Barack Obama: Koch Billion $ Campaign
on Friday, May 1, 2015Barack Obama Money Quotation saying as Comedian-in-Chief during the 2015 Whitehouse correspondents dinner that the Koch brothers pledge to spend over 800 Million Dollars on Republican Campaign donations is excessive. Barack Obama said:
I for one cannot wait to see who the Koch Brothers pick. Seriously, a billion dollars from just two guys! Is it just me or does that feel a little excessive? The Koch brothers think they need to spend a billion dollars to get folks to like one of these people” — Barack Obama
In this quote, former President Barack Obama is criticizing the immense political influence of conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch. By sarcastically saying he “cannot wait” to see who they support, Obama is implying their financial backing essentially anoints the winner of Republican primaries.
His rhetorical question about $1 billion from two people feeling “a little excessive” conveys Obama’s view that no individual or family should have such outsized sway over elections. Obama also questions the Kochs’ motivation, suggesting they feel they “need” such vast spending as if ordinary voters cannot be persuaded without being effectively “bought.”
The quote conveys Obama’s belief that reforms are necessary to curb the disproportionate role of billionaire donors in choosing political leaders and setting policy agendas through the power of their bank accounts.