Thursday, August 30, 2012

HOT David Koch: I Am No Longer a Libertarian

No kidding David, as if you actually were for the last couple of decades.

Check this out, he even seems to diss free markets somewhat. Politico reports:

Koch also said he now considers himself a Republican first and foremost – rather than a Libertarian or a non-partisan supporter of free enterprise – despite a background in Libertarian politics and some views that are out of step with the GOP orthodoxy.
“The Libertarian Party is a great concept. I love the ideals, but it got too far off the deep end, and so I dropped out,” Koch said. “I think the Republican Party has a great chance of being successful and that’s why I support it,” he said, adding “but I believe in the libertarian principles.”

Background update:

Koch was the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential candidate in the 1980 presidential election.

When asked in 1980 why he ran, Koch replied: "Lord knows I didn't need a job, but I believe in what the Libertarians are saying. I suppose if they hadn't come along, I could have been a big Republican from Wichita. But hell—everybody from Kansas is a Republican."

He sits on the board of the Cato Institute and is one of its major funders.

8 comments:

  1. Another (not so) young idealist that believes that the Republicans are Libertarian deep down. How quaint.

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  2. I suppose it's time to say 'thank you' for acknowledging that he's not a Libertarian (big L). Now the Max Keisar's of the world will look ridiculous when they accuse libertarians (little l) of being in Koch's pocket.

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  3. Another tired, clueless, old guy - hey, just like me... ;-)

    Go get em kids!

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  4. I can imagine him saying "...everyone is against big government, until they own one."

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  5. >can imagine him saying "...everyone is against big government, until they own one."

    The 'State'-'Corporate' axis has consolidated and increased mightily sense his younger days, perhaps a time when he may have believed govt. regulation was not in his interest. Today, his interests are big enough to be a key component of this. Self-interest for the conversion to Statism in his case.

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  6. This isn't news really as his quote seems to refer to "Libertarian" as in the Libertarian party, not ideologically libertarian. But I do think it is fair to question his ideological credentials as a small "l" libertarian and the propriety of his continued membership on the CATO board. Clearly, "mainstream" Republican politics is his game these days, and I don't see much difference between him and your standard New York (i.e., moderate) Republican (for example, see related RW post on David Koch's support for raising taxes).

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    Replies
    1. The quote continues "or a non-partisan supporter of free enterprise". Which means he is ditching more than just the LP

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