Liberal group to protest Romney-Koch fundraiser

Charles and David Koch.

/ Koch Industries/MIT

Updated 4:39 p.m. Eastern Time

(CBS News) MoveOn.org, a liberal non-profit advocacy group, is protesting a July 8 fundraiser for Mitt Romney being held at the house of billionaire Republican donor David Koch, it announced on Friday.

In addition to organizing what it's calling a "Koch Party" outside Koch's Southampton, N.Y., estate during the Sunday fundraiser, MoveOn will be flying an airline banner in the area reading "Romney has a Koch problem" and driving what it calls a "Romneymobile Cadillac, with corporate decals on the side and Seamus the dog on top," outside the dinner, according to a press release from MoveOn.

The group is touting the participation of a number of liberal activist groups, including Occupy Wall Street, The Long Island Progressive Coalition, Greenpeace, Strong For All, United New York, and says activists will stake out Koch's property with signs, "peacefully demonstrating against the unprecedented flood of money the Koch brothers and their wealthy friends are using to try to buy the election for the 1%."

"Mitt Romney has a Koch problem: He'd lay off teachers and firefighters to fund even more tax privileges for billionaires like the Koch brothers," said Justin Ruben, Executive Director of MoveOn.org Political Action, in a statement. "Romney may not want voters to know about his Koch problem, but MoveOn members will make sure all the Super PAC money in the world isn't enough to keep them from finding out."

Koch, a co-owner and executive vice president of Koch Industries, is arguably one of the largest funders of non-profit "social welfare organizations" that support conservative causes, along with his brother Charles Koch, the co-owner of Koch Industries. It has been reported that the brothers plan to raise up to $400 million for this year's elections, much of which will be via anonymous donations to groups like Americans for Prosperity.

The Romney campaign declined to comment on the planned protest. 

Update: A representative for Koch Companies Public Sector responds in an email (links theirs):

We have seen media reports about the protest being organized by a convicted terrorist and a number of fringe organizations.

We respect the protestors' rights to free speech and to peaceably assemble. These rights apply not only to the protestors, but to those who are hosting and attending the fundraiser.

It is ironic that the pretext for the protest is supposed "outrage" at the role of money in politics. Considering the record-setting fundraising by President Obama reported here, here, here, here, here, and here, the hypocrisy of the Left and their attempts to mislead the public are obvious. There is a double-standard at work and the message from the Left is that fundraising for their preferred candidates is fine, but donations to those with differing points of view are somehow immoral. The left's outrage is selective and hollow.

[dominickj1]

Let's face it If it weren't for the BIG money the Kocks can give Romney He wouldn't have ANY!!!!

[wildemanne]

DOWN WITH WEALTHY TAX BREAKS DOWN WITH WEALTHY PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

[denvec]

My Progressive Plan:
No more lobbyist pimps. Tax all religions, they are a business like any other. Tax every millionaire at 50% (much less what they paid in 1940's at 91%). Dissolve all tax loopholes. Medicare for ALL. Open our doors and everyone becomes citizen. Cut the military by 50% each year until no more. Legalize Cannabis and Hemp, very profitable. We would never have to take down 1 more tree. Use 3% of Arizona Desert for Solar Energy. Enough clean energy to power our entire country from cars, homes, electric, etc. No more private anything. We take back our schools, jails, etc. Free college for all.
If you conservative's don't see how the world is becoming you better wake up. The People will Rule for All People. If you don't like my plan move to Texas and make it your own country. Then you'll be the only country who is racist, bigots, and cater to the rich.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

The only way the US is ever going to return to the prosperous and powerful nation it once was is to eliminate campaign contributions from the Koch's and Soros's and their ilk, lobbyists and private interest groups.

When and until the people of the US learn that he who has the most money - MONEY=POWER - buys the election; we are never again going to have a government " of the people, by the people, for the people".!!!

[1earthproductions]

Since when is Moveon.org known as a terrorist organization?

[lesserof2evil]

since the birth of the teabaggers.

[wfw3536]

When will the liberals start demonstrating against Obama and the Dems biggest fundraiser George Soros who bet against our country during the bank failures in 2008 by shorting most of his stocks making billions. Oh the hypocrisy of the liberals.

[realist2010]

My guess is when conservatives stop making up stories. Turn off your AM radio and rejoin America.

[KjzRut]

wfw3536 - good question but we both know that the far left (like realist2010) are just hypocrites. They have no issue with George Soros funding Moveon.org or the Tides Foundation or Center for American Progress. They have no issue with the millions raised by Obama and Democrats from companies like GE or the Wall Street banks that gave more to Obama in 2008 than McCain (not so much now due to his weak class warfare BS). Nothing from them about the hundreds of millions given to Democrats by the public and private unions either.

None of that matters - the Koch Brothers do the same thing but not for groups that they support therefore they protest and demonize them for doing the same thing as the billionaires and unions that bankroll their left-wing *****. November is coming fro them and all the cognitive dissonance (or willful ignorance) is going to save them. LOL

[JWinATL]

This is the most immature demonstration I have ever heard of. Did you see Republicans acting in kind with all of the almost 200 fundraisers Obama has held, most notably at his RICH Hollywood friends' homes? No. Obama and Moveon.org have George Soros behind them, and I don't see the liberals railing against him. Hypocrites.

[alanrobisch]

I find it humorous that move on which is funded by incredibly wealthy George Soros are demonstrating against another wealthy person supporting their point of view. What hypocrisy.

[marychgo]

I don't see George Soros demanding that the U.S. government make it easier for him to make money. I DO see the Koch brothers demanding that the U.S. government make it easier for them to make money, not least with the Keystone XL pipeline. Seems to me that's a significant difference, Alan....

[CBSreaderNick]

MoveOn is not funded by Soros.

[liberalmike]

Romney is a Koch-*****!

[liberalmike]

rymes with bore!

[greenlantern1]

Didn't Howard Hughes profit from his "loan" to Richard Nixon?
What does David Koch expect to gain from his "donations" to Romney?

[MurdochSucks]

I know it is a rhetorical question, but should be answered anyway, for our more dim folks. The Republican platform is based solely on trickle-down economics, and sucking up all of the resources from our society and planet they can in their lifetimes, because it doesn't matter what they leave to their children - they won't be here, and Jesus will probably come back by then anyway. Their lack of respect for their fellow man, the nations they plunder, and the natural resources from which they benefit is absolutely shocking. And they STILL want to deny human-influenced Climate Change, both because it is inconvenient for their profits, and because "God made the Earth for OUR disposal." So sad, how this mentality has seeped into so many, otherwise well-intentioned, citizens.

[MurdochSucks]

LibTard, how juvenile. You must be one of the nits I'm talking about.