By Robert Greenwald and Jesse Lava
Do all roads lead to Koch?
Conservative activists will rally at the Supreme Court tomorrow to encourage the overturn of the Affordable Care Act. The “Hands Off My Health Care” protest—which will feature the likes of Rep. Michelle Bachmann and Sens. Jim DeMint and Rand Paul—is being organized by Americans for Prosperity, a right-wing group financed by industrialists Charles and David Koch. The billionaire brothers provided the seed money to get this organization off the ground and have donated at least $5 million overall (possibly a lot more) to its operations. David Koch still serves as the group’s chairman.
These facts belie the image that Americans for Prosperity would like to present as a humble grassroots organization. The stories we see today about regular Americans coming to D.C. to protest evil health reform are directly attributable to the corporate interests that the Koch brothers represent.
Yet the Kochs’ impact on the current court battle doesn’t end there. Group after group participating in the lawsuit to destroy the Affordable Care Act is a beneficiary of the Koch brothers’ largess—reflecting the outsized influence that these guys wield in our political debate. Indeed, one wonders whether this effort would be happening at all if not for these two billionaires with a direct interest in avoiding government regulation.
One of the most important groups in this case is the National Federation of Independent Business, which is bringing one of the lawsuits now before the Supreme Court. This group has received $88,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, which is controlled by none other than Charles Koch.
Several organizations that have filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court have received substantial donations from the Koch family as well. These groups include:
- Competitive Enterprise Institute: $666,420
- Pacific Research Institute: $270,000
- Texas Public Policy Foundation: $74,500
- Freedom Works: $5 million
- Cato Institute: approximately $30 million.
- Family Research Council: brief co-authored by attorney Nelson Lund, a professor at George Mason University, which has received $29,604,354.
- Galen Institute: “partner organization” of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation; extent of donations unknown.
- Landmark Legal Foundation: $5000
In addition, a Court-appointed attorney used a study by the Rand Corporation to show the impact of the individual mandate in the health care bill—even though Rand has received $100,000 from none other than the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.
Given this set of facts, the sheer reach of the Koch brothers in the movement to overturn health care reform is staggering. They have seeded and cultivated the very network of organizations that’s now threatening to undo the most significant progressive reform in a generation. As shown in Brave New Foundation’s new film, Koch Brothers Exposed, Charles and David Koch are, in effect, holding up the conservative sky.
So this week as we watch the rallies and press conferences and legal wrangling—not to mention the media pundits lavishing attention to the hubbub—let’s remember that this spectacle is not the result of some organic, grassroots outpouring of opposition to the idea that all Americans should have health insurance. It’s rooted in concentrated wealth belonging to men aiming to bend our democracy to their will.
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Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments
Not that I can do anything since I'm not ready to wield a pitchfork quite yet.
My patients (mentally ill, all ages, in a nursing home) cannot survive without funding from the government. The funding stops and they will be homeless. They haven't worked (most of them) a real job in ages and have no ability to organize themselves to do so. That is not me infantilizing them either, it's just plain facts. The funding drops, they live on the street. Their family is already tapped out, that's why they live in a home.
What is the Koch brother's plan for my patients? Wait...let me guess...
Single-payer. That's the only answer. How fucking craven of you to come out against your boogeyman. Grow a spine. Obama failed all of us. Single payer. He didn't even try.
Nice plug for your film, Robert, and I am certain that the virtue you imply to men such as George Soros by not mentioning them is well earned. Your criticism is damned by its own bias.
Money is speech. There is little doubt about that these days; and no side in any debate as divisive as Obamacare is breaking the law with its advocacy or its expenditures. In fact, Robert, this is all a lungful of the free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Now, I suspect your small corner of the world fears that it is not as well endowed with funds as you might wish it should be. Don’t worry. The last time I checked you guys were well represented. Therefore, you aren’t going to lose Obamacare simply because you couldn’t match Charles and David dollar-for-dollar.
Go find another excuse.
