Harry Reid: Republicans Tend To Be "Addicted to Koch" | RealClearPoliticsDemocratic Vast Majority Le...

1. Harry Reid: Republicans Are "Addicted to Koch"
Harry Reid: Republicans Tend To Be "Addicted to Koch" | RealClearPolitics
Democratic Vast Majority Leader Harry Reid got punny on the Senate ground Tuesday, continuing
his crusade from the billionaire Koch brothers, whose funds plays a substantial role inside
congressional campaigns.
With power over the particular upper chamber at stake with regard to Democrats, Reid took towards
the floorboards for the second in time as numerous weeks in order to blast unique curiosity
influence as well as rally his party's base for any difficult midterm election year.
"Senate Republicans are addicted to Koch," Reid said, playing on the surname, that is pronounced
"coke." The Actual brothers, Charles and David, produced their fortune within the oil business and
also donate heavily in order to Republicans, mainly by means of the actual group Americans for
Prosperity. The Actual Kochs have become a leading punching bag pertaining to Democrats, and
their name will be often used in click your following page fundraising pitches. (One PAC affiliated
using the siblings, however, provides offered to always be able to Democrats too.)
"Like most shrewd businessmen, the oil baron Koch brothers are very good at protecting as well as
growing their own prodigious fortune. There's absolutely nothing un-American about that. There's
absolutely nothing un-American concerning that," Reid said. "But what is un-American is actually
when shadowy billionaires pour unrestricted funds in to our democracy for you to rig the particular
system to advantage on their own own as well as the wealthiest 1 percent."
Reid, the many notable Democrat in Congress, faces the particular prospect involving losing Senate
seats for you to Republicans in the midterms. The Particular GOP requirements the net gain of six to
take charge of your chamber, an endeavor that initially appeared remote nevertheless now seems

2. increasingly possible.
Even with the monetary backing involving outside groups, Republicans lost winnable seats within
2012, as well as Democrats increased his or her vast majority in the Senate. This specific year, the
particular map will be favorable for you to Republicans, running via many red states the president
lost in the final cycle. Republicans have got attempted to expand your playing area further along
with challenges to Democratic incumbents in states like Colorado (won by Obama inside 2012),
where Rep. Cory Gardner waded to the race against Sen. Mark Udall and contains begun in order to
obvious the GOP field.
Republicans hope the actual president's unpopular well being treatment law will weigh down
Democrats operating within 2014, along with ads across a quantity of battleground states feature
attacks in it. last week, Senate Democrats began a brand new offensive to highlight the positive
outcomes of the particular made the post law.
On a floor final week, Reid hit the actual Kochs regarding financially backing ads within key states
such as Michigan; your spots feature folks talking about their own negative experiences with the
Cost-effective care Act. Reid known as the commercials false, and also took a direct cost at the
brothers.
Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, that chairs his party's campaign arm, fired back again in the
majority leader last week on the floor, calling his phrases in to question. "I have heard immediately
through countless Kansans about the devastating effects Obamacare has currently established in
these and their families," he said. "They are, many assuredly, not really liars. they do not necessarily
deserve being called liars by virtually any person in this body."
On Thursday, Reid stated the particular amount regarding cash flowing directly into campaigns via
Koch-affiliated teams provides nearly rendered your Republican's official campaign arm irrelevant.
"Koch-backed teams get expended the huge sum helping elect Republican Senate candidates this
season -- the sum which dwarfs even your National Republican Senatorial Committee's personal
spending," he asserted. "In fact, Senate Republicans hardly want the particular NRSC anymore.
They've got your Koch brothers. Besides, your NRSC can't hide its donors' identities, similar to Kochfunded front teams can."
Reid pledged in order to continue his assault on the pair. Afterward, Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell defended the particular brothers for working out their constitutional rights, and also
inquired Reid why he failed to mention liberal billionaire donor Tom Steyer, that recently promised
to become able to spend millions within 2014 campaigns around the issue associated with climate
change.
"There are many wealthy Americans whom really feel deeply about the country, who're committed to
one facet or even the other," McConnell said on the floor. "As many around the left as on the right."