Charles Koch explains how 2016 Republicans can win his support, and his millions

Memo to Republicans angling for some of the Koch brothers' titanic political cash pile: Stop hating on each other and start preaching policy.

In an interview with USA Today, Charles Koch clarified that contrary to recent reporting suggesting he and his brother were aligning behind Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), the two remained undecided in the GOP primary. But when the billionaire brothers — whose political network aims to spend nearly $900 million in the 2016 election cycle — do opt for a specific candidate, they'll tab someone who actually stands "a decent chance of being elected." (Sorry, Donald Trump.) More specifically, they'll seek someone who "is articulating a good message to help Americans get a better understanding and a better appreciation of how certain policies" will "benefit them and will benefit all America," Koch said.

"What we expect them to do is to compete on who has a more positive message for America," he said, "rather than what's wrong with some other candidate and did he smoke pot when he was 15 or whatever."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up