The Koch Brothers Million(s) Dollar effort to Halt Progress

(9AM EST – promoted by Nightprowlkitty)

Americans for Prosperity has worked closely with the Tea Party since the movement’s inception. In the weeks before the first Tax Day protests, in April, 2009, Americans for Prosperity hosted a Web site offering supporters “Tea Party Talking Points”.

Talking Points: Taxpayer Tea Party   [the Bullet point version, pdf]

Americans for Prosperity — April 2009

— Stop the handouts to Wall Street.

— Stop the Federal Reserve’s printing press

— Stop the federal bailouts that pick winners and losers in the marketplace.

— Stop exploding the national debt, which will crush our children and grandchildren.

— The grassroots MUST take action in order to achieve these goals.

Federal Spending

The Obama Budget

Endless Government Bailouts

IRS History and Horror Stories

Who’s behind the baggers?

Americans for Prosperity Foundation — an organization that David Koch started, in 2004

Koch who?

And you thought the Teabaggers were being “run” by the Beckster …

Jane Mayer takes on the question Koch Who?

The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama

Covert Operations

by Jane Mayer, The New Yorker —  August 30, 2010

Recommended reading if you got the time.  [The 2 intro quotes are from this Journalist’s in-depth report].

If you aren’t yet up to speed on Koch Industries, and the effect they have had on the deterioration of our National Dialog — I suggest you take a few moments to research them …

Or simply read this diary, instead — which is the Annotated Summary … of the following Executive Summary:

Exposing the dirty money behind fake climate science

Greenpeace — Feature story – March 30, 2010

It’s now crystal clear – and every journalist, scientist and politician needs to know – that denial of climate change is not something based on healthy scientific scepticism and debate: it is manufactured and bears the “Koch” brand.

To put their financial commitment into context, from 2005-2008 the Koch brothers pumped in double the amount that even Exxon spent on undermining climate action over the same period.

Bigger than Exxon.   In terms of Mis-information.

That’s saying something.

It’s not like these “Junk Science” promoters, and Astro-turf backers — haven’t had an effect, either:

Koch Industries secretly Finding the Climate Denial Machine (a must see pdf)

Published March 2010 by

Greenpeace USA — www.greenpeace.org/kochindustries

ClimateGate Echo Chamber

— At least twenty Koch-funded organizations have repeatedly rebroadcast, referenced and appeared as media spokespeople in the story, dubbed “ClimateGate,” of supposed malfeasance by climate scientists gleaned from a cache of stolen emails from the University of East Anglia in November 2009. These organizations claim the emails prove a “conspiracy” of scientists and casts doubt on the scientific consensus regarding climate change.

Polar Bear Junk Science

— In a 2007 published ‘junk science’ article on polar bears and Arctic climate impacts, the author acknowledged receiving research funding from ExxonMobil, American Petroleum Institute and the Charles G. Koch foundation.

I remember both those Newsy Episodes, when popular opinion, began to take a decided nosedive against Climate Science — and at the time, I had No Idea a couple of Billionaire Brothers were behind all the confusion.

How could I — No one investigated or reported it —

Until recently …

[Continuing from the GreenPeace Executive Summary on Koch Industries …]

Kansas-based Koch Industries is a conglomerate dominated by petroleum and chemical interests with approximately $100 billion in annual sales, operations in nearly 60 countries and 70,000 employees. Most of Koch’s operations are invisible to the public, with the exception of a handful of retail brands such as Brawny® paper towels and Dixie® cups, produced by its subsidiary Georgia-Pacific Corporation. Koch Industries has been ranked as the first- or second-largest privately-held company in the United States in recent years, currently ranked second behind Cargill corporation.

Two brothers, Charles and David Koch, each own 42 percent of the company. Part of Koch Industries’ influence is channeled through three foundations, also controlled by the two brothers. This report documents roughly 40 climate denial and opposition organizations receiving Koch foundation grants in recent years, including:

— More than $5 million to Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP) for its nationwide “Hot Air Tour”[3] campaign to spreading misinformation about climate science and opposing clean energy and climate legislation.

— More than $1 million to the Heritage Foundation, a mainstay of misinformation on climate and environmental policy issues.

— Over $1 million to the Cato Institute, which disputes the scientific evidence behind global warming, questions the rationale for taking climate action, and has been heavily involved in spinning the recent ClimateGate story.

