Charles Koch isn't planning on supporting any Republican candidate in the primary
He has a lot of people to choose from, but Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch says he has "no plans" to support any of the Republican presidential candidates in the primary.
The billionaire industrialist and supporter of conservative politics told USA Today on Wednesday that he's looking for somebody who is "going to make a difference." Right now, "it's not only what they say," he said. "If they start saying things we think are beneficial overall and will change the trajectory of the country, then that would be good, but we have to believe also they'll follow through on it, and by and large, candidates don't do that." He did say it's likely he will support the eventual Republican nominee in the general election.
Koch and his brother, David Koch, are known for making significant donations to conservative campaigns and organizations, but Koch said he's not one for politics. "[David] is more interested in the political side," he said. What Koch does take an interest in is free speech on college campuses. "Universities are supposed to be a marketplace of ideas and encourage different thinking, not, 'Oh, we don't want any student to be uncomfortable,'" he said. "Well, you want all the students to be uncomfortable because they are exposed to new and different ideas that challenge the way they are thinking to help them develop thinking skills."
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IRS filings show that two charitable foundations bankrolled by Koch have given $19.3 million to 210 college campuses and organizations to fund economic research, offer scholarships, and underwrite courses that support libertarian economic policies, USA Today reports. "If we support three or four professors out of hundreds who have an alternate point of view, they are trying to get that kicked off the campus," he said. "You want no debate on ideas? We're not saying, 'Oh, you need to get rid of everybody.' Bring 'em on. Let's have a free and open debate. That's what a free society is all about."
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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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