Obama's biggest hater

Billionaire Harold Simmons has given more than $18 million to conservative super PACS because he believes the president is a socialist and "the most dangerous American alive" - a man, says Simmons, who "would eliminate free enterprise in this country." That's among the flaky comments he makes during an extended interview with the WSJ, and I must say it's an interesting - if somewhat chilling - read. It's one thing for some redneck to be shooting off his mouth - it's quite another if the redneck plans to spend tens of million of dollars. And Simmons doesn't much care which Republican gets nominated. From the Journal:

Unlike some big donors--including [Sheldon] Adelson--Mr. Simmons isn't driven by an attraction to a specific candidate or policy. His motivation is broader: to elect Republicans up and down the line in the hopes they will change the overall U.S. tax and regulatory approach. That helps explain why the biggest chunk of his political contributions in this election cycle have gone not to individual candidates but to [Karl] Rove-advised super PAC American Crossroads--its stated mission to defeat Mr. Obama and elect "majorities in both the House and the Senate that are 100% dedicated to rescuing our economy from the Obama agenda."

[CUT]

Mr. Simmons has some businesses that are heavily regulated, which helps explains his interest in deregulation. He also pushes for tort reform. One of his companies, NL Industries Inc., has fought lawsuits from school districts and businesses over lead paint that it made before Mr. Simmons acquired it. More broadly, he said, he and other individuals need to contribute to match the "unlimited amounts from labor unions" that benefit liberal candidates. "I've got the money, so I'm spending it for the good of the country," said Mr. Simmons, whose net worth is estimated at $10 billion, up from an estimated $4.1 billion in prerecession 2006, according to Forbes. He wears $3,000 Brioni sport coats in a nod to his wealth and Wal-Mart underwear in a sign of a frugal upbringing; his early years were spent without indoor plumbing or electricity.