--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Charles and David Koch, two billionaire…" description: "\"Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers, have been funding the infrastructure behind the Republican Party's right-ward shift since at least 19..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png" --- # Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers, have… ![“Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers, have been funding the infrastructure behind the Republican Party's right-ward shift since at least 1980.” quote by David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png) > “Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers, have been funding the infrastructure behind the Republican Party's right-ward shift since at least 1980.” [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote claims that the Koch brothers have financially supported the Republican Party's move toward more conservative policies since the 1980s. **In simple terms:** Koch brothers funded Republican rightward shift since 1980. Key Takeaway Recognize the influence of wealthy donors on politics. Themes politics money influence Mood critical analytical Type commentary political. When to use this quote - election strategies - policy lobbying - grassroots activism Key Concepts campaign finance ideological shift wealthy donors Questions to Reflect On - How do donor motivations shape policy? - What other forces drive political change? A Different Perspective The impact of money may be overstated without broader social factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) [Infrastructure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infrastructure/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) ## Related quotes > [When you imagine the Koch brothers, it's hard not to think of the 1983 film 'Trading Places,' which featured as its villains a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/when-you-imagine-the-koch-brothers-it-s-hard-not-to-think-of-the-1983/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [When most people find themselves running afoul of the law, they might change their ways. When the Koch brothers found themselves running afoul of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/when-most-people-find-themselves-running-afoul-of-the-law-they-might/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Those guys are doing the Koch Brothers bidding and are against all the evidence of the rational mind, saying global warming does not exit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/those-guys-are-doing-the-koch-brothers-bidding-and-are-against-all/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [It's a sad reality if a guy like Charles Koch doesn't qualify as a role model. It's just sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-s-a-sad-reality-if-a-guy-like-charles-koch-doesn-t-qualify-as-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I am not the progressive Koch brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-eychaner/i-am-not-the-progressive-koch-brother/) [Fred Eychaner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-eychaner/) > [“When Donald later took out full-page ads criticizing the White House’s military spending overseas and advocating more financial aid for the homeless (yes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-l-o-brien/when-donald-later-took-out-full-page-ads-criticizing-the-white-house/) [Timothy L. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-l-o-brien/) > [When we first went to L.A., Howard Koch, who was the head of Paramount Pictures and later President of the Oscars, threw a welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-clark/when-we-first-went-to-l-a-howard-koch-who-was-the-head-of-paramount/) [Dave Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-clark/) > [Even though the Koch brothers' businesses put 4.4 million people at risk with pollutants, the Kochs have poured millions into lobbyists' coffers and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greenwald/even-though-the-koch-brothers-businesses-put-4-4-million-people-at/) [Robert Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greenwald/) > [“The numbers regarding Koch Industries’ pollution were incontrovertible. In 2012, according to the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory database, which documents the toxic and carcinogenic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-numbers-regarding-koch-industries-pollution-were-incontrovertible/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Koch was not one for grand plans. He just made constant adjustments. He always used the word 'stewardship' to describe his leadership style. He'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/koch-was-not-one-for-grand-plans-he-just-made-constant-adjustments-he/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [In the last presidential election Obama and Romney raised about $1 billion each. The Koch brothers, the second wealthiest family in America, now say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/in-the-last-presidential-election-obama-and-romney-raised-about-1/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Koch Industries is an amazing business that has succeeded by building a product that customers love dearly. The folks who run Koch are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pompeo/koch-industries-is-an-amazing-business-that-has-succeeded-by-building/) [Mike Pompeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pompeo/) > [“Koch's youthful idealism about libertarianism had largely devolved into a rationale for corporate self-interest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-chasteen/koch-s-youthful-idealism-about-libertarianism-had-largely-devolved/) John Charles Chasteen > [“that a given bacterial species caused a specific disease. In 1876, Koch established a set of criteria that a bacterium must meet in test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-e-maczulak/that-a-given-bacterial-species-caused-a-specific-disease-in-1876-koch/) [Anne E. Maczulak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-e-maczulak/) > [“Koch believed that what the famed economist Joseph Schumpeter called "creative destruction" was so critical to the health of the capitalist system that empathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/koch-believed-that-what-the-famed-economist-joseph-schumpeter-called/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) ## More by David Brock > [Eventually the story would spill over into the regular media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/eventually-the-story-would-spill-over-into-the-regular-media/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [I'm kind of a builder of institutions. I think I've got some ability