Liberal financier George Soros may fund groups that attack fellow billionaires Charles and David Koch for their donations to conservative political groups, but ask him what he thinks of the Koch brothers, and the Hungarian-American businessman plays nice.
Koch industries (pronounced “coke”) is an energy conglomerate that has recently come under fire from liberal groups like the Center for American Progress — which Soros partially funds — for supporting political organizations that advocate against climate change legislation and other libertarian and conservative causes.
The Daily Caller caught up with Soros after a think tank panel discussion Thursday in Washington, D.C. When asked what he thought of the Kochs, it appeared Soros wasn’t allowed to say much.
“Well I…” Soros began, before being immediately interrupted by an aide.
“What do you know about Kochs’ charitable foundations?” the aide asked in a tone that suggested this had been rehearsed.
“I don’t know it,” Soros said quickly.
When pressed, Soros added: “We used to be friends so I don’t make any personal comments.”
The other hot topic of discussion: Fox-news host Glenn Beck. Soros helps finance the liberal media watchdog group Media Matters for America, which last month launched a campaign to investigate Fox News employees. Soros has come under almost daily attacks from Beck, who recently announced he is splitting from the network. But Soros doesn’t think Beck’s departure will help the network’s image.
“I think Glenn Beck is a sideshow and it hasn’t changed anything at Fox really,” Soros said.
When asked if liberal networks were causing similar harm, Soros said yes.
“Not only Fox, but the other side also that…use techniques that are subjective,” he said. “We can apply that too.”
But when MSNBC was brought up as a specific example, Soros clammed up.
“I don’t watch either of them so I can’t tell you,” he said.
