Peasants Revolt" -- the Occupy movement of the early 16th century. Whatever else he was, Luther was clearly part of the 1 percent of his time. Thus, Koch's comparing himself to Luther is not that inaccurate. I suggest that Tinman study a little history -- there are lots of good books on Luther and the Reformation -- before he further embarrasss himself.
cait48 (anonymous) replies…
Well said! (And thank you!) History is my hobby but I haven't studied the Reformation nearly as much as I have other areas. Even so, there were things Martin Luther said that kept tweaking at me and what the OP said just didn't sound...right.
autie (anonymous) says…
Some billionaire dudes are buying Kansas and ruining the iives of thousands of people to indulge their own little fantasy world....and somebody sends a couple of nasty grams and they are freaked because of ???? excuse me. David, Charles, hey...one Kansan to another....kiss my middle class behind....you probably spilled more at lunch than most Kansans have for a month...so just shut the hell up.
deec (anonymous) replies…
PACs funded by the Koch's
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/looku...
Funds spent on desecrating the environment:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/Global/...
Kochs abusing nonprofit laws:
http://www.alternet.org/election2012/...
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…
Rum and Koch-a-Kola!
friendlyjhawk (anonymous) says…
Wouldn't be surprised if they were sending these "threats" to themselves in an attempt at public sympathy.
JJE007 (anonymous) replies…
Those are some lame threats, though.
---"The Koch brothers will DIE!"---
...um...DUH...just a friendly reminder to appreciate life while you destroy it!
---"Choose your expiration Date, Brothers..."---
...just letting them know that they should get on a dating site and find a friend to bring to the "expiration" party they're hosting...as parasites...which is a weird party if you think about it... Why host a parasite party with an "expiration" theme? It's against the natural order of things!
----"I hope you all DIE," one said last year.---
really? Dudes. Everybody got this in the mail. It's an advertisement for The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA)! Jeez... pantywaists....
ENGWOOD (anonymous) says…
And most of you liberal losers wouldn't have a job and couldn't stand on your own two feet without risk takers like the Koch brothers. Liberal Socialist Whiners piss and moan unless someone else is buying...............
Alyosha (anonymous) replies…
Wrong. Ever hear of Apple Inc.? The man who made it the most successful corporation on the planet was what you'd call a "liberal loser."
And calling the Kochs "risk takers" is a laugh. Corporate welfare queens, you mean.
FalseHopeNoChange (anonymous) replies…
You mean the Liberal "risk taker" who uses slave labor in China to enrich his company?
"However, the workers assembling iPhones, iPads and other devices often labor in harsh conditions, according to employees inside those plants, worker advocates and documents published by companies themselves. Problems are as varied as onerous work environments and serious — sometimes deadly — safety problems."
(from a source)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/bus...
cait48 (anonymous) replies…
And you think the Kochs are *better*? I suggest you take a look at some of the links deec provided above.
Number_1_Grandma (anonymous) replies…
+1000
Corporate welfare, getting rich the truly old fashion way....stealing it!
tange (anonymous) replies…
Yeah, "risk takers."
Every work day is a Vegas weekend.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
How did Koch gain his money? You try pumping oil out of some farmers 500 gal. tank, delivering it to a refinery, paying the poor farmer, and build an empire out of this.
Called risk and hard hard hard work.
Same with Ronnie Deffenbaugh RIP another company you libbies love to tear apart. Ronnie and his dad began the business hauling trash with a beaten up pickup truck.
Both companies are Kansan born and bred.
Maybe Deffenbaugh and Koch should just move lock stock and barrel out of our state and see what the result is. Including all the good they do for the poor. Betcha Texas would love to have um.
tange (anonymous) replies…
Wow, $20+ billion for that?
And are they oil-spattered, at the end of the workday?
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
hahahahah now, and most of the folks making money from scratch aren't either. Me thinks it's called free market. You work to not become oil spattered.
With hopes your kids and other generations have it better.
