Conservatives are bracing for what they fear may be another liberal media onslaught against philanthropists Charles and David Koch: The approaching publication of a new book that purports to tell how they "devised an ambitious, decades-long strategy to catapult their Libertarian-tinged ideology upon the nation…."
Written by Mother Jones Senior Editor Daniel Schulman, the book is due out in May and will arrive in the midst of an ongoing and active campaign by congressional Democrats to paint the Koch Brothers into a symbol of undue political interference by Republican moneyed interests.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently took to the Senate floor denouncing the two billionaires as "un-American" for donating and supporting organizations that back conservative policies and opposing Democrats in key Senate seats up for grabs this election year.
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The new book to be released next month by Grand Central Publishing, a member of the Hachette book group, is titled "Sons of Wichita: How the Koch Brothers Became America’s Most Powerful and Private Dynasty."
Schulman comes from the world of Mother Jones and supporters of the Kochs expect it will reflect the sensibilities of the publication — which states on its web site, "We're not insulted by being called left, liberal, progressive, whatever."
Promotional material issued by the publisher seeks to position it as a mainstream work of biography, comparing it to British historian Niall Ferguson's "The House of Rothschild" trilogy. The publisher calls Sons of Wichita "a complete look into a wealthy and powerful family — warts and all."
That the book will put plenty of warts on display is reflected in its detailed account of an inter-family dispute that involved David and Charles Koch on the one hand, and their brothers Frederick and Bill on the other.
The publisher's promotional material describes that relationship as a "bitter, bare-knuckled legal battle that spanned nearly two decades."
Dan Gainor, the vice president of business and culture at the conservative Media Research Center watchdog, tells Newsmax that Mother Jones has "a huge anti-conservative agenda."
Gainor suggests that the book will be part of the larger Democratic effort to make the Kochs the symbol of Republican money sources.
"Their goal is to demonize all outside money — except their own," he said, referring to the significant controversial donors on their side of the aisle.
Gainor points to the huge political contributions Democrats have raked in from investor George Soros and big labor.
"The left's jihad against the Kochs is one of the most disgusting bouts of lies and disinformation I've seen in a long time," says Gainor. "Liberals have decided their route to winning Congress and the White House goes right through people who exemplify hard work and charitable giving."
Contacted by Newsmax Tuesday, Schulman stated by email that at the publisher's request he would be unable to do interviews about "Sons of Wichita" until closer to its May 20 release date.
Publishing sources in New York tell Newsmax that the book has been shrouded in secrecy and its publishing house has kept a tight lid on any pre-publicity relating to it. A recent LibraryJournal.com review stated the book aims for "a rounded biography" of the Kochs.
In addition to his role as senior editor of Mother Jones' Washington bureau, Schulman has written for the Boston Globe magazine, the Village Voice, and the Columbia Journalism Review.
In February, he co-authored a piece posted on MotherJones.com regarding a document left behind after a donor gathering at the Renaissance Esmeralda resort near Palm Springs, Calif. The article called the document "a fascinating glimpse into the Kochs' political machine."
Several tweets by Schulman also make reference to the Kochs. A March 13 tweet stated Reid "is back on the Koch Bros. warpath," describing the Nevada senator's rhetoric as a "dicey strategy."
The tweet linked to a post on Reid's website headlined: "Reid Remarks on the Koch Brothers' Attempt to Buy America's Democracy."
In that post, Reid alleges that the Koch brothers have exploited Americans suffering from cancer and have tried to rig the political process.
A publishing source in New York tells Newsmax that information about the book has been very tightly controlled by the publisher for reasons that remain unknown.
Says MRC's Gainor: "Through a collection of crazy liberal websites and Capitol Hill allegations, the left is demonizing success and trying to scare away anyone who dares challenge them."
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