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People of NYC vs. Koch

Posted: 05/13/11 11:08 AM ET

We're on offense again, this time putting the spotlight on David Koch and denying him a chance to spend his millions on credibility and social status.

We organized a flashmob in the heart of NYC. We projected four Koch Brothers Exposed videos on the facade of the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center during our Guerrilla Drive In.

Our event is spontaneous and funny, but there's tremendous value in exposing the Koch ideology and legacy through a satirical bent. Our newest video features a choir, brass band, and New Yorkers renaming the Koch theater and sending a message to David Koch.

The brothers David and Charles Koch have a knack for getting buildings named after themselves. Everything from theaters, to sports arenas and medical buildings bear the Koch brand. So why do the brothers hide from burnishing their name on their political causes?

Brave New Foundation and middle class advocates The Other 98% teamed up to rally New Yorkers to rename the David Koch theater to something more appropriate and something that reflects his and his company's record of pollution, the Tea Party funding, and climate change denial.

Click here to rename the David H. Koch Theater.

As New Yorkers take the fight to David Koch, we're giving everyone the opportunity to rename the Koch theater with our latest Guerrilla Drive In video.

What the Kochs are doing to our democracy is serious, but with your help, we can use satire to grow our movement and stop the Kochs.

 
 
 

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Moran
08:40 AM on 05/15/2011
The few Koch defenders posting here, are asking for more 'proof' that the Koch's deserve the humiliation, or want to make fun of people for having liberal views. Here's a news flash, perhaps: We don't have to argue anything with you. If you respect what they Kochs have done, we disrespect you - I do, anyway.

I been twice commissioned for operas from Lincoln Center in the past, and feel deeply ashamed now to see his name on their building. I used to be proud of that place, because I felt it stood for integrity. I don't feel that way anymore. I'm ashamed of it now.
10:48 AM on 05/16/2011
The question is, does Lincoln Center have a right to say no to the money just because of its source? You feel ashamed now, just delve into the private lives of the individuals, foundations and corporations that donate money to Lincoln Center and you'll wish that the Opera House was about a hundred feet taller. After all, is Koch Industries really any different than GE, for instance? Do you want to do background checks on every Met Opera ticket holder, no less the performers? You really want to go there?

What about the tax dollars that Lincoln Center gets? There are single mothers living in NY who are paying taxes so that people like you can sit around all day and write operas, and that's great for you, but can imagine that there are people who think that those public donations of tax dollars are even more outrageous than donations made by private people and entities like David Koch. It's all about perspective.

Finally, look at the history of Lincoln Center itself. Have you ever heard of Robert Moses? 7000 families were displaced so you can write operas and then declare yourself a victim. I'm sure you write great operas, and both I and my family are frequent users of Lincoln Center and have been for decades but get real here John. Ashamed? Have a nice day.
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Sha Zam
What if it REALLY is all about the Hokey Pokey?
03:38 PM on 05/14/2011
Ed Shultz (MSNBC) did a great segment, GOP Undermining the Middle Class. The numerous groups, PACs, etc that are attacking American values/jobs/schools/environment are funded in large part by the Koch brothers and a few other extremely wealthy individuals/families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fd2GLEoghI
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Sha Zam
What if it REALLY is all about the Hokey Pokey?
03:29 PM on 05/14/2011
Koch brothers fund think tanks support foreclosing on working people’s homes.

Koch brothers fund think tanks that would save them tens of millions of dollars.

Koch brothers fund think tanks that fight against providing healthcare for children.

Koch brothers have given $30 million dollars to fight environmental regulation.