Is that green emotion coming out?
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
hahahahah now, and most of the folks making money from scratch aren't either. Me thinks it's called free market. You work to not become oil spattered.
With hopes your kids and other generations have it better.
Is that green emotion coming out?
tange (anonymous) replies…
Am I leaking?
Probably just anti-freeze.
coloradoan (anonymous) replies…
The only risks those two took was being born to the right parents; they inherited their wealth - they did not earn it.
progressive_thinker (anonymous) replies…
That's the fantasy that the right wing has been trying to get the public to believe for decades. "You have what you have because of some beneficent rich dude."
Dream on...........
Oldsoul (anonymous) says…
Proof-positive freedom of speech is not so free: you have to buy it. It's for sale, like everything else in the good, old U. S. of A ! Only if you have the bucks to shield yourself from the self-interested Powers that Be should you dare to open your pie hole to express your convictions. Anyone who takes it for granted their constitutional rights are a given is beyond foolish in this day and age ( especially in backwoods places like KS).
Crazy_Larry (anonymous) says…
"Men whose spirit has grown arrogant from the great favor of fortune have this most serious fault – those whom they have injured they also hate."
FalseHopeNoChange (anonymous) says…
"Hate" is a symptom of DRD4 Genies. They can't help it.
deec (anonymous) replies…
"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative."
John Stuart Mill
kernal (anonymous) replies…
And were was that in the study?
kernal (anonymous) replies…
Question addressed to FHNC
FalseHopeNoChange (anonymous) replies…
It's implied by the Liberal colleges Harvard and UCSD.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Since they are politically active, I'm not surprised they have received hate mail. I wouldn't want to look at their mail any more than I would want to read the stuff sent by haters to the White House. As this site reminds us daily, many find it impossible to disagree with someone on a political issue without trying to spew their hatred of others' points of view.
When threats are made, however, that is when it is crossing a major line and it really is sad that people feel compelled to do such things. Sure, most are likely hollow threats, but how can you be sure? Threats need to be taken seriously and I am all in favor of sending those who make such threats to prison. This is America, after all, and that means who wants to can get their hands on a gun. They aren't just used for self-protection, after all.
We aren't completely there yet, but in other countries where you have a few people who are extremely rich and a massive population of the terribly poor with few in the middle, the rich will need to protect themselves by hiring lots of security personnel, and they will need to build high walls lined with barbed wire to surround their homes. Question is, are they keeping others out, or are they locking themselves in?
tuschkahouma (anonymous) says…
I don't call thieves risk takers. I love this....you conservatives come up with nonsense
terms constantly. Risk taker......really......what happened to common sense instead
of risk taking. Can you conservatives make up your minds? when Mr. Obama
decides to do something that has potential risks your term flippers say he
doesn't practice caution and is unfit to lead the country yet when your citizens
united manipulators ast risky it's a good thing.....not prejudicial....not at all.
Risk taking is looking the other way while looting the Osage people of oil
royalties which is what the Koch Brothers did in the 1980's. They manipulated
Bob Dole so much he defended them in spite of their guilty actions with Osage
oil royalties back then. I give Koch semi trucks the finger every time I see them
driving in Lawrence.
downriverdan (anonymous) says…
~The billionaire head of Koch Industries told The Wichita Eagle Thursday that the messages are coming from various directions.~
Hey dude the Wichita Eagle isn't the District Attorney. Try giving the DA the information and let him do his job...
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
read the article
tange (anonymous) says…
"... emailed threats... coming from various directions."
Hmm... must have GPSmail.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
How many days of the year does anybody think the Koch brothers actually spend in Kansas? My money says less than 30.
pace (anonymous) says…
I don't approve or condone death or injury threats.