Our rage is best directed at the strong enemy who is actually attacking rather than the weak friend who is failing to defend.
Sotheby's. Very daunting. You bring essential points to light that we must deal with, sooner more than later. It is very hard for me accept that we are letting these interests buy whatever they desire.
Please bring this to a wider audience: you have the ability to piece that could go viral and reach the people that need to know these matters. What lies in the balance could well determine how we live. Thanks for you well appreciated post. I hope that you build on this.
Of course, it's the same old strategy of not addressing what you present here squarely; rather, to point out that "They do it, too!" Which, of course "they" don't.
"Single-payer. That's the only answer. How fucking craven of you to come out against your boogeyman. Grow a spine. Obama failed all of us. Single payer. He didn't even try."
I agree S.P is the way to go, but Christ, get real, man! What chance did S.P. have in the political climate of putting Obamacare together? What he DID get done was friggin' historic.
Give credit where's it's due.
When I hear people should be free to purchase the healthcare they want, it makes me wonder are they even living in the United States. It is not the level of care people are worried about, it is the cost which for anyone other than the rich requires healthcare insurance. And if you can't afford healthcare insurance you are out of luck.
I am for a national healthcare plan for two reasons. One the healthcare industry has been build and paid for by the tax payer already in the forms of grants, tax exemptions, and out right funding. The only difference is it has made a few very rich at the expense of millions who have no access to the system their taxes paid for. The second reason is a national healthcare plan will cost the American people less in GNP, while providing better and healthier citizens and lower pain an suffering. It is not socialism to pool together as citizens to fund programs that are for the common good. That is why we have public roads, highways, schools, universities, utilities and the list goes on and on. Why shouldn't a system that is consuming 6% of our GNP be considered something for the common good. Of course the losers will be the few that have been reaping billions from tax payers. I think that is a far trade.
If you want healthcare reform, Remove all tax exempt status for healthcare. Remove all medicare and other SS healthcare benefits, and stop subsidizing non profit hospitals and you will have national healthcare in about 60 days. Because when people have to actually pay the real cost of healthcare they will realize just how out of reach it is 90% of the people who have someone else paying for them now.
Voluntary, individual charitable contributions are HEART. My telling you to contribute your money is PLUNDER.
My point was that if the majority had to pay, either for the insurance or the tax on the non-taxed benefit they would wake up to the reality the few who pay for their own insurance or have to pay their own medical bills all ready know. Healthcare cost and insurance are totally out of control. I find it hard to believe something that consumes 6% of our GNP is hurting for money and has the balls to cry poverty. Fact is the tax payer and citizens through charitable donations built the healthcare infrastructure in this country.
I agree TG we should cut the middle man out and consider the need for healthcare as important for the public good as roads and bridges. In the long run it would save the country trillions, provide coverage for everyone, reduce the burden on business which would allow them to expand and create jobs. Instead of given a very few billions and billions of dollars in profits while millions die or live substandard lives because of inadequate healthcare the tax payer should be getting their monies worth.
IOW, we live in a Corporate Run Police State.
Note to "Spirit Man": Joseph Campbell was quoting Julius Caesar, who famously asked of any signal event "Cui bono?" -- "Who profits?"
Certainly, the teachings of Jesus warn against the evil of excessive wealth. To wit: "It is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle."
Republican Teddy Roosevelt, himself quite wealthy, understand that wealth without conscience was evil, and thus he turned to trust-busting. Republican Dwight Eisenhower warned against the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of the Military-Industrial Complex.
But, alas, the greed is good philosophy of the Aynally Retentive won the battle for hearts and minds of the American voter -- not that it was much of a battle, given American's belief in the fairy-tale of rugged individualism. The Founders knew better, that's why they stated the purpose of government was to "provide for the common defense" AND "promote the general welfare".
Instead, government has become a tool to provide for the defense industry and promote the general welfare of banksters, oilmen, corporatists, hedge fund operators, and trust-fund twits like the Koch Bros and that pathetic worm Grover Norquist.