\u00a0stated publicly and repeatedly since last November<\/a>\u00a0that we have never made any such claim or pledge. It is hard to imagine that the campaign is unaware of our publicly stated position on that point. Similarly, Americans for Prosperity is not simply \u201cfunded by the Koch brothers,\u201d as you state \u2014 rather it has tens of thousands of members and contributors from across the country and from all walks of life. Further, our opposition to this President\u2019s policies is not based on partisan politics but on principles. Charles Koch and David Koch have been outspoken advocates of the free-market for over 50 years and they have consistently opposed policies that frustrate or subvert free markets, regardless of whether a Democrat or a Republican was President.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
If the President\u2019s campaign has some principled disagreement with the arguments we are making publicly about the staggering debt the President and previous administrations have imposed on the country, the regulations that are stifling business growth and innovation, the increasing intrusion of government into nearly every aspect of American life, we would be eager to hear them. But it is an abuse of the President\u2019s position and does a disservice to our nation for the President and his campaign to criticize private citizens simply for the act of engaging in their constitutional right of free speech about important matters of public policy. The implication in that sort of attack is obvious: dare to criticize the President\u2019s policies and you will be singled out and personally maligned by the President and his campaign in an effort to chill free speech and squelch dissent.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time that the President and his Administration have engaged in this sort of disturbing behavior. As far back as August, 2010, Austan Goolsbee, then the President\u2019s chief economic advisor, made public comments concerning Koch\u2019s tax status and falsely stated that the company did not pay income tax, which triggered a federal investigation into Mr. Goolsbee\u2019s conduct that potentially implicated federal law against improper disclosure of taxpayer information. Last June, your colleagues sent fundraising letters disparaging us as \u201cplotting oil men\u201d bent on \u201cmisleading people\u201d with \u201cdisinformation\u201d in order to \u201csmear\u201d the President\u2019s record. Those accusations were baseless and were made at the very same time the president was publicly calling for a more \u201ccivil conversation\u201d in the country.<\/p>\n
It is understandable that the President and his campaign may be \u201ctired of hearing\u201d that many Americans would rather not see the president re-elected. However, the inference is that you would prefer that citizens who disagree with the President and his policies refrain from voicing their own viewpoint. Clearly, that\u2019s not the way a free society should operate.<\/p>\n
We agree with the President that civil discourse is an American strength. That is why it is troubling to see a national political campaign apparently target individual citizens and private companies for some perceived political advantage. I also hope the President will reflect on how the approach the campaign is using is at odds with our national values and the constitutional right to free speech.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Philip Ellender<\/strong>
\nPresident, Government & Public Affairs
\nKoch Companies Public Sector, LLC<\/p>\n<\/article>\n <\/p>\n