I would condone threats and actions that would put panic and hysteria in the boys. Tax their wealth, cut their loop holes. Make their political and propaganda machines open and transparent. They are not job creators, they are ruthless and lying pieces of oil covered dung. They manipulate media, education and government to better their position of wealth and power. They are an active danger not only to the community, to the nation, to democracy but to populations and human rights on a global level. Their behavior is likely to be corrupt and corrupting to our government.
citizen1 (anonymous) says…
Hey, all you folks condemning the Koch brothers, how about Sofia, Buffet, Moore & the Unions to just name a few.
Wow, such intolerance!
So much hate for people who do not support your point of view.
Where does this herd mentality, spewing so much hate & intolerance come from?
citizen1 (anonymous) says…
Soros not Sofia...sorry.
kochmoney (anonymous) says…
Aw, pity the poor billionaires. All they're trying to do is buy our government. Why would people get upset about that?
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Why would a billionaire x ? want to own the government? The Sky is Falling!
kochmoney (anonymous) replies…
I'm sure you're making a valiant effort at using English, but it just isn't working out for you today.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
Regardless what the Kochs do, threatening emails are no-class, childish, and illegal. The senders should be tracked down and prosecuted.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Who will the Mope turn the howling mob on next? Stay tuned. It could be you.
question4u (anonymous) says…
"An FBI spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment."
Wouldn't it have been more responsible to wait to print this story until there was some confirmation of the claims? Koch's comment about his attempts to "advance freedom" is so absurd that it's hard to give him the benefit of the doubt about such an obviously strategic move as this.
No doubt the proof that such emails were sent will be forthcoming about the same time as Mike O'Neal's proof that union members harassed a female legislator last year. It's easy to accuse unknown people of unverifiable actions, by why is it so easy for those unsubstantiated claims to get coverage in the news?
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…
Ironic, or is it hypocritical, those downplaying or blowing off the death threats were most likely the same ones getting outraged when the Dems were receiving death threats for backing healthcare reform in 2010.
We all should be outraged that anyone is receiving any kind of threat to their life, regardless of their politics.
I hope they track down these idiots making the threats and they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We don't govern this nation on intimidation. This is a nation of laws, not knee jerk reactions.
FalseHopeNoChange (anonymous) replies…
I wonder why it's always the conservatives threatend with death?
Conservative should pack "heat" like Medimatters Brock does. Conservatives probably would pack if Liberals like Brock were not so against guns.
pace (anonymous) replies…
So you don't think enough liberals have been killed? You are out of your mind. Plenty of death threats and actual killings on both sides. To call for more on onde side or the other side is mental illness. There are no shortage of guns in this country. Plenty of conservative are packing heat. You are out of your mind to imply not enough liberals have been threatened or killed. Too many lie dead and injured for you to make that claim without being charged with just false words. Liar. Too many have been killed out of hate rather than conference.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) replies…
"We don't govern this nation on intimidation."
The death threats (assuming they really happened) certainly should be condemned and investigated, but the Koch brothers are at the head of a very well-financed campaign of intimidation against working people, especially those who belong to unions.
tange (anonymous) replies…
That said, my leg just twitched a bit.
fred_mertz (anonymous) replies…
Gotta agree with you on this one.
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…
These two (Charles and David) need to do something beneficial rather than scalp the rest of the country; maybe someone might not want their scalps. $25 and $23 billion respectfully ain't enough for these Kansas fat cats. Maybe join older brother Frederick happily enjoying his wealth, collecting art and benefitiing society, or maybe taking up with brother William (Billy) sailing in the Jayhawk in America's Cup. David has already followed his former partner's path, marrying a child bride like Howard Marshall II did when he married Anna Nicole Smith.
fred_mertz (anonymous) replies…
blindrabbit - care to venture who has donated more money to charities - you or the Kochs? Who has employeed more American workers - you or the Kochs?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) replies…
I bet even Hitler occasionally kissed babies. What's your point?
fred_mertz (anonymous) replies…
I thought the point was self-evident, but obviously not so let me help you understand my point.
blindrabbit said the Koch's need to do something beneficial. I think contributing millions to charities and employing 10 of thousands is doing something beneficial. I additionally pointed out that I believe, albeit without any proof, that what the Kochs have done in terms of charity far exceeds what blindrabbit has done.
