By: Christine Morabito – August, 2014
Psychiatry has a word for the practice of accusing others of something you yourself do. The word is “projection.”
According to PsychologyDictionary.org, projection is a “defense mechanism whereby unenviable or unpleasant traits, impulses or ideas are attributed to another. In this way, the projector is able to avoid the unpleasantness in themselves.”
Progressives are quite fond of their slogan “America has a Koch problem” (pronounced coke). Clever, yes, but wildly inaccurate. In an effort to conceal the influence of left-wing millionaires and billionaires like George Soros, Michael Moore and Warren Buffett, Progressives have made an obsession out of demonizing David and Charles Koch for daring to have money, and therefore influence over American politics. In a public address, Senator Harry Reid even went so far as to call these private citizens “un-American.” But then again, they don’t call him “Dirty Harry” for nothing.
In an outrageous email from self-proclaimed Socialist, Senator Bernie Sanders: “The great issue of our time is whether the American people will be successful in defeating the efforts of the billionaire class which seeks to move our country into an oligarchic form of society in which a handful of super-wealthy families control the economic and political life of this nation.” The Senator continued: “The Koch brothers, right-wing extremists who are now worth some $80 billion dollars, are prepared to spend as much as it takes to create an America in their vision. And what is that vision? The elimination of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, federal aid to education, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the concept of the minimum wage. …”
His behavior bordering on the delusional, Sanders, Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, under intense scrutiny for the VA scandal, even tried to blame the agency’s failings on the Koch brothers.
The villainization of these two men began in earnest after the Citizen’s United Supreme Court ruling regarding political PACS. While Progressives consider the ruling a sign of the apocalypse, in actuality it leveled the playing field for both parties. What has the far-left unglued is the fact that conservatives may now influence elections much like unions and other special interest groups have done for years. In an OpenSecrets.org post, “Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014,” Koch Industries ranked only 58, behind over a dozen powerful union groups. Yet “dark money” and “shadowy money” are terms reserved for conservatives. I call this projecting on steroids.
A little research reveals that the Charles Koch Foundation is committed to both science and higher education, offering grants to over 250 colleges and universities. David Koch provides funding for PBS’s “Nova” series, and has donated generously to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the American Museum of Natural History and other institutions too numerous to mention here. Doesn’t sound “un-American” to me.
Charles and David are enthusiastic supporters of the free-market philosophy that built this great nation. When it comes to health care, their position is not to deny coverage, but to advocate for proven, free-market solutions. The Affordable Care Act, despite the fancy rhetoric, will bankrupt our states, limit access to quality care and force us all to pay substantially more, resulting in millions of Americans being insured in name only. Koch Industries’ commitment to health care is well known. They have donated over a billion dollars of “shadowy money” to cancer and other medical research.
The notion of privatizing Social Security, an idea shared by the Koch brothers, is far from extreme. In fact, it may be the only thing that will ultimately save the failing program. Clearly, the current Ponzi scheme that is Social Security is unsustainable and will leave millions of future retirees out in the cold.
Companies owned by the brothers have received over 180 environmental and safety awards, including a Clean Air award from the EPA itself. Yet the mischaracterizations abound.
The hypocrisy of the far-left is astounding. Mike Ciandella, writer and analyst for the Business & Media Institute, reported that billionaire George Soros “has accepted a position on the National Finance Council of the Ready For Hillary Super PAC.” He also “spent more than $25.5 million to defeat President George W. Bush in 2004. … In just 10 years, he gave more than $550 million to liberal organizations in the United States. This has included money going to fund liberal agenda topics like Earth Day, gun control, government funding of student loans and even the IRS targeting of conservatives.” Soros’ liberal PAC, Center for American Progress, has bankrolled many a political campaign. Money and influence? – nothing to see here.
Propaganda master, Michael Moore, one of America’s richest 1 percent, with 9 homes to his name, made $125,384 in political contributions in 2012. This anti-capitalist millionaire raked it in by selling his outlandish documentaries designed to sway opinions all around the world. Moore is among the brothers’ most vocal critics, blasting them for their influence over American politics. Again, projection.
Warren Buffett has already made $77,600 in political contributions for 2014, and the year’s still young. Over a billion dollars of Buffett money has also been used to influence the abortion lobby. Wealth and persuasion is apparently only a problem when it comes from conservatives.
By projecting the perceived unpleasant qualities of wealth and influence onto David and Charles Koch, those on the far-left can ignore those same negative qualities within themselves. Typically this defense mechanism is employed unconsciously. However, in this case it is clearly a conscious effort.
Related stories:
‘Evil’ Kochs Win Environmental Awards
Koch Brothers Fire Back at ‘Disrespectful and Divisive’ Harry Reid
Koch Industries Responds to New Yorker Claims
Michael Moore Considered Hypocritical For Occupy Involvement