Yesterday, Terri Lynn Land accepted the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business claiming that it shows she is supported by Michigan small business owners. However, what it really shows is that, once again, she’s being backed by a Koch brothers’ corporatist front group set up to shape laws and public policy to benefit corporations. The Koch brothers are, in fact, the NFIB’s largest contributor:
The National Federation of Independent Business is one of the most influential small-business advocacy groups in the country. They battle against government regulation, higher taxes and, perhaps most famously, Obamacare. And they do it all as the self-described “voice of small business.”But it turns out that the champions of Main Street America got more money last year from a group backed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch than any other single source.
NFIB and its affiliated groups received $2.5 million from Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a conservative advocacy group with deep ties to the Koch empire. Of the five men that sit on the group’s board, four are current or former employees of Koch companies and one is a friend of Charles Koch’s.
Freedom Partners gave the NFIB $1.5 million last year, the biggest single contribution the federation received…
Yes, I know. You’re shocked that the failed candidacy of Terri Lynn Land is being supported by yet another Koch brothers’ front group.
At the press conference announcing the NFIB’s endorsement, a reporter asked, “This endorsement is this another move by the Koch brothers to influence the election. Do you want to address that?” Land laughed and took a step backwards, dodging the question and turning it over to an NFIB official. You can watch it here starting at the 2:10 mark:
Land is in dubious company. The NFIB has also endorsed Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin and Richard Mourdock who (in)famously said that babies resulting from rape are a “something God intended”.
Land has been trailing Democrat Gary Peters in 7 straight polls now, despite massive spending from the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity. They’ve already plowed over $4.3 million into the race on behalf of Land and don’t plan to stop now.
One thing is very, very clear: without all that sweet, sweet Koch money, she wouldn’t even be in contention.
