Somehow it slipped under this year’s presidential election radar that David Koch, one-half of the infamous Koch brothers of Koch Industries and billionaire backer for Team GOP, is for marriage equality.
He had stated his stance way back in 1980, while running as a vice presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party, but has been quiet about his viewpoint until this past weekend during the Republican National Convention, where he voiced his differing opinions with the presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Not only does he differ from the ticket ideals in gay marriage but also taxation and pulling the military out of the Middle East. “I believe in gay marriage,” he told Politico, as well as, “I think it’s essential to be able to achieve spending reductions and maybe it’s going to require some tax increases. We got to come close to balancing the budget; otherwise, we’re in a terrible deep problem.”
If you’re scratching your head wondering why he’s has given millions of dollars to the party platform, you’re not alone. His breaks with the GOP orthodoxy has stumped political journalists. However, money talks (and very loudly in politics) and if he keeps chunks of change rolling in, perhaps Republicans will be less likely to seek a ban against same-sex marriage if they take office. Only time, and dollars, will tell.
Photo: glaad.org
