Koch Industries To Run Image Ad Urging Voters To Fix The ‘Rigged’ Economy

FILE- In this May 22, 2012, file photo, Charles Koch speaks in his office at Koch Industries in Wichita, Kan. An unlikely pair of allies, the Charles Koch Institute named for the wealthy conservative founder of the W... FILE- In this May 22, 2012, file photo, Charles Koch speaks in his office at Koch Industries in Wichita, Kan. An unlikely pair of allies, the Charles Koch Institute named for the wealthy conservative founder of the Washington-based think tank, and the American Civil Liberties Union, want more states to restrict civil asset forfeiture, a practice critics say represents an overused law enforcement tactic that can violate citizens’ property rights. (Bo Rader/The Wichita Eagle via AP, File) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; MAGS OUT; LOCAL RADIO OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Billionaire conservative donor Charles Koch told the Associated Press that he will not be spending big in the presidential election. Instead his privately held industrial conglomerate Koch Industries plans to spend money on TV ads calling for voters to unite and fix the “rigged” economy together.

The ads will be part of a branding campaign by Koch Industries, according to the AP, even as they echo the populist tone of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

“We’re trying to encourage people to think about how do I succeed by helping others improve their lives” even if it involves doing things that “may not win me votes or get me a lot of money,” Koch told the AP.

Koch Industries is the second largest privately held company in the United States, according to Forbes. It is owned principally by brothers Charles and David Koch, billionaires who have donated generously to conservative and libertarian causes.

The AP reported that Koch is calling the campaign “End the Divide,” a campaign to reduce poverty. The Kochs have said they don’t plan to engage much in the presidential race, but instead will talk about issues and donate in down ballot races.

“Both the primaries and the general seems it’s more, ‘You’re the enemy, you’re evil, or you’re stupid,’ or whatever ad hominem attacks on each other,” Koch told the AP, “rather than trying to find common ground so different opposing views can learn from each other and we can find better solutions.”

Latest Livewire
112
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Thus we see the “Iron Fist in the Velvet Glove” that is the Koch Political Machine.
    They know they cannot openly support a candidate as toxic as Trump, so they will work “around the edges” and try to subtlety influence voters to NOT VOTE for either candidate by stoking the “The System is Rigged!” meme (knowing full well that yes, it is rigged, in the Koch Bros. favor!) That way their toxic candidate has a better chance to win.

  2. Irony – RIP 6-9-2016

  3. Avatar for bkmn bkmn says:

    The guys who have worked so hard to keep every penny that flows through their companies now want people to think they care about the little guy or gal. Precious.

  4. “We’re trying to encourage people to think about how do I succeed by helping others improve their lives” even if it involves doing things that “may not win me votes or get me a lot of money,” Koch told the AP.

    Human sh*tstains.

    Don’t be fooled guys: this is the same mentality that gets management at Wal-Mart to set up baskets, at Xmas time, in the employees lounge urging them to give to less fortunate fellow employees. They have no intention whatsoever of giving their employees a decent, livable wage, they think that other people should give them some handouts and feel good about themselves.

  5. Avatar for pine pine says:

    " Ad Urging Voters To Fix The ‘Rigged’ Economy"

    Oh I got it,shiny mirror trick,don’t worry about the “Rigged Legislative Process and Officials” that you help put in around the nation.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

106 more replies

Participants

Avatar for jcs Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for bluestatedon Avatar for losamigos Avatar for zoester Avatar for sandyh Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for borisjimbo Avatar for alulu4youyou Avatar for midnight_rambler Avatar for ottnott Avatar for exspectator Avatar for stiggy Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for pine Avatar for cincypix Avatar for emilianoelmexicano Avatar for tena Avatar for spencersmom Avatar for canyoncountry Avatar for erratum Avatar for coimmigrant Avatar for yail_bloor

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: