Is Iranian Cash Corrupting American Politics? Lets Ask Domestic Fascists Charles And David Koch

Working together, thru the Kochs, to undermine American democracy

Last night, as the big Koch bribery and treason scandal broke, I tweeted up a storm as I read it and learned how the Koch brothers have been flouting American laws at will:

Click if you want to read a Twitter tirade

Hopefully you've read it by now; and hopefully you've sworn off the Koch Industries products that are financing your family's enslavement forever.

So far this year the Koch Brothers have poured millions of dollars into right-wing coffers and GOP front organizations. So far this year alone just their Koch Industries PAC has given $312,500 to dozens of House Republicans and another $52,500 to Senate Republicans [plus cash to the worst of the aisle-crossing Blue Dogs-- Mike Ross (AR), John Barrow (GA) and Collin Peterson (MN)-- and to the single most reactionary Senate Democrat, Joe Manchin (WV)]. This is a pitence compared to the millions Charles and David Koch spread around directly and indirectly to fund their relentless attacks on democracy itself, like the ALEC laws that will eliminate as many as 5 million Democratic voters this year. No doubt the Koch's business ally Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is laughing with glee.

Earlier today the National Jewish Democratic Council was urging Republican recipients of big Koch contributions to return the Iran-tainted funds and speak out about the dangers of trading with Iran.

"It's shocking, dangerous and hypocritical in the extreme for the Republican Party and national GOP figures to be courting the Koch Brothers and their money while those funds were obtained in part by 'thwarting a U.S. trade ban' on Iran, to use Bloomberg's words," said NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris. "U.S. companies have been forbidden from selling to Iran since 1995, and for good reason; President Bill Clinton at the time declared Iran a threat to America's national security, and it has remained so since. It's astonishing to learn that Koch has been going to such great lengths to sidestep this ban until as recently as 2007; even as Iran's leader denied the Holocaust and pledged to erase Israel from the Middle East, Republicans competed to get closer and closer to the Koch Brothers, to obtain their ill-gotten donations wherever possible. Now that we know the truth, Republicans must set the record straight.

"Assuming they don't approve of sidestepping U.S. laws barring trade with Iran, the GOP presidential candidates who have received Koch Brothers donations, candidates who are seeking their support, and the RNC and the Republican Party Committees must do two things immediately. First, they must return any KochPAC funds previously received. Second, they must state clearly where they stand on circumventing U.S. laws banning trade with Iran, as Koch Industries clearly has-- and they must speak out vociferously condemning Koch's profoundly damaging activities. To do any less is to admit that seeking campaign support is more important to these Republicans than isolating Iran's dangerous regime."

Fellow plutocrat Fred Upton is one of the Koch Brothers' favorite congressmen and they have shoveled money into his political career for years, giving him a hefty cut of their Iranian profits. This year alone their PAC (so just the APC, not even all the other devices they use to stuff cash into right-wing pockets) Upton has taken another $5,000 so far; last year it was $10,000. It adds up. The Blue America-backed candidate against him, John Waltz,is running a grassroots campaign and will accept no corporate contributions. (Please consider giving him some love.) We asked him what he thought when he learned of the newest Koch scandal and Upton's refusal to return the Iranian cash.

News is surfacing that the Koch brothers did a lot of business with Iran, but anyone that knows their history should not be surprised. The Koch’s are nothing short of economic hookers and the family started their business in the early 20th century by building oil fields for the USSR and they have an extensive family history dealing with Nazi Germany.

On the flip side of the Kochs doing business in Iran is the millions they spend in American elections. Connect the dots and we now see there is a nefarious nexus where illegal Iranian money is funding Republicans who will in turn do their bidding. Our democracy is under siege thanks to the Citizens United decision and now we are seeing the side effects.

Upton is no stranger to Koch money and has received thousands over the years to do their bidding. This dirty foreign money should be returned not only by Upton, but by every politician who has received money from the Koch brothers. Politicians like to make a lot of promises, but I can guarantee there will never be one red cent in my campaign coffers from corporations. It is a shame that Upton cannot say the same.