[plus many more …]

OK let’s explore how “Front Groups” work shall we … continuing from my intro on the topic, from a week ago:

The Fear Campaign being waged for Oil Industry Independence by jamess, Sep 11, 2010

As I proposed then, First Rule of effective “Front Groups” Branding:

Do No Harm … and sound innocuous.

and now for a Second Rule:

Focus on Fear, NOT Facts … very few will bother to check up on your “facts” anyways.

The Fear — they WILL Remember, however.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP)

Hot Air Balloons and Climate Change

In 2008, AFP embarked on a nation wide campaign against global warming.  The campaign was called the “Hot Air Tour.”  During the Hot Air Tour, AFP traveled in a hot air balloon to forty cities in the United States and held events in those cities.

The tour carried the slogan, “Global Warming Alarmism:  Lost Jobs, Higher Taxes, Less Freedom.”  

[…]

During the Hot Air Tour, AFP president, Tim Phillips, said Americans for Prosperity became active in the issue of global warming in order to prevent cap-and-trade, and other climate change legislation from being passed in government.  He declared if any cap and trade legislation were passed it would create a massive tax burden on American citizens, kill the economy, and harmfully infringe on personal freedoms.

In a public address Tim Phillips stated there would be a $1.2 Trillion tax increase if a cap-and-trade bill was passed, which would be felt predominantly by average Americans.  In his public address, Phillips said 1.2-1.8 million jobs would be lost with cap-and-trade legislation.  The source he cited for this information was the American Capital Formation Foundation.  The American Capital Formation Foundation does not exist.  However, the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) does exist.  The ACCF has consistently lobbied in Washington against green initiatives, especially the Kyoto protocol, claiming these actions would have severe effects on the national economy.

Fact-bias Check from the GreenPeace Executive Summary:

American Council for Capital Formation has received $215,000 from Koch Industries.

Americans for Prosperity has received $5,176,500 from Koch Industries.

But wait there’s more …

The Heritage Foundation: Energy and Environment

Statement of Purpose

Americans are increasingly concerned about energy. Demand is increasing faster than supplies while much of the world’s oil is delivered in a restrictive market dominated by unstable or hostile nations. Meanwhile, many Americans harbor misunderstandings and myths about energy, the environment, and market forces. They want low prices and plentiful supply, but resist steps that must be taken to achieve these goals. They want to protect the environment but most plans have huge costs and questionable benefits. This confusion leads Congress to enact conflicting policies that harm the nation’s ability to meet its energy needs. Sound policies must enable America to obtain supplies from a wide range of sources in a way that is best for the economy and also addresses homeland and national security considerations. Read more …

Fact-bias Check from the GreenPeace Executive Summary:

The Heritage Foundation has received $1,620,000 from Koch Industries.

And yet the Koch Industries “hit parade” continues …

The Cato Institute: Energy and Environment

Cato’s energy and environment studies are devoted to explaining how energy markets work and promoting policies that leave questions regarding energy consumption, environmental standards, market structure, and technology to the market rather than government planners. Cato is committed to protecting the environment without sacrificing economic liberty, and believes that those goals are mutually supporting, not mutually exclusive.

Cato Institute sounds innocuous enough, until you check out their “recommended reading” list:

The Cato Institute: Global Warming

Get the latest on Global Warming:

Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don’t Want You to Know, by Patrick J. Michaels and Robert C. Balling, Jr. (2009).

Meltdown: The Predictable Distortion of Global Warming by Scientists, Politicians, and the Media, by Patrick J. Michaels (2004).

“Scientific Misconduct: The Manipulation of Evidence for Political Advocacy in Health Care and Climate Policy,” by George Avery, Briefing Paper no. 117, February 8, 2010

“A Harsh Climate for Trade: How Climate Change Proposals Threaten Global Commerce,” by Sallie James, Trade Policy Analysis no. 41, September 9, 2009

OMG — how do they define “non-partisan” anyways? … some journalist should ask …

Fact-bias Check from the GreenPeace Executive Summary:

The Cato Institute has received $1,028,000 from Koch Industries.

OK, what does the go-to-org “Source Watch” have to say about these Koch Industries “patrons” ???  

Source Watch: American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF)

American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) is a think tank that prides itself on “economic growth through sound tax, regulatory, and environmental policies.” ACCF is a very influential in Washington D.C. with ACCF’s President Mark Bloomfield as being, “one of the most influential figures operating behind the scenes in the Congress,” Robert Novak, 1997.

ACCF has a conservative perspective of economic policy and favors policies that favor big business.

