Influence Alley

This week, the liberal group, Patriot Majority, launched a $500,000 national ad campaign that targeted the Koch brothers, the billionaire bank rollers of conservative causes.

It did not take long, however, for a representative of the brothers to rebut the ads' claims that Charles and David Koch are ushering in a "Greed Agenda." (Check out the 60-second spot after the jump). 

Philip Ellender, president of government and public affairs for Koch Companies Public Sector LLC, shot back with a strongly worded statement posted on the Koch website.

Rather than run on their record and engage in a principled discussion about the critical issues facing Americans today, the President's allies instead choose to attack and demonize private citizens and job creators who disagree with them on the direction this country is going. The ads are dishonest and at odds with some of this country's most cherished values -- that Americans have a First Amendment right to challenge politicians and that voters make up their own minds about competing ideas.

Then came Patriot Majority's counter to the counter-punch. From spokeswoman Christy Setzer:

Well, Phil, we agree that voters have a right to make up their mind about competing ideas--that's why we're telling them about the ideas the Kochs and their friends embrace, like eliminating the minimum wage and turning Medicare into a voucher system--but we're finding your "poor billionaires" act wearing a little thin.

OK, Alley readers: Who comes out the winner in this bout?