Koch brothers fund over 300 think tanks ‘position papers’ to destroy Social Security.
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AcademicFreedom
Often banned; always factual
05:00 PM on 05/13/2011
The difference between the Koch Brothers and liberal elitist weathly is that the Kochs contribute to charity on a broad basis. People like Marc Rich, Robert Rubin, Pincus Green, and others keep their money for themselves and their hidden contributions to various leftist causes that secretly keep them in the "good guy" spotlight. The funniest thing is that the Koch brothers make no secrets about what they believe and do, yet Soros hides most of his activities, particularly those related to disrupting governments.
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05:18 PM on 05/13/2011
There's another difference. The Koch brothers are actively attempting to destroy democracy in America. That's the difference that matters.
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05:48 PM on 05/13/2011
Well then why isn't David Koch building things where he is wanted like in Kansas or Oklahoma. He is reviled here in New York.
04:51 PM on 05/13/2011
Considering that he's a climate change denier, its surprising that David H. Koch is a supporter of "Nova" on PBS.
Linda from Deerfield
Paying attention
04:25 PM on 05/13/2011
I know, I know -- let's call it the Joseph Stalin and Fred Koch Memorial Theater.
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booker52
avid reader
03:54 PM on 05/13/2011
Koch Bros take they money spending to new heights when they fund so called grassroot movements and try and hide that fact. Tea baggers are not a grassroot movement, they fund it and Dick Armey runs it. So not grassroot and so using people.
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joe zoe
03:48 PM on 05/13/2011
"there's tremendous value in exposing the Koch ideology"

huh? Libertarian ideology is nothing new. But hey - if it motivates you to have a boogeyman, go for it.
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StillMadMatt
Offending the right people is its own virtue.
04:50 AM on 05/16/2011
Thats a real bogeyman bub. Learn to spot the difference.
shessomoney
Liberal Elite-Made In U.S.A.
02:16 PM on 05/13/2011
I have a list of Koch products to boycott on my fridge.
12:31 PM on 05/13/2011
I am so grateful that more Americans are 'waking up' to what the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove, Tea Party, Devos Family, Rich and Corporate Elites are doing to hold our elected officials and our nation 'Hostage' to their Selfish Demands! They are not about doing what is in the interest of America and our working families! They are only interested in 'buying our elected officials, judges, lawyers, lobbyist and others' to further their agenda! They will lie, steal, cheat, sow seeds of hate, bigotry and divisions to try and cover up what they are doing! Profiting from our blood, sweat, tears, our pain and suffering and getting more of our tax dollars! They are not creating jobs in America and they are not paying their taxes to America! They want continued 'Tax Payer Bailouts in the form of Tax Cuts and Tax Subsidies and they are trying to Privatize Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Public Education System and give our tax dollars to the rich and corporations! We must fight back America! We must have a 'United Sense of Urgency'! This is Blatant and Possibly Criminal 'Intimidation and Bribery' of Our Elected Officials, Judges, Lawyers, Lobbyist and others!
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Sha Zam
What if it REALLY is all about the Hokey Pokey?
03:31 PM on 05/14/2011
Well said idj57 !!!
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12:10 PM on 05/13/2011
Is the huff po really attacking David Koch for donating to theaters and hospitals? What is the ultimate goal, to
make sure that philanthropy is killed once and for all? It sounds like he is being extremely generous with the wealth that he is created. I guess I just don't get the problem.
03:13 PM on 05/13/2011
I guess you think that posting will get you paid by Heritage Foundation. You'll have to do better than that. Yes, the purpose of the action is to end philanthropy. I thought the article made that clear. This has nothing to do with Davy and Chucky Koch's assault on democracy from coast to coast. It is completely unrelated to their sneak attacks on the president via their front organizations, the modern-day equivalent of night riding in a hood. This is all about ending philanthropy, not fighting back against rich Libertarian pricks who think they own the country.
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TMS3100
Tea Party has run off with his light saber.
03:51 PM on 05/13/2011
How are the Koch's assaulting democracy? I can't wait to hear your reply. It's going to comical.
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03:58 PM on 05/13/2011
Even though you obviously disagree with their political views, you must at least give them credit for being so generous to their various causes. Isn't it a great thing that the Koch brothers "have a knack for getting buildings named after them"? Isn't spending millions in voluntary charitable giving better than keeping it? I think the same could be said about Gates, Buffet, Carnegie, and Yale.
11:33 AM on 05/13/2011
I don't get liberals on their attacks on the Koch Brothers. The left has more than its share of rich donors so it can't be just that they are wealthy. If the left thinks that its ideas are better why slander those who offer other points of view? If you disagree with their point of view then attack the point of view not the person. The personal attacks don't win you any support. Lets have a real debate on the issues and stop demonizing people for hating the poor or women because they don't want future generations to have to pay to buy them "stuff". Those future generations will have their own problems that they need to pay for. Stop forcing them to pay for ours.
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Dnlmsstch
too much for so few words
12:49 PM on 05/13/2011
We attack the view too, the problem is that Koch gives money give appearance that their radical idology has broad support, we try to expose that alot of people that supports that idology only support it because is how they get paid.
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Rightlygay
Already EQUAL
01:55 PM on 05/13/2011
But....there IS very broad support......
03:22 PM on 05/13/2011
I would argue that money from leftist billionaires gives the same illusion towards many left wing ideals. In terms of paid followers the left has the right beat by miles.
03:16 PM on 05/13/2011
Talk about changing the subject. In these difficult economic times, I hope that comment got you paid by the Heritage Foundation. The budget deficit didn't happen; it was caused by irresponsible policies enacted by the paid puppets of Chucky and Davy. Nice try, though. Get your buddies (like Ryan) to vote for every single surplus-destroying act, then claim you're only trying to save what you destroyed. Too bad it's so transparent. Get over yourselves. The real Americans are fighting back.
03:30 PM on 05/13/2011
The only way to claim that there was a surplus is to count extra Social Security and Medicare money that came in before the bubble collapsed under Clinton. Those payments make the government liable for future benefits so it is at best a shaky claim to make.

