Written by Thomas Magstadt   

Now comes headline news of a "new Democratic strategy" that "goes after the Koch Brothers."* That's Charles G. and David H. Koch, "the billionaire brothers" and "perhaps the best-known patrons of conservative Republican politics". The ad campaign will reportedly use a catchy double entendre as its rallying cry: "The G.O.P. is addicted to Koch."

Unfortunately, it will take a whole lot more than a semi-clever slogan to unseat the seats that are sitting in seats the Koch brothers want them to sit in. The seats in question include Alaska, "where Democrats will try to link Dan Sullivan and Mead Treadwell, the Republican Senate candidates, to an oil refinery in the state owned by Koch Companies Public Sector. The refinery is set to cease gasoline and jet fuel production, which would lead to the layoffs of roughly 80 refinery workers."

Senate majority leader Harry Reid says the Koch brothers have already poured some $30 million into key congressional races across the country. The conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, by the Koch brothers, runs many of these adds, which aim to exploit popular disenchantment with the new health care law ("Obamacare").

But it's the story behind the story – the one the newspapers only hint at – that really needs to see the light of day. The essence of the real story here is about the pathetic state of the "liberal" political party (Democrats) in America – the only viable alternative to a conservative party (Republicans) that has gone off the tracks.
Putting Harry Reid out in front of a campaign to "go after" the Koch Brothers is a little like elevating Sarah Palin to the presidency of Harvard University. For all his decency, and despite his kindly demeanor – perhaps even because of it, – Harry Reid is no Teddy Roosevelt, does not have the right stuff to organize the Rough Riders or to storm a metaphorical San Juan Hill where the Koch Brothers have built what appears to be an impregnable fortress.

The Koch Brothers fortress is not, in fact, impregnable; it only appears to be because the, uh-uh, distinguished members of Congress – Democrats and Republicans alike – have steadfastly refused to revise campaign finance laws that make a mockery of our elections. Taking on the Koch Brothers without taking on campaign finance reform is a feckless (but sadly familiar) approach to a public policy issue of surpassing importance.

Add, to repeat, using Harry Reid as a giant pin cushion for the rest of the gutless Democrats in Congress to hide behind is appalling and despicable. Unlike most of the Democrats, the majority leader has a backbone. He comes across as a nice guy – bland, but sincere. What he utterly lacks, of course, is charisma and, therefore. the grit and gravitas to take on the nasty boys.

Unfair, you say? Too subjective? Here's the closing paragraph from the NYT article mentioned at the top:

"Mr. Reid, who is known for his halting, whispery speaking style, said he realized attacking the Koch brothers and their money might be a Sisyphean task, but he remains undaunted. 'I’m going to — with my inadequate ability to speak and project — I’m going to do everything I can with my lack of talent to bring attention to those guys,' he said."

I rest my case.

*http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/us/politics/new-democratic-strategy-goes-after-koch-brothers.html