Comprende ahora?
gl0ck0wn3r (anonymous) replies…
Godwin ftw.
pace (anonymous) replies…
American workers do jobs, paid for their work. They deserve to be respected, To give Koch or other industry kings special entitlement over the workforce , to let them wield power over the home life of the workers, eduction of their children, give their votes to Koch's is regression. You argue because the Koch's hire people to do jobs this should give them power greater than employer is wrong headed. They aren't giving jobs out of charity and it isn't charity to offer a person work. To treat labor as charity cases, deserving no voice at the table or to unjustly depress those voices is despicable.
kochmoney (anonymous) replies…
Oooh, this is a fun game. Who has fired more workers, him or the Kochs?
pace (anonymous) replies…
Bush.
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…
Mea culpa my last: "Respectively" and certaintly not "Respectfully".
blindrabbit (anonymous) says…
Phoenixman, you a VMI grad! One of the military brainwashed schools: Virginia Military Institute, The Citidel, West Point, Texas A&M and a few other right-winged, religiously based schools of the good olde SouthernTradition. Too institutionalized to be progressive thinkers.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Numbskulls can be found on all sides of politics.
My guess is that the Kochs receive all sorts of threats all of the time, just as most high-profile controversial figures do.
I suppose threats make the threatener feel powerful and in control for the moment, but they are really pathetic.
The Kochs invoking the threats now is sort of like blaming your child's mental retardation on a vaccine that he just received.
JackMcKee (anonymous) says…
The Koch brothers have inflicted far more evil and harm on the rest of the world than 100 times the jobs or billions of dollars could compensate. A thief and a liar that does a good deed is still a thief and a liar.
Based on the other lies these two have perpetrated over their lives, I have no doubt that they could have made this whole story up. Much like Sam's "bomber" and phone caller stories. These are evil people.
lunacydetector (anonymous) says…
george soros the billionaire has one of his non-profits start the occupy movement....so his occupy movement is going to protest another billionaire.....i love how the left tries to censor
deec (anonymous) replies…
If by start you mean published one poster online on their site, yeah.
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon...
wissmo (anonymous) says…
LJW......funneled millions of dollars into conservative causes...............really, and no mention of all the millions, actually billions donated for humanitarian causes huh? Google Koch Hospital for just one instance.
Tell you what libby brothers and sisters, when you get the hate going, you can really bring it.
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
If you want to see the Koch propaganda machine in full swing take a gander at the climate change debate. These two operate a Machiavellian propaganda machine that seeks to not only squelch the truth but to utterly obliterate it. All in the name of a more dollars of wealth. These are some of the worst people to walk the earth in 500 years.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Hey by the way how many of you libs ever stated the high elevation glaciers were melting? New reliable study states nien to this, and in fact states some are growing.
No Global Warming compadres. Libs cry wolf, and just look at all the money wasted, jobs lost, people actually being treated for mental illnesses related to worry about our mommy Earth.
All done by libby Scientists wishing the U.S. become a 3rd world nation.
Just think how many contraceptives could have been purchased with the money wasted. We could hand them out like penny candy. Oh wait, we are going to do this anyway.
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
wissimo, the "reliable studies" you mention are merely cherry picked data. If you look at the entire dataset, and don't cherry pick, the result is the exact opposite of your conclusion.
hujiko (anonymous) replies…
Good try, Jack. Unfortunately it's impossible to reach people so detached from reality.
Wissmo - Glaciers aren't the sole indicators of climate change, we're talking about global systems not just one single process.
"All done by libby Scientists wishing the U.S. become a 3rd world nation."
I'd love to see a source for that one, but alas there is none. Your ignorance is really shining today, keep it up friend.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
no hujiko, not the only, but one of my favorites to chuckle at.
