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The Campaign spars with GOP darlings, the Koch brothers

Moviegoers are in for an outrageous portrayal of politicians who will do anything for a vote, as The Campaign hits theaters Friday. But a real-life war of words is occurring between one of the flick’s stars, Zach Galifianakis, and Republican financiers, David and Charles Koch.

The Campaign controversy

Zach Galifianakis better watch his back, as powerful businessmen David and Charles Koch have been none-too-pleased about comments the funnyman made regarding The Campaign’s inspiration for its fictional evil billionaire fundraisers — the Motch brothers (Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow).

“I think it is pretty obvious that the Motch brothers represent the Koch brothers,” Galifianakis told the New York Daily News prior to the Friday premiere. “I disagree with everything they do.

“They are creepy and there is no way around that. It’s not freedom what they are doing.”

The Koch brothers apparently MUST have messages delivered by way of one of their whipping boys, so they shot back with a statement, courtesy of Koch Industries’ president for government affairs, Phillip Ellender:  “It’s laughable to take political guidance or moral instruction from a guy who makes obscene gestures with a monkey on a bus in Bangkok.”

Oh, burn! So apparently Phil has seen the Hangover movies like the rest of us, as it’s an obvious reference to Galifianakis and his monkey sidekick in The Hangover 2.

“We disagree with his uninformed characterization of Koch and our beliefs,” Koch, by way of Ellender, continues. “His comments, which appear to be based on false attacks made by our political opponents, demonstrate a lack of understanding of our longstanding support of individual freedom, freedom of expression, and constitutional rights.”

Newsflash: It’s called “satire.”

From the looks of it, everyone and everything in this movie is a caricature — down to Zach Galifianakis and his role as genial yet dumb politician Marty Higgins (à la George W. Bush) and Will Ferrell as pretty-boy career politician Cam Brady (à la John Edwards pre-Rielle Hunter fiasco).

Hello! Our society politicizes everything, particularly during a contentious election year. By all accounts, the film is “equal opportunity” when it comes to scathing attacks. Be it red or blue, no one is off limits. This weekend, moviegoers regardless of ideology will go to the theater and finally have something to agree on: Both Tea Party-modeled Higgins and “blue-blooded” Brady are creepy.

Image courtesy of WENN.com

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