Koch Brothers: More

[Scuba]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/us/politics/koch-brothers-plan-more-political-involvement-for-their-conservative-network.html?_r=0


Koch Brothers Plan More Political Involvement for Their Conservative Network

The November elections had been a major setback for the cause of liberty, Mr. Koch told the more than 200 guests, many of whom had pumped millions of dollars into the political operation founded by Mr. Koch and his brother David. But there would be no backing down, Mr. Koch said, according to some of those attending. They would learn from their mistakes, test new strategies in the coming months and prepare for the 2014 elections, with control of Congress once again at stake.

...

They have not yet decided whether to intervene in Republican primaries, people involved in the discussions say. But the brothers want their network to play a bigger role in cultivating and promoting Republican candidates who hew to their vision of conservatism, emphasizing smaller government and deregulation more than immigration and social issues. They are also seeking closer control over groups within their network, purging or downgrading those that did not deliver last year and expanding financing for those that performed well.

...

At least a half-dozen rising Republican stars were also in attendance. They included Dr. Ben Carson, a Baltimore neurosurgeon who has quickly developed a following among grass-roots conservatives, and several members of the Tea Party wing: Govs. Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina and John R. Kasich of Ohio, along with Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

...

“We’re looking into some of that cutting-edge technology,” said Evan Feinberg, a former aide to Mr. Paul who is now president of Generation Opportunity, a Koch-financed group focusing on young voters. “Obama for America did some really interesting things to connect to young people. We want to use some of those same ideas and try to learn from them.” Efforts are also under way to replicate the Democrats’ voter registration organizations, which Koch advisers believe have leapfrogged those of conservative and Republican groups. And much like other conservative groups, those in the Koch network are preparing new initiatives aimed at Hispanic voters, who they believe will be attracted to a small-government message unburdened by the hard-edged social conservatism that hamstrung Republican candidates in several critical races last year.

So the Kochs will try to buy a grass-roots organization? Well, they can afford one.

[kelliekat44]

1. Sometimes it not the "means" but the "message." Then sometimes it's the "motive."

"Young" does not mean "stupid." And more of a "bad" thing does not mean "good."

[Initech]

2. No it was a setback to increase their totalitarian, treasonous agenda.

[ladjf]

3. There has got to be some way to get those disingenuous men out of America's business. nt

[LeftInTX]

4. They've got to be guilty of some anti-trust laws

Combined they're the second richest people in the WORLD.
Separately, they're the 7th

Scary.

[LeftInTX]

5. Libre Initiative - The Koch's Hispanic outreach

Scrolled through Libre Initiative's site.

It is basically Heritage Foundation with a bit of sugar coated immigration reform:

As an organization that advances the principles and values of economic empowerment in the Hispanic community, LIBRE believes in a reform that is focused on providing immigrants that wish to work in the country a streamlined process to obtain employment visas (EV), but that also allows American employers to satisfy workforce demand.

The rest is straight out of Heritage Foundation.

[pampango]

6. Gov. Nikki R. Haley (SC), John R. Kasich (OH), along with Senators Ted Cruz (TX) and Rand Paul (KY)

The guest list for this was hardly surprising.

Found this interesting:

... the brothers want their network to play a bigger role in cultivating and promoting Republican candidates who hew to their vision of conservatism, emphasizing smaller government and deregulation more than immigration and social issues.

And much like other conservative groups, those in the Koch network are preparing new initiatives aimed at Hispanic voters, who they believe will be attracted to a small-government message unburdened by the hard-edged social conservatism that hamstrung Republican candidates in several critical races last year.

Sound like they want their wacko base to sit down, shut up and stop embarrassing and thwarting the efforts of corporate republicans' efforts to hamstring government and funnel more money to the already-rich.

Their problem, of course, is that it is "immigration and social issues" that motivate their base of libertarians and fundamentalists. How do the Koch brothers motivate the base, but simultaneously tell them to be quiet about the issues that matter to them? Good luck, boys!

[Scuba]

7. Thanks. The four paragraph limit was stifling.