No not the only, I also like how they measured temps. Forgetting some monitoring stations were on concrete runways next to hot jets, or the fact they never mentioned the Great Lakes water levels actually dropping, oh no hujiko, there are many ways to monitor.
Face it, there are some who simply are jealous of our American Society. They forgot some freaks take it seriously and actually became depressed over showering due to wasting water. BTW.......same amount of water on earth now as 200 years ago.
The Global Warming Uncle Al Gore crowd just gave them a real stage for a few years. Now even your Greenie leadership are running away. BTW........where is Uncle Al now? Love to see another smooch with Tipper. How is that man of morals doing? Al make out OK hocking Global Warming? Where's that movie he made? Teachers still showing that one?
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/eart...
Actually hujiko, if I was leader of a 3rd World nation, the Global Cooling Heating scam would be very inviting. Just think tons of money for nothing.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Seeing the economy continuing to improve and the complete lack of interest in the four Republican candidates is really starting to wear on the zombie corps of the reappearededededed. They are throwing everything they can at the fan right now. Oh, how I look forward to their wasting another four years of their lives being really, really angry because Obama is going to easily win re-election.
Remember, when in the circle, reach to your right. Never go left.
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
they think they are going to defeat Obama via his birth certificate. What a pathetic bunch.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Are you forgetting Congress beatrice? If memory serves the economy began to turn when a Rep. Congress began telling Obama no.
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
Examples?
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
You mean like when the Republicans obstructionism almost caused the US to default on its debt obligations, which would have been an unmitigated disaster for the world economy? They supposedly dug in their heels because they didn't want tax increases. Then they turn around a few months and refuse to extend the payroll tax cut, because they are now for tax increases. The buffoon Republicans in the U.S. House are only slightly less buffoonish than the Republicans in the Kansas House.
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
Look at how well the Republican's supposedly desirable plan of austerity is working in Europe. America is doing well despite the GOP, not because of them.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Jack how do you feel about 5 buck gas, especially for those living outside the bubble of Lawrence. Driving 30 miles to school or to watch a kid play ball is going to be hard.
beatrice (anonymous) replies…
But wissmo, didn't gas only go up so high recently -- since we have had a Republican Congress not willing to pass Obama's legislation?
See, it is so easy to play that game.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
I have actually never heard Obama once mention any hardships on the family for example high gas prices.
Slick talking he always talks as though local problems are always national, and has some harebrained idea to fix it.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Love him or hate him at least Bush came out and did things to lower the price of fuel. Cut the fuel tax, open up reserves.
This high gas price is going to fuel a giant slow down of everything the little person pays for.
pace (anonymous) replies…
Well said, valid points.
Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…
Ya'll need to quit picking on the Koch boys, They be just simple billionaries who got their money from Pappy who got it from the commies. Once he had their money, he decided he didn't like the commies any more. Can you spell "John Birch Society" boys and girls? The brothers have the best interest of all Kansans at heart. Just wait awhile and you will see how it works.
costello (anonymous) says…
"Among some of the emails released was one saying, 'The Koch brothers will DIE!!!!!' ‘Choose your expiration Date, Brothers ...' another said. 'I hope you all DIE,' one said last year."
Is this the worst they got? Only one of the three is actually a threat - and not much of one at that.
"Wichita Police Lt. Doug Nolte said Friday that the last reports the department had on file from Koch were in 2010 involving a complaint about someone putting signs on his property and a 2009 arrest for trespassing at his house."
So, why were these "threats" not reported to the police?
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
not much different than the "threats" on evilsam's life. It's also no surprise these stories popped up at the same people are gathering to protest their intended policies.
kochmoney (anonymous) replies…
I bet Soros and Buffet get worse.
wissmo (anonymous) says…
Socialists are a very violent group, history will not be kind.
JackMcKee (anonymous) replies…
seriously ? the political violence I recall over the last 20 years has all been from the Right.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Jack, take a look at some Eastern European history. BTW......after the Fall of the Soviet there were several nations formed. Oh heck, libbies only hear what they wish. hahhahah
So here you go Jack......
