Wait just a minute! Charles Koch, proponent of buying political influence, published an op-ed about fighting for economic freedom. In it, Koch asserts that economic freedom will be the result of a shrunken government. He also talks about his legacy, which he hopes will be “greater freedom, greater prosperity.” Think he’s talking about the greater freedom to buy greater prosperity with influence and massive financial donations?
Koch’s op-ed goes on to decry the old Soviet system of cronyism, in which officials got special privileges because of their status while others went without. He sets up everyone outside the government in this scenario as being on the losing side because one side has all the resources. But in today’s world, Koch has an awful lot of resources of his own. We’ll look at what kind of outsized influence he is able to buy and the cronyism he encourages and participates willingly in as a political megadonor.
Tonight, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, joins Jennifer Granholm to discuss this, U.S. economic policy and more, on “The War Room” at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Regular guests Duf Sundheim, former chairman of the California Republican Party, and Wade Randlett, a founding board member of Bay Area Democrats, also join Granholm, and Boston Globe political reporter Matt Viser talks about Romney’s latest gaffes. Plus, you won’t want to miss Granholm and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) discussing debate rehearsals. Van Hollen is scheduled to play Paul Ryan for Joe Biden’s debate prep this year, and Granholm will share her experience of standing in for Sarah Palin during the last election cycle.
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