Koch Brothers' Fingerprints Can Be Found All Over GOP Convention
Though the Kochs have indicated they are staying out of the presidential election and Charles Koch has even had kind words for the Clintons, their fingerprints are all over the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week in the form of candidates and the extreme RNC platform.
Koch Candidates Take Center Stage at Quicken Arena
The Kochs have had their doubts about Donald Trump, early on refusing to share their voter data base with him and spending their money down-ballot after it appeared he would win the nomination. As CMD has reported, the Kochs have been busy investing millions in a faux "grassroots" ground game in key states. They are hoping to rival labor's mastery in turning out committed volunteer door knockers, by paying an army of teenagers to hit the doors.
The Kochs are not the only people who have their doubts. A sharply divided GOP was on full display Thursday night on the floor of the Quicken Arena in Cleveland. The Texas delegation, relegated to the back of the room, was hooting and hollering for their man Ted Cruz, but the New York delegation turned their backs, and boos broke out across the arena when it became apparent that Cruz was not going to throw his support behind Trump.
Watching the drama from the wings, Trump came out onto the floor unexpectedly, throwing the Secret Service into a tizzy and stealing all the cameras from Cruz. When Cruz finally left the floor to find his wife, who herself was chased to the wings with cries of "Goldman Sachs!," no cameras were on him.
Knowing he would have challenges to unite the party, Trump picked a standard-bearer who he hoped would appeal to all: Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who Trump said "looks good," and that "to be honest," part of the reason for his selection was to unify the party.
Pence took to the stage last night to introduce himself as "a Christian, a Conservative, and a Republican, in that order," to a welcoming crowd. Delegates appeared to appreciate his amusing remarks and humble talk, which introduced his family and reprised his struggle for conservative causes.
But Pence failed to mention his biggest billionaire backers, David and Charles Koch and the institutions they bankroll.
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