Koch brothers hit back after Zach Galifianakis calls them "creepy"
(CBS) The upcoming movie "The Campaign," starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as two buffoonish congressional contenders, takes aim at the powerful, Republican-aligned Koch brothers.
But now with Galifianakis bad-mouthing the conservative duo off screen, the Koch brothers are reminding people that he's just an actor.
In the comedy, actors Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow play the Motch brothers, who are financially backing the implausible candidate portrayed by Galifianakis. In an interview with the New York Daily News on Monday, Galifianakis said it's "pretty obvious" the characters are based on Charles and David Koch.
"I disagree with everything they do. They are creepy and there is no way around that. It's not freedom what they are doing," Galifianakis said when asked about the Koch brothers.
The brothers, co-owners of Koch Industries, are arguably two of the largest funders of non-profit "social welfare organizations" that support conservative causes. They reportedly plan to raise up to $400 million for this year's elections, much of it through anonymous donations to groups like Americans for Prosperity. That group is set to spend $25 million on a new advertising campaign against President Obama.
A spokesman for the Koch brothers responded to Galifianakis' remarks in a statement obtained by CNN.
"Last we checked, the movie is a comedy. Maybe more to the point is that it's laughable to take political guidance or moral instruction from a guy who makes obscene gestures with a monkey on a bus in Bangkok," spokesman Philip Ellender said, referring to a scene from Galifianakis' earlier movie "The Hangover, Part II."
"We disagree with his uninformed characterization of Koch and our beliefs," Ellender continued. "His comments, which appear to be based on false attacks made by our political opponents, demonstrate a lack of understanding of our longstanding support of individual freedom, freedom of expression, and constitutional rights."
Galifianakis himself told the New York Daily News, "I'm not versed enough in constitutional law to run for office," though his uncle was a Democratic congressman from North Carolina four decades ago.
"I'd have to go back to school or something. Plus, I'm not willing to punch a baby in the face to win an election, which is pretty much required these days," he said, referring to a scene from the movie.
