Koch Brothers: Progressives ‘Engage In Character Assassination,’ Spend More Money On Liberal Politics

The Koch brothers are claiming that progressives are engaging in “character assassination” due to the large sums of money being spent helping out Republicans and Political Action Committees (PAC).

In a related report by The Inquisitr, the Koch Brothers are in the top 10 for Forbes’ 2014 richest people in the world, with both of them having $40 billion each. To give you an idea how much influence they hold, back during the 2012 election 78-year-old Charles Koch and the 73-year-old David Koch spent a combined $250 million. A recent US Supreme Court ruling concluded that to limit financial contributions is to limit free speech, so the Koch brothers will have yet another limitation be removed for their effect on American politics.

Recently, Senate majority leader Harry Reid claimed the Koch brothers are “trying to rig the political system to favor the rich and especially favor themselves.” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spokesman Justin Barasky also made similar comments:

“If the Kochs get their way, they will buy a U.S. Senate that wants to end Medicare as we know it and wants to dismantle Social Security. That’s a huge problem for the country.”

Of course, the Koch brothers have begun defending themselves to the public by pointing out that their company, Koch Industries, employs 60,000 Americans directly, and 143,000 other American jobs indirectly, on a revenue of $115 billion. They’ve also invested hundreds of millions into cancer research, museums, and the arts. Some of their supporters also point out that progressive groups also seek the help of the super-rich and George Soros supposedly outspends the Koch brothers on politics by a “factor of 20 to one” via PACs and hundreds of advocacy groups.

Recently, Charles Koch wrote an article for The Wall Street Journal that specifically defends he and David’s actions. Charles believes his spending is necessary because of the way the Federal government has grown:

“Unfortunately, the fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law and personal freedom are under attack by the nation’s own government…. The central belief and fatal conceit of the current administration is that you are incapable of running your own life, but those in power are capable of running it for you. This is the essence of big government and collectivism…. That’s why, if we want to restore a free society and create greater well-being and opportunity for all Americans, we have no choice but to fight for those principles.”

Charles claims these collectivists “promises heaven but deliver hell” and he uses Thomas Jefferson as support for his cause. He quotes Jefferson as being against big government: “The natural progress of things, is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” He also claims their oil businesses have won awards for their environmental efforts and he even says he opposes government subsidies for big business, which he calls “welfare for the rich and powerful.”

The Koch brothers also claim that progressives do not have a fact-based positive message so they’re forced to make personal attacks:

“Instead of encouraging free and open debate, collectivists strive to discredit and intimidate opponents. They engage in character assassination. (I should know, as the almost daily target of their attacks.) This is the approach that Arthur Schopenhauer described in the 19th century, that Saul Alinsky famously advocated in the 20th, and that so many despots have infamously practiced. Such tactics are the antithesis of what is required for a free society—and a telltale sign that the collectivists do not have good answers.”

Do you think the Koch brothers should be allowed to have such a large impact on American politics with their spending?