[…]

ACCF’s Officers and Board of Directors include […] individuals from the American Petroleum Institute, Principal Financial Group, American Chemistry Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Business Conference, American Forest & Paper Association, […]

Source Watch: Americans for Prosperity (AFP)

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is an astroturf front group started by oil billioniare David Koch and Richard Fink (a member of the board of directors of Koch Industries). AFP works together with the Koch family’s other conservative foundations and think tanks to disrupt Barack Obama’s presidency. Accordingly, AFP has opposed health care reform, stimulus spending, and cap-and-trade legislation, which is aimed at making industries pay for the air pollution that they create. AFP was also involved in the attacks on Obama’s “green jobs” czar, Van Jones, and has crusaded against international climate talks.

Source Watch: The Heritage Foundation

Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a New Right think tank. Its stated mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of “free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.” It is widely considered one of the world’s most influential public policy research institutes.

Source Watch: The Cato Institute

The Cato Institute is a non-partisan libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Institute states that it favors policies “that are consistent with the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, and peace.” [1] Cato scholars conduct policy research on a broad range of public policy issues, and produce books, studies, op-eds, and blog posts. They are also frequent guests in the media.

Cato was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane and Charles Koch, [2] the billionaire co-owner of Koch Industries;

[…]

[Cato] describes itself as nonpartisan, and its scholars have at times been critical of both parties. But it has consistently pushed for corporate tax cuts, reductions in social services, and laissez-faire environmental policies.”[3] Though diversified, the company [Koch Industries] amassed most of its fortune in oil trading and refining. [4]

By the way, The Heritage Foundation is in the “Tea Party Re-education” Business too —

They appear to be following the 3rd Rule of Industry “Front Group” Brand formation:

Not enough people will Vote for ‘a Loon’ — SO Stick to the Script, stupid!

No Independent Thinking required … Teabaggers, just bring your ANGER … they’ll supply the Talking Points …

Tea Party Talking Points   [the Bullet point version]

from The Heritage Foundation — April 3rd, 2009

DON’T BORROW, SPEND, AND TAX AWAY OUR FUTURE

The President’s Plan

— Blames Bush:

— Increases Spending, Again:

— Expands Government:

— Leaves Deficits:

— Cuts Defense:

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

— Puts Government in Charge:

— Oil and Gas Taxes:

— Excise Taxes:

— Death Taxes:

— Tobacco Taxes:

There Are Alternatives

— A Path to American Prosperity:

— Lower Taxes:

— Energy Taxes:

What else can I say — I suspect you are as tired/outraged as me by now, if you kept on reading this far. (thanks, btw)

Once again I urge you check out:

Koch Industries secretly Finding the Climate Denial Machine (a must see pdf)

Published March 2010 by

Greenpeace USA

The Politicians that the Koch Brothers have been funding, reads like a Who’s Who of the Flat Earth Society:

DeMint, Jim;

Murkowski, Lisa;

Lincoln, Blanche;

Chambliss, Saxby;

Coburn, Tom;

Roberts, Pat;

Thune, John;

Inhofe, James;

Vitter, David,

Cornyn, John;

Shelby, Richard;

Cuellar, Henry;

Cantor, Eric;

Barton, Joe;

Blackburn, Marsha;

Boehner, John;

Kline, John;

Davis, Geoff;

Boyd, Allen,

Boren, Dan;

[…]

Over the last few years, Koch Industries, Koch employees, and Koch family members:

— Spent $37.9 million from 2006 to 2009 for direct lobbying on oil and energy issues, outspent only by ExxonMobil ($87.8 million) and Chevron Corporation ($50 million).

— Spent $5.74 million in PAC money for candidates, committees, and campaign expenditures since the 2006 election cycle.

— Contributed at least $270,800 to federal political party committees since the 2006 election cycle.

The combination of foundation-funded front-groups, big lobbying budgets, PAC donations, and direct campaign contributions makes Koch Industries and the Koch brothers among the most formidable obstacles to advancing clean energy and climate policy in the US.

That’s according to GreenPeace.

I just thought you might like to know … WHO is really behind the Effort to Halt Progress in America.  To stop Obama.  To stop Progressives, too.

To the billionaire Koch Brothers, there IS no difference between these efforts.  It’s all the same fight to them — to these Oil-Processing tycoons.

They want to keep America — just like it used to be …

A boon to that Top 1%.

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H/T to Rachel Maddow, for bringing this 2-bit billionaire mis-information campaign, to the publics attention.

Journalism still survives, in some corners of the Media slipstream, despite some severe “market forces” to the contrary.  

Rachel Please continue to Revive Journalism … it must continue, if we as Free Democracy are to survive, in the long run.   That “future horizon” appears to be getting shorter all the time.