Government spending did increase under the Bush administration to be sure. Though when Democrats took control they acted like the mistake that those Republicans were making was not spending enough. So I truly have to scratch my head and wonder how you attack Republicans on that subject while letting Democrats off the hook.

Who are these "real" Americans you are talking about? Do they understand that the government isn't Santa Claus? That seems to be a real problem for most on the left. We have a deficit of $14,000,000,000,000+. That is $140,000 per household. We have an administration that predicts trillion dollar annual deficits on into the future. That is a serious problem for our nation and its future whether you comprehend it or not.
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riverwester
Indignant Badger
10:55 AM on 05/13/2011
that. was fn phenomenal. i was reeeeeally hoping someone would go after koch bros benefactors. shame the people who take their' cash. :D
10:48 PM on 05/16/2011
I REEEEEEEAAALY am hoping someone will go after the Soros benefactors. Shame on the 'people' who take his cash! :P
10:48 AM on 05/13/2011
Ideology aside, Koch gives millions to the arts. Kudos to him for that.
03:17 PM on 05/13/2011
Then he pays for the election of a governor and begins enacting his plan to destroy collective bargaining rights in this country. He can keep his arts donations, and I'll keep my collective bargaining rights, if that's the tradeoff.
03:37 PM on 05/13/2011
Bad trade-off. We need the arts more.
03:33 PM on 05/13/2011
They also have destroyed the economic system, which has caused less tax dollar flow to public schools. And we all know the first programs to be disbanded in schools are art, music, and physical education. You have to look past what these people are showing you and educate yourself on how their other actions contradict their publicized philanthropies.
03:38 PM on 05/13/2011
The Koch's destroyed the economic system? Wow.
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Chris1962
NYC
10:31 AM on 05/13/2011
Why is it that liberals have a meltdown over the Koch brothers supporting the political cause of their choosing, but not Soros, who's been doing the same thing for years?
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Catch 22
Plan for Mid to Long Term.
11:07 AM on 05/13/2011
You folks do a good job of that. You don't need us.
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Dnlmsstch
too much for so few words
12:47 PM on 05/13/2011
Soros ideology means more govenrment services to those who need it, more regulation to his industry, and more taxes fro him personaly - he supports policy that will hurt him personaly, that makes his not motivated by greed (something progressives do not consider is good).

Koch supports with millions of $ an ideology that cuts services to those who need it, decreased regulations on their industry that causes enviromental demage to other, and lowers their personal taxes. That makes their motivation GREED, which they belive is good.

That is the difference.
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Chris1962
NYC
03:01 PM on 05/13/2011
Well, just so long as you say so.
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Under Fed yet Fed Up
Always great distaste for both political parties
04:37 PM on 05/13/2011
Obviously George has you believing that. Good for him.