Koch brothers hit back after Zach Galifianakis calls them "creepy"

cbs news ^ | 8/7/12 | Stephanie Condon Topics Campaign 2012

[Nachum]

(CBS) The upcoming movie "The Campaign," starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as two buffoonish congressional contenders, takes aim at the powerful, Republican-aligned Koch brothers.

But now with Galifianakis bad-mouthing the conservative duo off screen, the Koch brothers are reminding people that he's just an actor.

In the comedy, actors Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow play the Motch brothers, who are financially backing the implausible candidate portrayed by Galifianakis. In an interview with the New York Daily News on Monday, Galifianakis said it's "pretty obvious" the characters are based on Charles and David Koch.

"I disagree with everything they do. They are creepy and there is no way around that. It's not freedom what they are doing," Galifianakis said when asked about the Koch brothers.

The brothers, co-owners of Koch Industries, are arguably two of the largest funders of non-profit "social welfare organizations" that support conservative causes. They reportedly plan to raise up to $400 million for this year's elections, much of it through anonymous donations to groups like Americans for Prosperity. That group is set to spend $25 million on a new advertising campaign against President Obama.

A spokesman for the Koch brothers responded to Galifianakis' remarks in a statement obtained by CNN.

[clive bitterman]

“N” is or Nick, Nick Galifinackas,
“I” is for his integrity,
“C” come join us,
“K” you know how,
We need Nick in the senate in Washington, D.C.!

Wasn’t “Nick” the Dean of Duke Laws School when he became a candidate for the senate in 1972, only to lose to newcomer Jesse Helms?

[GSWarrior]

When liberals start smearing the Koch brothers, I simply ask them "Do you mean the same evil Koch brothers who are consistently anti-war and who gave $20 million to the ACLU to help in its fight against Bush's Patriot Act? Those Koch brothers?"

That usually catches them by surprise.

[houeto]

Actors and actresses — is there nothing they don’t know?

They remind me of the magnet my wife had on the fridge during the kids school years:

"Ask your children now while they still know everything!"

[wbill]

Buddy of mine knows Zach pretty well. Says that he's a nice guy, but marches to the tune of his own drummer. The counter-culture, hippy-dippy, weird vibe he puts off onscreen...... "not really an act".

Remember that there's no such thing as bad publicity.

As for the "Candidate" movie. I hate politicians. I dislike Will Ferrell. So, when I saw a trailer of Will Ferrell playing a politician ... that gets shot with a crossbow! .... I said "hmmm. Might need to see this movie." :-)

[RPTMS]

I don’t like this Zach Galifinakilfiorgudbctdoffjsjfnis guy.

[W. W. SMITH]

And here I thought the movie was about two Democrats. they act like Democrats. The Motch brothers where portraying George Soros and his son. That’s my perception and I’m sticking with it.

[IronJack]

Zach Galifanakis has one character. It's a fat, dense, slob of a social misfit who's supposed to be disarming in his pathos. Take away the pathos and you've got Zach Galifinakis the person.

I saw a standup routine with that clod that would more accurately be called a "falldown" routine, since he was so plastered he was virtually inarticulate. Sweating like a pig and ranting gibberish that embarrassed everyone but him.

On the other hand, Will Ferrell is about as funny as a burn ward.

[Ditter]

Same here, with those 3 guys in it, it would be something I would enjoy BUT NOT NOW!