Brothers David, left, and Charles
Koch have quietly launched a rebranding effort that may vanquish the
"Koch brothers" moniker from American politics.
(Associated Press)
The conservative Koch brothers are no more — even if they remain a political powerhouse.
The Democrats' super villains for much of the last
decade have quietly launched a rebranding effort that may vanquish the
"Koch brothers" moniker from American politics. The catalyst came
earlier in the year when ailing billionaire conservative David Koch
stepped away from the family business, leaving older brother Charles as
the undisputed leader of the Kochs' web of expanding political and
policy organizations.
There were already few, if any, clearly identifiable
links between the Kochs and their most active spinoff organizations such
as Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Partners or the LIBRE Initiative.
But in the days after the younger billionaire's retreat, company
officials quickly began pushing journalists across the country to change
references from "Koch brothers" in their coverage to "Koch network" or
one of their less-recognizable entities.
Asked about the shift on Saturday, Koch's chief
lieutenants explained that 82-year-old Charles Koch was always far more
involved with their political efforts than his ailing brother. The elder
Koch addressed the shift directly as he welcomed hundreds of donors to
an invitation-only summit at a luxury resort in the Rocky Mountains.
"I am not getting weak in the knees. ... Truly I am
not," Charles Koch said with a smile. He added: "We're just getting
started."
"I am not getting weak in the knees. ... Truly I am not. We're just getting started."
- Charles Koch
Regardless of its name, the conservative network
remains one of the nation's most influential political forces, a
conservative powerhouse simultaneously playing the long- and short-game
in a way that ensures it will remain a dominant force long after
President Donald Trump is gone. And in sharp contrast to the Republican
president who is eager to put his name on his accomplishments, the Kochs
are happy to do it in the dark.
While much of the network operates out of sight, the
Charles Koch Foundation announced Saturday that it would begin publicly
posting all multiyear grant agreements with universities. Last year, the
foundation gave $90 million for projects on 300 campuses.
The Charles Koch Foundation announced Saturday that it
would begin publicly posting all multiyear grant agreements with
universities. Last year, the foundation gave $90 million for projects on
300 campuses.
An estimated 500 Koch donors — each having committed at
least $100,000 annually — gathered for the weekend "seminar" that
featured a handful of elected officials and high-profile influencers. As
is customary for the bi-annual meetings, guests were required to give
up their cell phones during some presentations. And while The Associated
Press joined a handful of media organizations allowed to witness some
activities, photos and videos were strictly prohibited.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Tennessee Rep. Marsha
Blackburn, both Republican Senate candidates, led the list of elected
officials on hand. Senate Republican whip John Cornyn of Texas, South
Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin were also on the
guest list.
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., was among the guests on hand Saturday at a Koch brothers seminar.
The money behind the Kochs' push to transform
education, philanthropy, immigration, health care, tax laws, courts,
government regulation, prisons and the economy has long been cloaked in
secrecy.
Koch officials have vowed to spend between $300 million
and $400 million to shape the 2018 midterm elections. But there's no
way to verify how or where the money is spent because most of its
organizations are registered as nonprofit groups, which aren't required
to detail their donors like traditional political action committees.
Koch officials have vowed to spend between $300 million
and $400 million to shape the 2018 midterm elections. But there's no
way to verify how or where the money is spent.
While they have long been closely aligned with the
Republican Party's far-right flank, they oppose the Trump
administration's policies on spending, trade and immigration.
On Saturday, network leaders seized on Trump's push to
apply billions of dollars in tariffs on America's top trading partners.
The burgeoning trade war has sparked an outcry from business leaders
across the nation, and in a new video Charles Koch lashes out at what he
calls the "destructive" rise of "protectionism."
Koch official Brian Hooks warned that, on trade and
immigration, "the divisiveness of this White House is causing long-term
damage."
Democrats who invested extraordinary time and resources
into attacking the Koch brothers in recent years concede that, in the
era of Trump at least, the billionaire industrialists are no longer the
left's No. 1 enemy.
Democrats who invested extraordinary time and resources
into attacking the Koch brothers in recent years concede that, in the
era of Trump at least, the billionaire industrialists are no longer the
left's No. 1 enemy.
Adam Jentleson, who previously worked for former Senate
Democratic leader Harry Reid, said Koch's quiet rebranding effort
represents "a small victory."
"Sen. Reid was always very clear that drawing the Koch
brothers out of the shadows was a big part of his strategy," Jentleson
said. "He thought people deserved to know who was behind the dark money.
This seems like a recognition that they're uncomfortable being out
front and are scurrying to get back in the shadows."
