New York Times Plays the Koch Card, Reporting Democrat ObamaCare Panic

Posted on | January 15, 2014 | 14 Comments

The free market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) opened the 2014 campaign early, running ads targeting vulnerable senators who voted for ObamaCare, as I have previously reported:

AFP is one of the largest grassroots organizations in America, with thousands of supporters and contributors, but notice how the New York Times emphasizes a certain name in this article:

Democrats are increasingly anxious about an onslaught of television ads hitting vulnerable Senate and House candidates for their support of the new health law, since many lack the resources to fight back in the early stages of the midterm campaign.
Since September, Americans for Prosperity, a group financed in part by the billionaire Koch brothers, has spent an estimated $20 million on television advertising that calls out House and Senate Democrats by name for their support of the Affordable Care Act. . . .
Some Democrats are open about calling for help from allies and supporters of the health care law who may be biding their time.
“Democrats need money at this early stage in order to fight back against the limitless spending from the Kochs,” said Guy Cecil, the executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “As we get closer to the election, we will have the resources to introduce their Tea Party candidates before they have an opportunity to define themselves for voters, but right now the limitless spending from the Kochs means we need Democratic donors to step up in a bigger way immediately.”

Why do the Koch brothers deserve mention in the second paragraph of this article, whereas the word “ObamaCare” does not appear until the 19th paragraph? The article doesn’t even name President Obama, who is thereby a sort of ghost haunting this article which is, after all, about the failures of his signature legislation.

The status of the New York Times as a Democrat Party propaganda organ has never really been in doubt, so it’s very encouraging to see this evidence that Harry Reid has hit the panic button. Meanwhile, AFP has launched new ads targeting vulnerable House members who voted for ObamaCare, including this one against Rep. Gary Peters (D-Michigan):

You Can Click Here to Contribute to
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY

What a bargain: For $25, you’re like an honorary Koch brother.

Category: Barack Obama, Democrats, Health Care, New York Times, Senate

Comments

14 Responses to “New York Times Plays the Koch Card, Reporting Democrat ObamaCare Panic”

Alan Markus
January 15th, 2014 @ 11:33 am

Here in Wisconsin I don’t think there is a lib who can’t comment on Wisconsin politics without inserting at least one “Koch” in the sentence. It’s like their mouth is full of Koch.
tahDeetz
January 15th, 2014 @ 1:05 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: TOM New York Times Plays the Koch Card, Reporting Democrat ObamaCare Panic http://t.co/P78fswLU0A #TCOT
La Pucelle
January 15th, 2014 @ 12:07 pm

Leftists sure do seem obsessed with the Koch.
Alan Markus
January 15th, 2014 @ 12:12 pm

By the way, I mentioned this the other day, but I really, really wish you would take a look at what is going on in Wisconsin and give it the RSM treatment – John Doe probe re: Republican donors to Walker recall. You may think it is just a local issue (an attempt to impair Walker’s chances for reelection in Wisconsin), but note that he is mentioned as a Presidential contender, so there is a national implication. The first John Doe didn’t find anything that could stick to Walker and despite digging nobody has been able to come up with anything in his past, It is doubtful this John Doe will come with anything involving Walker either, purpose seems to be to “out” Republican donors who give to groups like AFP. So, the implications would be “guilt by association (Walker got campaign money from “evil” people) and a preemptive move to damage Walker’s chances as a Presidential contender. As much as I have no fondness for Chris Christie, there seems to be a parallel. If we aren’t prepared, look for future contenders to be taken out before they have a chance to make the national scene. Clear the deck for HIllary!

Note: Ann Althouse has done a few posts on this John Doe.
DonaldDouglas
January 15th, 2014 @ 12:17 pm

Indeed. Stupid too, since leftist 501c groups are by far dominant in such advocacy.
Lightwave
January 15th, 2014 @ 12:19 pm

Why, who would have guessed that corporate donors see Obameecare and the people who forced it down our throats as losers?
La Pucelle
January 15th, 2014 @ 12:30 pm

If you want to know what a leftist is guilty of, listen to what he accuses you of.
MNHawk
January 15th, 2014 @ 12:44 pm

“the billionaire Koch brothers, has spent an estimated $20 million on
television advertising that calls out House and Senate Democrats by name
for their support of the Affordable Care Act”

So all the Koch Brothers have done, is run advertisements saying that Joe DumbssA voted for Obamacare? Are Democrats ashamed of their vote?
Leave It to Bieber Just Went R-Rated | Regular Right Guy
January 15th, 2014 @ 3:15 pm

[…] New York Times Plays the Koch Card, Reporting Democrat ObamaCare Panic […]
Brett the Brit
January 15th, 2014 @ 3:52 pm

Exactly.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/14/wasserman-schultz-darn-right-well-run-obamacare-20/
Adjoran
January 15th, 2014 @ 4:08 pm

It should also be noted that the total spending by the Koch brothers on ALL political organizations (close to half is to more libertarian groups) in a year is less than George Soros gives to Think Progress alone every year, not counting all his other leftist donations or all the other rich lefties out there. It’s a pittance.

The Left needs a bogeyman. If they have no Cheney, no Halliburton, no Emmanuel Goldstein, then they must find new ones. The Kochs just happened to be handy when the need arose.
Finrod Felagund
January 15th, 2014 @ 5:23 pm

Leftists are in constant need of an Emmanuel Goldstein scapegoat. Currently the Koch Brothers fill that niche.
Mutaman
January 15th, 2014 @ 5:51 pm

“Why do the Koch brothers deserve mention in the second paragraph of this article, whereas the word “ObamaCare” does not appear until the 19th paragraph?”

I have this mental image of McCain counting paragraphs in the Times’ story. Bet he lost count and had to start over a few times.
richard mcenroe
January 15th, 2014 @ 6:03 pm

Give Hugo de Blasio a few months and they’ll be playing the Contra card…