Republican
hopefuls appear at billionaire Koch retreat
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[January 26, 2015]
By Tim Reid
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (Reuters) - Three
potential Republican presidential candidates appeared before a gathering
of wealthy donors organized by the conservative billionaire Koch
brothers in California on Sunday night.
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The summit, held at a luxury resort near Palm Springs sealed off
to outsiders, drew Republican Senators Marco Rubio from Florida,
Rand Paul from Kentucky and Ted Cruz from Texas.
It was organized by brothers Charles and David Koch, successful
industrialists who bankroll conservative causes across America.
Access to their network of money and influence is alluring to some
potential Republican presidential hopefuls.
The Kochs have a private network that spent hundreds of millions of
dollars in recent elections and a donor list that is wealthy,
diverse and hungry for a Republican candidate that can win the White
House in 2016.
The Koch event capped a busy two days where the long road to the
Republican nomination appeared to have begun in earnest.
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Eight potential Republican candidates made speeches at a separate
gathering in Iowa on Saturday.
At least a dozen Republicans are showing interest in 2016. Former
Florida governor Jeb Bush and former Republican presidential nominee
Mitt Romney are among those seriously looking at White House bids.
Chris Christie, the Republican New Jersey governor, has formed a
political action committee, a major step to a presidential run, the
Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
On Sunday night, Republican senators Rubio, Paul and Cruz discussed
domestic and foreign policy. They were being hosted by Freedom
Partners Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization backed by
the Koch brothers.
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"STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM"
Freedom Partners and other Koch political fundraising entities are
structured under the U.S. tax code so that their donors, and how
much money they give, do not have to be disclosed.
The political advocacy network run by the Koch brothers aimed to
spend $290 million on advertisements and messaging ahead of the 2014
mid-term elections.
The Koch brothers are frequently criticized by Democrats as being
secretive bankrollers of Republican causes and campaigns.
The press was not allowed access for the California gathering.
Freedom Partners released excerpts of a speech by Charles Koch to
attendees on Saturday night, in which he said "the struggle for
freedom never ends".
An internet feed of the three senators' discussion was also
provided. Lifting people out of poverty, and whether a federal
minimum wage was a potential solution, particularly animated them.
"I think the minimum wage constantly hurts the most vulnerable,"
Cruz said.
(Editing by Gareth Jones)
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