Harry Reid attacks private Americans on Senate floor

[Fishpart]

Koch brothers aren't even in the top 10 donors. They just happen to be one of the largest conservative donors. Everyone ahead of them donates to progressives. Looks like more smoke screen..
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[PaulS]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

Koch brothers aren't even in the top 10 donors. They just happen to be one of the largest conservative donors. Everyone ahead of them donates to progressives. Looks like more smoke screen..
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Can you post a list of the top 10? I'm wondering how anyone would come up with that list since the Koch brothers for example are able to "hide" the amount of their donations?

[scottw]

Originally Posted by PaulS

Can you post a list of the top 10?

you could take a couple of seconds to Google "Top Political Donors" and pick which source you choose to believe, of course, who knows who is hiding what...

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by scottw

you could take a couple of seconds to Google "Top Political Donors" and pick which source you choose to believe, of course, who knows who is hiding what...

of course I could. But I don't think I would find any list that was accurate given the Koch brothers are able to hide their donations. Fishpart made the statement that they aren't even in the top 10 (and some statement about "smoke screens") so I'm assuming somehow he has was able to find a list.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by PaulS

of course I could. But I don't think I would find any list that was accurate given the Koch brothers are able to hide their donations. Fishpart made the statement that they aren't even in the top 10 (and some statement about "smoke screens") so I'm assuming somehow he has was able to find a list.

Paul, let's say that the Koch brothers are the top donors in the country. Can we agree on two things?

(1) as far as I know, no one is suggesting that their contributions broke any laws.

(2) They are donating money to either advance a cause that they are sympathetic to, or they are trying to buy some influence. This makes them no different than just about everyone else who donates money.

If we agree on those 2 things, why does a United States senator, have any business attacking them, on the floor of the US Senate? Is it the stated business of the Obama administration, to officially wage war on those who disagree with them?

I would expect all Democrats to oppose the Koch brothers. That doesn't mean public officials have any right to use public resources to attack them.

How is that not fascist?

[buckman]

Originally Posted by PaulS

of course I could. But I don't think I would find any list that was accurate given the Koch brothers are able to hide their donations. Fishpart made the statement that they aren't even in the top 10 (and some statement about "smoke screens") so I'm assuming somehow he has was able to find a list.

I would bet the IRS has been keeping a close eye on them, wink wink
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[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

Koch brothers aren't even in the top 10 donors. They just happen to be one of the largest conservative donors. Everyone ahead of them donates to progressives. Looks like more smoke screen..
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Interesting - whodathunkit

[spence]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

Koch brothers aren't even in the top 10 donors. They just happen to be one of the largest conservative donors. Everyone ahead of them donates to progressives. Looks like more smoke screen..
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That's entirely the point, the majority of their influence is completely underground.

They don't just donate to Republicans, the Koch brothers objective is to eliminate progressivism. There's nothing like this within Liberal circles. Yes, Soros donates a lot of money but it's transparent.

I think they've tried hard to keep a very low profile for decades but the visibility of the Tea Party has pulled their actions to the surface.

-spence

[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

That's entirely the point, the majority of their influence is completely underground.

They don't just donate to Republicans, the Koch brothers objective is to eliminate progressivism. There's nothing like this within Liberal circles. Yes, Soros donates a lot of money but it's transparent.

I think they've tried hard to keep a very low profile for decades but the visibility of the Tea Party has pulled their actions to the surface.

-spence

Don't you just cringe when you use the word " transparent" ? Meaningless word in your circles.
" their actions". .... So evil when put that way
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[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

.

They don't just donate to Republicans, the Koch brothers objective is to eliminate progressivism. .

-spence

Let's say that's true...why does that deserve any attention on the floor of the US Senate? Spence, why is it the official business of the United States Senate, that the Koch brothers want to end progressivism? Is it a crime for a private citizen to advocate for the elimination of progressivism?

If Reid wants to bash the Koch brothers during a campaign speech or fundraiser, I have no problem with that. He has zero business doing that while serving in his official capacity. The Unites States Government has no business taking the stance that the Koch brothers are any sort of malignant presence.

I guess I missed the proclamation that liberal politicians are now officially maintaining an enemies list?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

There's nothing like this within Liberal circles. .

-spence

Right, right. The prime-time hosts at MSNBC wouldn't love to bring about the death of conservatism. They have the same mirror-image goal as the Koch brotherts(death of conservatism), they just happen to suck at it.