to look at what's out here, look at a playing field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-m-kind-of-a-builder-of-institutions-i-think-i-ve-got-some-ability/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [“QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION What do you mean by…? What is your main point? How does \_\_\_\_\_\_ relate to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_? Could you put that another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/questions-for-clarification-what-do-you-mean-by-what-is-your-main/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Donald Trump intimidated the press and bullied the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/donald-trump-intimidated-the-press-and-bullied-the-press/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [It's all a sham: I have seen, and I know firsthand, indeed from my own pen, how the organized Right has sabotaged not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/it-s-all-a-sham-i-have-seen-and-i-know-firsthand-indeed-from-my-own/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Trump's opinions on the Iraq War have been as erratic as his opinions on other foreign policy matters - such as his careless position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/trump-s-opinions-on-the-iraq-war-have-been-as-erratic-as-his-opinions/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [I think the Democratic Party has to learn how to be a party of opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-think-the-democratic-party-has-to-learn-how-to-be-a-party-of/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [The Right has been trying to take down Bill Clinton for 20 years. I know; I was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/the-right-has-been-trying-to-take-down-bill-clinton-for-20-years-i/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [I didn't wake up one day and say, you know, 'Supply-side economics doesn't make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-didn-t-wake-up-one-day-and-say-you-know-supply-side-economics-doesn/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [“What are your goals for the call?” “If things go right, what are some stretch goals?” “What is the worst thing that might happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/what-are-your-goals-for-the-call-if-things-go-right-what-are-some/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Once you apologize, then the press wants you to get down on your knees and say you're sorry. They are not appeasable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/once-you-apologize-then-the-press-wants-you-to-get-down-on-your-knees/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Ive been interested in watching the level of conservative misinformation that circulates through the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/ive-been-interested-in-watching-the-level-of-conservative/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Ignorance can be improved; willful ignorance and inaction is inexcusable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/ignorance-can-be-improved-willful-ignorance-and-inaction-is/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [We all know liberals and Democrats who look down on certain people, and there is such a thing as P.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/we-all-know-liberals-and-democrats-who-look-down-on-certain-people/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [Editors of conservative magazines aren't out trying to raise money. The money is there; the cash reserves are in the bank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/editors-of-conservative-magazines-aren-t-out-trying-to-raise-money/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) [Explore all 88 David Brock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) ## More Billionaire quotes > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“The candidate who billed himself as a billionaire—ten times over—refused even to invest his own money in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-candidate-who-billed-himself-as-a-billionaire-ten-times-over/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If I could set a world record, it would be that I have 150 business partners, all with thriving businesses of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-i-could-set-a-world-record-it-would-be-that-i-have-150-business/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The biggest risk is not taking any risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-biggest-risk-is-not-taking-any-risk/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Message to the billionaire class: You can't have it all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/message-to-the-billionaire-class-you-can-t-have-it-all/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Every decision I make is, 'How is this helping me become a billionaire?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/every-decision-i-make-is-how-is-this-helping-me-become-a-billionaire/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [“A Debt Problem Is, At Its Core, a Budgeting Problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-pace/a-debt-problem-is-at-its-core-a-budgeting-problem/) [Natalie Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-pace/) > ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I know a lot of people in the city, at all levels, horizontally and vertically - and that to me is a privilege, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-city-at-all-levels-horizontally-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) [Browse all 356 Billionaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers, have been funding the infrastructure behind the Republican Party's right-ward shift since at least 1980.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Brock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-brothers-have-been-funding-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billionaire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-brothers-have-been-funding-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/david-brock-7746_billionaire_charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-b_1750777.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers, have been funding the infrastructure behind the Republican…” — David Brock", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Brock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Charles and David Koch, two billionaire...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-brothers-have-been-funding-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/charles-and-david-koch-two-billionaire-brothers-have-been-funding-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```