Fake 'Koch Brother' Dupes Scott Walker

Scott Walker won’t take a call from the Democratic minority leader, but he’ll gladly make time for uber-fundraiser David Koch—or at least, someone he thinks is David Koch. Ian Murphy, editor of the Buffalo's Beast website, managed to get the Wisconsin governor on the phone in just a few quick calls by impersonating Koch. In the resulting recording, Walker expounds on his plans to break the Democratic senators’ resistance, including stopping their paychecks, catching them in an ethics violations, and threatening to lay off public workers.

He even plans to try tricking them into coming in for talks in the state assembly—which might let Republicans pass the bill later that day. "If you heard I was going to talk to them, that's the only reason why," he assures Koch. When Fake Koch suggests “planting some troublemakers” among protesters, Walker replies, “We thought of that,” but then says he’s worried that a “ruckus” would pressure him to make a deal. At the end of the call, Fake Koch offers to “fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time.” Walker replies, “That would be outstanding.” For one writer's take on the call, click here. (More David Koch stories.)