Liberals lamenting the power of corporate overlords with an agenda need to try and understand their differences with the Koch Brothers, writes former Watchdog.org writer Adam Ulbricht.
Over at the Op-ed section of the St. Cloud Times, Ulbricht contrasts the message in Coexist bumperstickers with mean things liberals say about the Koch Brothers' political influence in Left's silence speaks about values:
We are often reminded that the left believes in diversity. Chances are you've seen a fair number of "coexist" bumper stickers as a vehicle drives past you.
Coexistence is a concept that would be amazing to achieve. Who wouldn't want to live in a society where all are accepted?
But does the left really accept everyone? What about the Koch brothers? How does demonizing and protesting them fit into the notion of coexistence?
We're not sure when the Koch Brothers became a religion enjoying equal footing with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism and the like, but apparently Ulbricht's a true believer.
Now a self-described "Minnesota Nice" communications specialist, the young columnist earned his chops by working for the Minnesota House and Watchdog.org.
The Franklin Institute for Government and Public Integrity, parent of the latter news organization, and Watchdog itself was scrutinized in April 2013 by Sasha Chavkin in an article published in the Columbia Journalism Review, The Koch brothers’ media investment.
Chavkin focused on the content published by Watchdog, not its principle funding source, Donors Trust. It's a fascinating read, especially the passages on pages 2 through 3 about Watchdog's notions about what constitutes an "Islamic militant organization." (Chavkin links to a Washington Post debunking of the common claim about the Council of American-Islamic Relations [CAIR]; the Franklin Institute had repeated the claim).
Ulbricht's notion of "coexistence" turns into a hall of mirrors. Drivers of vehicles sporting bumperstickers of a design made popular by an organization that works to advance "social cohesion through education and innovation"? Hypocrites for criticizing the gospel of the Koch Brothers.
But that dark money filtered to a news organization publishing analysis that repeated divisive and misleading information about CAIR? How dare anyone engage in "demonizing and protesting" the generous souls who fund that.
Image: The Coexist logo.
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