Koch Brothers Make Cato Institute Power Grab

The Koch Brothers, apparently looking for a respite from backing beleaguered Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, have decided to attempt to seize full control of the libertarian think tank Cato Institute. The brothers already have a fifty percent ownership of the Institute, and are making their move to obtain majority control. Today's online edition of the Washington Post provides the unsavory details.

The Kochs' power play delivers a strong, highly unpleasant message to those libertarians who believe they can dance with right-wing politicians and their wealthy enablers. However, I don't feel sorry at all for the libertarians impacted by the Kochs' muscle tactics. They just found out freedom has a price that goes beyond issuing position papers and smugly endorsing conservative politicians.

One irony is that the Koch-Cato wrestling match became publicized on the day conservative media baiter and Los Angeles native Andrew Breitbart died of a heart attack. The LA Times reported the episode, and its coverage included a sidebar noting Twitter comments about Breitbart.

It's very difficult to muster any sympathy for Breitbart, even in his moment of death. Breitbart's repellent tactics, including an attempted, felonious bugging of a congressperson's office, deserve no respect at all. What Breitbart never wanted to pursue was the development of a cogent, thoughtful political plan and structure. In essence, mirroring the Koch brothers' lust for power, Breitbart's actions focused on what was best for Andrew Breitbart.