Those Evil Koch Brothers 10

Someone please stop this man. We mean billionaire philanthropist David Koch, who had the temerity Thursday morning to break ground for a new wing of the New YorkPresbyterian Hospital.

The groundbreaking for the David H. Koch Center for ambulatory care was a quiet affair, a notable change from this spring, when the $100 million gift was first announced. Back then, the New York State Nurses’ Association and SEIU Local 1199 protested the gift with signs that read, “Quality Care, Not Koch Care!”

That’s right: The same groups who usually march against hospitals for closing were outraged that one was expanding. Plainly, it galls them that ordinary people might see these gifts for what they are: the generous donations of a good citizen.

In an interview with Crain’s this month, Koch was asked why his name is on so many of the projects to which he donates. He answered as follows:

“Leftwing Democrats highly enjoy calling me an evil Koch brother, and the contributions I make in these many areas are tremendously worthy. It sends a message to the political groups in this country that don’t like the conservative Republican businessman.”

Maybe the tide is turning. Little more than a week ago, Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler appeared at a dinner honoring Koch for the new Metropolitan Museum of Art plaza he’d funded.

Here’s our question: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Kochs are “un-American.” What does that make the New York Democrats who show up to honor him?