Weekly Opinion Editorial
STRINGS ATTACHED!
by Steve Fair
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a
political lobbying group (501 C-4) founded in 2004 by Wichita, KS, businessmen Charles
and David Koch. AFP’s stated goal is to “recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support
of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and federal
level, helping every American live their dream – especially the least
fortunate.” AFP claims
over 2.5 million members and over $85 million in annual revenue. They have over 700 donors who contribute more
than $100,000 annually to the organization.
AFP was instrumental in the growth of the Tea Party movement and have always
politically leaned libertarian/conservative.
Two of
President Trump’s former key political campaign operatives have an AFP
background. Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first
campaign manager, and Stuart Jolly, his first National Field Director, were
state directors for AFP- Lewandowski in
New Hampshire, Jolly in Oklahoma.
Since their
inception, AFP has almost exclusively backed Republicans, but that may be
coming to an end. On Sunday, Charles Koch, 82, told a group of AFP donors that working with
Democrats who want to reduce financial regulations and government spending is
on the table. He admitted that might be
uncomfortable for some die hard Republicans in the room. Koch, said he regrets supporting
politicians who "say they are going
to be for these principles we espouse, and then they aren’t. We are going ... to hold people responsible
for their commitments.” This was clearly
a departure from Koch’s normally ‘back the ‘R’ in the race’ strategy.
On
Monday, AFP announced they do not plan to back the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate
in North Dakota- Kevin Cramer- because he supports President Trump’s trade
policies and hardline stance on immigration.
The ND seat is one where Republicans are hopeful they can defeat a
Democrat incumbent. Koch’s support was
considered crucial for financing Cramer’s bid.
Three observations:
First,
AFP has never been a true grassroots organization. While marketed as one, AFP’s primary goal has
always been to push AFP’s agenda by using the established GOP network of Party
leaders. Republican volunteers have been
siphoned off from the traditional Party infrastructure by AFP, often times with
the cooperation of GOP leadership. AFP
donors and leadership have been willing to use the grassroots GOP and help fund
Party activities so long as it furthered their agenda, but when President Trump
announced trade politics AFP doesn’t agree with, the loyalty ended.
Second, AFP
has clearly contributed to the ‘too much money in politics’ problem. Campaigns cost money and GOP candidates at
all levels run to AFP with their hand out hoping to get a check. AFP was willing to give it out and help finance
slick marketed campaigns, knowing someday they would collect on their
investment.
Third,
candidates should recognize every donation comes with strings. When Koch says he will hold people ‘responsible
for their commitment,’ he means he will withhold campaign donations from those
who don’t do his bidding. It’s his money
and it’s his right to withhold it, but do we really want elected officials- of
any political persuasion- to be so obligated to their donor base? If so, they have become no more than a puppet
and the donor, the puppet master.
Since AFP
plans to start working with progressives, time will tell whether AFP will be as
successful infiltrating the Democrat Party as they have the Republican Party.
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