Behind the scenes of a Koch conclave

From: Daily Kos 

By Joan McCarter 

attribution: U.S. Presidential archives

 

 

I hope he haunts them.

 

The news that the Kochs were creating a new Super PAC, and now intend to spend at least $290 million this cycle—likelier an even $300 million—came after a weekend gathering in southern California of the Koch brothers' billionaire friends and donors and certain Republican politicians. The Nation's Lauren Windsor got an insider's perspective on what went down at the highly secretive meeting.

The highly secretive mega-donor conference, called “American Courage: Our Commitment to a Free Society,” featured a who’s who of Republican political elites. According to conference documents obtained through a source who was in attendance, Representatives Tom Cotton (AR), Cory Gardner (CO) and Jim Jordan (OH) were present, as were Senators Mitch McConnell (KY) and Marco Rubio (FL). Cotton, Gardner and McConnell are all running for the Senate this year; Jordan for re-election in the House. Rubio is widely considered a major contender for a 2016 presidential run. According to the documents, the conference attendees discussed strategy on campaign finance, climate change, healthcare, higher education and opportunities for taking control of the Senate. (The draft agenda is available for viewing here.)

Of particular note, there was a special dinner held at La Casa Pacifica, "the former home of President Richard Nixon that has come to be known as 'The Western White House.'" The ghost of Tricky Dick must be particularly inspiring. The house is currently owned by former Nixon buddy Gavin Herbert, who also happens to have founded a pharmaceutical company—Allergan—which spends a lot of money on the American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC. He also apparently spends a lot of money on other Koch projects, and loans out Nixon's house for them.  MORE