By 2011 Boston Harbor will have risen 6 feet, the shore line of the Pacific Ocean will have moved inland 4 miles. Blistering heat will have dried up Nebraska and Iowa. The Alaskan Glaciers will have disappeared, Oh wait, make that 2022 now.
takeastand (anonymous) says…
Does anybody believe that: awe shucks, I drive a Buick and I wanna pay more taxes, bull crap of Warren Buffett?
http://reason.com/archives/2012/02/09...
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
I really do not either. Reminds me of the old story about Walton driving an old Ford Truck, which he did. On the other hand he had many many cool vehicles in many many other homes.
BornAgainAmerican (anonymous) says…
Where is the outrage for George Soros? Although the following analysis is dated, it offers a comparison of Koch Bros and Soros and states the following:
verdict: Given the difficultly in tracking donations to nonprofits and charitable organizations, it's almost impossible to quantify whether the Koch brothers or Soros dominate this political realm. That said, both the Kochs and Soros have spent incredible riches in this area with no sign of stopping.
Capital Rivals: Koch Brothers vs. George Soros
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/...
"The Man Who Broke the Bank of England" because of his US$1 billion in investment profits during the 1992 Black Wednesday UK currency crisis. wishes to influence policies in the United States for his own personal gain. Just as he played a significant role in the peaceful transition from communism to capitalism in Hungary (1984–89) for personal gain, he is now attempting to transition the United States from capitalism to European style Socialism. It is not for political idealism that he supplies enormous amounts of money to the Dem cause in the United States. It is for personal gain. He has vowed to lower the profile of US exceptionalism. Soros is the villain here.
beatrice (anonymous) replies…
You asked a question and then answered it in your last sentence. Apparently, you and your ilk carry the rage for Soros.
BornAgainAmerican (anonymous) replies…
Apparently you libs like Soros money even if it means enriching one who would destroy American capitalism for his own personal gain. Your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
fred_mertz (anonymous) says…
All Americans want a country that fits their model of an ideal country. That image is seen as beneficial to them and some try to change the country for the "better" AKA the model that they feel is most beneficial to them.
So, whether Soros or Koch, they are just doing what other Americans are doing and should be doing. We should all be working to better America and if a person puts their money where their mouth is they are not evil. Perhaps their image doesn't fit yours, maybe their image is wrong, but they are doing what they think is best for the country and of course themselves, but that is not evil.
Obama is trying to shape the country, is he evil? Of course not. Maybe you believe his policies will harm America but he isn't evil.
Is MoveOn.com evil for trying to shape the country? How about the NAACP? They are trying to change the country for the advancement of colored people - is that evil? Again, no so why is Koch evil for doing what they should do; trying to affect politics and the direction of the country for its betterment (which as I stated is subjective)?
wissmo (anonymous) says…
I always love when libbies talk of the wealthy. Obama and Billy Bob Clinton were poor before taking office. Not anymore folks. What is wealth to them, have they stopped growing money? Try taking one dollar away from Hillary her response will remind you of a pitbull guarding his meal.
Michelle Obama? Oh, she likes money. At this time others money, but like the Clintons they will try and try to be as rich as they can soon.
This country was founded on folks like the Koch's, not public office people oddly becoming millionaires while in office. They haven't stopped since LBJ a poor man from Texas became one of the wealthiest men in the state. Seemed like he knew how to purchase the licenses for new T.V. and radio stations like a magician. Luck I guess.
The love of course is the pure jealousy of somebody like the Koch's who made it big. Geez, do you know how much money they have given back? Should they have stopped making money and gone broke?
Jimo (anonymous) says…
The idea that protestors in Wichita wants the Koch Bros. dead is absurd. People just insist they pay their taxes, cease their unethical business dealings, and stop drowning out the voices of their fellow citizens.
Would you really want to compare the quantity (or quality) of death threat for the Kochs with the likes of George Soros or Frances Fox Piven? Does anyone want to review the mail they get at the White House? George Tiller?
