Sheldon Adelson aligns with Koch brothers

[Brian4Liberty]

Submitted without comment.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57465269-503544/sheldon-adelson-aligns-with-koch-brothers/


While casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson was out of the country at the end of last month, he sent his trusted government affairs specialist, Andy Abboud, to an exclusive San Diego-area meeting of conservative funders organized by billionaires David and Charles Koch.

At the event, Abboud announced to the crowd that Adelson would pledge $10 million to the Koch's efforts at grassroots mobilizing and advertising. The pledge, which was first reported by Politico, has been confirmed by CBS News.

[Brian4Liberty]

From March...


Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch, the deep-pocketed conservative activists, launched a court fight yesterday over control of the Cato Institute, one of the nation’s best-known free-market think tanks.

The Washington-based public-policy group was founded in 1974 as the Charles Koch Foundation. The name was changed to Cato in 1976, with the Koch brothers as longstanding contributors. The group had four shareholders until last year: Charles Koch; David Koch; Edward H. Crane III, Cato’s president; and William A. Niskanen, who died in October. Niskanen, who once was acting chairman of President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers, was Cato’s chairman emeritus.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73494.html

[Brian4Liberty]

Reason Magazine Defends Sheldon Adelson:

http://reason.com/archives/2012/06/18/sheldon-adelsons-foreign-money-and-john

[Keith and stuff]

That is amazingly positive news! Here is a guy that doesn't like Ron Paul but he is willing to help fund somewhat pro-liberty projects.

[Brian4Liberty]

That is amazingly positive news! Here is a guy that doesn't like Ron Paul but he is willing to help fund somewhat pro-liberty projects.

Might be a mixed bag. What kind of access and influence does he buy with that money? More than you will get when you donate a $100 to your favorite candidate.

[ClydeCoulter]

Diverting a movement isn't done by subverting the core, it's by steering new members and soft members to a version of the movement they can control. How many of the original teapartiers follow the way of the establishments version?

[Brian4Liberty]

Diverting a movement isn't done by subverting the core, it's by steering new members and soft members to a version of the movement they can control. How many of the original teapartiers follow the way of the establishments version?

Well, that's another aspect of it. First and foremost, that kind of money buys access and influence with the candidates themselves. They have the telephone numbers. Their calls get answered or returned. They can give their "advise" on laws, on appointments, on foreign policy, on monetary policy, on regulation, etc.

The other aspect you bring up is influence with organizations. Can the Cato Institute be moved a bit in one direction or another? Can Reason magazine? How about the Republican Party? Can they eliminate that foreign policy perspective that made Ron Paul such a bother for them?

And when you make these alliances, you have to do that based on shared values. A "neo-libertarian" movement that has "greed is good" as it's only common denominator can count me out.

[Cowlesy]

I can pretty much promise that Adelson will be more than offset by the effete hollywood actor/producer complex. Big dough happens on both sides. Beyond that, the Unions, with their compulsory dues, are one of the biggest heavy hitters in propaganda. I am far more concerned about their baloney than whatever Adelson/Kochs are upto.

[Brian4Liberty]

I can pretty much promise that Adelson will be more than offset by the effete hollywood actor/producer complex. Big dough happens on both sides. Beyond that, the Unions, with their compulsory dues, are one of the biggest heavy hitters in propaganda. I am far more concerned about their baloney than whatever Adelson/Kochs are upto.

Agree, the forced Union political contributions are a problem. But offset or consolidate? How different are their agendas? False left/right paradigm? Perhaps both sides can agree upon a "greed is good" platform. Combine that with a "tax the other people" and aggressive foreign policy, everyone is happy.

[Cowlesy]

Agree, the forced Union political contributions are a problem. But offset or consolidate? How different are their agendas? False left/right paradigm? Perhaps both sides can agree upon a "greed is good" platform. Combine that with a "tax the other people" and aggressive foreign policy, everyone is happy.

Look I agree Adelson's foreign policy is anathema to us, but if he wants to spend boatloads of money trying to keep more money in my pocket indirectly, I'd rather him be on the airwaves than some union trying to explain how nothing is fair unless they get more of my money. *shrug*

[Brian4Liberty]

... if he wants to spend boatloads of money trying to keep more money in my pocket indirectly, I'd rather him be on the airwaves than some union trying to explain how nothing is fair unless they get more of my money. *shrug*

You mean if keeping more money in his pocket indirectly benefits you? That is the essence of corporatism. If I were a candidate, I wouldn't take his money.