Obamas Gave $148,344 to Charity

[Abacus]

March 25 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle gave $10,772 of the $1.2 million they earned from 2000 through 2004 to charities, or less than 1 percent, according to tax returns for those years released today by his campaign.

The Obamas increased the amount they gave to charity when their income rose in 2005 and 2006 after the Illinois senator published a bestselling book. The $137,622 they gave over those two years amounted to more than 5 percent of their $2.6 million income.

Bill Burton, a campaign spokesman, said the Obamas gave as much as they could afford.

``As new parents who were paying off their large student loans, giving $10,000 to charity was as generous as they could be at the time,'' Burton said.

The Obamas' giving pattern is consistent with that of most other Americans, said University of Georgia Professor Russell James, who has studied the issue.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHdvU_NJzIcI&refer=home

[rinsd]

1. Thanks for reposting.

Someone else decided to frame his charity as insubstantial which is just silly.

[Cant trust em]

4. Thank you for continuing to provide balance to the silly season.

I'm pretty good about following poster's tendencies. I appreciate how you are clearly a Clinton supporter, but have a unique ability (on DU at least) to see issues with clarity.

[Qutzupalotl]

5. Thank you for being fair-minded.

:toast::yourock:

[Abacus]

7. Thanks, rinsd!

:hug:

[helderheid]

21. Thank you!

:yourock:

[Hope And Change]

2. K&R!

[XemaSab]

3. He also got some JUICY earmarks in the senate for many worthwhile groups.

:)

[enid602]

6. sure

Sure, wasn't that the Rezko money they donated?

[roguevalley]

10. you really need to get out more. your bitterness is going to leave lines.

on your soul.

[Yes We Did]

12. You gotta try to ruin it don't you.

[sniffa]

18. Ignored always does

[Abacus]

19. Maybe you should have read the post first...

:shrug:

[madrchsod]

8. most of the 1.2 million over 4 yrs was from her income.

the illinois senate pay probably paid their student loans.

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Are there some people trying float it to be another one of those "Their house is too big!" idiocies?

[Yes We Did]

13. All over the place... at least 3 posts like that today.

[dailykoff]

11. $148,344.00, what cheap bastards.

:sarcasm:

[SunsetDreams]

14. That's awesome!!

I wish I had that much to give to charity!

[FrenchieCat]

15. Considering his financial situation......

that was actually quite a bit!




now, we'll have to wait and see how much the Clintons gave.

[SunsetDreams]

16. exactly

I am really getting sick of this "grasping for straws" to attack Sen Obama.

[mrJJ]

22. $10 mill - $50 mill

Just a financial but one heck of a spread $10 Mill too $50 mill? 47 pages

Hillary Clinton (D-NY) - 2006 Politician Profile Net Worth: From $10,360,009 to $51,021,998 Ranks 9th among all members of the Senate. Assets: 10 totaling $10,460,009 to $51,052,000. Liabilities: 2 totaling $30,002 to $100,000.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/candlook.php?txtName=clinton

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00000019&year=2006

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/candlook.php?capcode=h3mpd&CID=N00000019&submit=Submit

[Norrin Radd]

17. kr

[azmouse]

20. kick

[uponit7771]

23. Wait, these guys aren't multi milionairs!?!?! Hmmm,,,,interesting

[SaveAmerica]

24. I think this falls under 'none of your business' more than any other of today's subjects

Not YOU 'your' but your in general. I think people should not be judged by how much they put down on their tax form as charitable giving, some people don't believe in putting any on there and some people give/do things that aren't traceable in dollars. Some people who put their heart and soul into local programs that help people are (in my opinion) doing as much as people who give money to organizations/churches.