"Wichita Police Lt. Doug Nolte said Friday that the last reports the department had on file from Koch were in 2010 involving a complaint about someone putting signs on his property and a 2009 arrest for trespassing at his house."
So, in reality, there have **never** been any serious threats whatsoever that the Boys considered serious enough to report .... until just now. Sounds more like the Kochs are changing their name to Breitbart.
fred_mertz (anonymous) replies…
I have an open mind so in addition to doing my own research I'm interested in hearing from someone who has a different viewpoint. I've not heard that the Kochs have not paid their taxes as you stated. Any links that I can read for myself?
Same with the unethical business dealings - links, plus who gets to define unethical? Unethical is subjective and even if it is unethical doesn't mean its illegal. Links, supporting data?
And finally, there are lots of dissenting voices as evidenced by the protests so whose voice have they drowned out? Name one person they have stopped from voicing their opinion - just one (verifiable of course).
I'm not pro-Koch, but I don't like to see anyone attacked for exercising their Constitutional rights and unfounded accusations made to justify the attacks. We have so many legitimate issues to deal with, but they get lost with the ad hominen attacks. Focus on true issues - advance your position not by tearing the opponent but by showing how your position is superior.
deec (anonymous) replies…
Would theft meet your definition?
"Two days before Christmas 1999, the jury delivered the verdict: Koch Industries had made 24,587 false claims in buying oil, underpaying the U.S. government for royalties on Native American land from 1985 to 1989. Koch paid the U.S. $25 million to settle the case in 2001.
From 1999 through 2003, Koch Industries was assessed more than $400 million in fines, penalties and judgments. In December 1999, a civil jury found that Koch Industries had taken oil it didn’t pay for from federal land by mismeasuring the amount of crude it was extracting. Koch paid a $25 million settlement to the U.S."
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/10...
cato_the_elder (anonymous) replies…
The above comment was brought to you by Soros-loving Jimo who has previously said on this forum, "The only feudalism we have in America is the concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of a few."
BornAgainAmerican (anonymous) replies…
More tripe from Jimmy, the internet's leading source of misinformation.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Jimo, I doubt the Koch's rely on Norm, Cindy, and Bobby the local beat cops for protection. Money does buy some cool things, including security which doesn't get there 20 minutes after somebody is shot.
In plain English, the FBI and Koch security would tell you a different story. I will add, stay safe and thanks for all you do Koch family.
Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…
"So, whether Soros or Koch, they are just doing what other Americans are doing and should be doing. We should all be working to better America and if a person puts their money where their mouth is they are not evil" === Excellent point, Fred. Money is the milk of politics; always has been. We are entering a new time with the recent Supreme Court decision on funding, but everyone has a chance. The big boys may have more money but there are lots more of the 'little people' if they want to toss their widow's mite into the pot. It all evens out in the end. Everyone take a deep breath, actually study the issues, make up their mind and then go vote!
Orwell (anonymous) says…
Why should anyone believe these ate actual messages rather than fabrications from the Koch noise machine? if you're willing to invest so much in liars who seek public office it's hard to see why you wouldn't dissemble directly in order to increase your return.
cg22165 (anonymous) says…
I have no reason to doubt the Koch brothers have received threats from the lunatic left just as climate scientists have received threats of death, rape, and harm to their children from the radical right.
What I find interesting is that the Koch brothers chose to publicize these threats right before a gathering of the Sierra Club, which is basically a political adversary.
EmJones (anonymous) says…
Nice try to negatively frame those who dare to complain about the Kochs' meddling in politics.
It doesn't change the fact that they are bad for America and bad for our democracy.
wissmo (anonymous) replies…
Why Em?
cato_the_elder (anonymous) replies…
Our country was not founded as a democracy. America is (at least at present, i.e. assuming Obama is defeated in 2012) a democratic republic.
There's a big difference.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Who will be the next target of the current regime's howling mob?