Obamas Gave Less Than 1% of Their 2000-2004 Income to Charity

I really don't think that anyone who runs for pres.should have to release anything. why does this have to be public record. it's none of anybody'a bizz...greg

how is this seriously an issue? It is what he claims, at that level of income, you only claim what you have receipts for. I don't doubt cash goes into the collection plate when they are in Church. this is one for those that already weren't going to vote for him, had he donated more it would have been, look look! he just wants to mandate we all give as much as he does!

"I only make $53,000 a year. I'm not all that particularly religious. And I still managed to give the church I go to ten Sundays a year $2,400 in 2007. Obama's a rather selfish cheapskate."

LOLOLOLOLOL

2400 bux?? SUCKER! they took your 2400 and RAN. Anyone who tithes at church is an idiot. Big fairy tale is all that the church is teaching you. yeah, Morals are great 'n all, but most churches are so IMMORAL it's ridiculous.

Why don't you look at the bigger picture? 1.2 million in income... and they paid 300K in taxes... WOW. they gave 300 grand to the UNITED STATES. Sounds like they did their donation duty right there.

It's funny... i bet most of the people here don't donate to charity at all. I made 120K last year. I didn't donate one RED CENT to charity. Do you know why?? because most of the money you donate to charity goes to the organizations' administration staff. Usually it's on avg of 70 or 80 cents on the dollar... so it's STUPID to donate to charity. If you want to help people, help DIRECTLY by giving to the specific folks it would help. When you do that, it's not "tax deductable" but does a far greater service.

Ask an Obama supporter why they like him. They say...I share his values...he has done so much good for his community..he wants change...he practices a new kind of politics.

Well...do you have a different reason...because those do not seem to fly anymore.

It is clear he is a politician just like them all...he lies...misspeaks...uses negative tactics (we see this clearly with the Hillary bashing from his supporters). He sought out high ranking members in the political world to gain their support for his own political aspirations.

Take off your rose-colored glasses Obama supporters...time to ask the tough questions of your candidate and not to be duped by a speech, no matter how well spoken.

We have always given 10% of our income to the church. Donate in other ways and time. We have never made near 45k a year either.

I am amazed that obama being so civic minded and concerned about the poor in the area he was from, would of given more to them. In donations and time. Like roll up his sleeves and cook and help at soup kitchens and events. Sat down and eat with the poor and get to know them. Silly, me. I am sure he is to high above them to take a genuine hands on approach with them.

Mr Obama is a speech.

There are those who donate whenever necessary to needy people "everywhere" and don't claim tax deduction on every donation. Never judge others if you don't know the truth.

I thought only republicans were that cheep.

Maybe the Obamas thought that giving $311,000 to the US Government was charity enough, as they had no say how THAT money would be spent (welfare, porkbarrel, war effort, etc).

Please note that I am no Obama supporter either. I just think he needed a better tax shelter - or accountant - that he actually paid that much.

They were too busy donating favors to Rezco. And they needed every dime to make payments on the house that Rezco helped them buy.

The problem I have with the Democrat tendency toward stingy-ness is that they make much more money then we do, but they want to take OUR money and use it for their programs...programs that they don't even give personally to.

At least Bush and Cheney have been generous with charities. Dems want to give away other peoples' money (raising our taxes). Republicans want people to have the choice to give if they want to.

Wow a that's nearly $42 per week in the collection basket. How generous...

No offense, but I don't remember "giving to charity" as being a requirement for the Presidency of the United States. Especially since half the presidents we've had lately consider "charity" to be an entitlement and encouraging laziness. Unless of course its a faith-based initiative.

They made, total, 1.2 million, according to these figures. Of that, they paid 311,000 for taxes. Which leaves about 900,000 left to pay for things like mortgage, any kind of schooling for their kids, health care, etc. I'm pretty sure they have to keep track of their bills more than say many other members of Congress. I also remember reading that they both just paid off their loans for law school.

Seriously, for this level of government, they ain't exactly raking in the cash. What is the point of this article?

Obama IS a
--- Talker ---
but NOT a
--- Walker ---

Giving money is not the only way to support charities. There is also the donation of time and effort, by volunteering and assisting with the purposes of the charities. Those donations also have a monetary value, but not the kind that is reported on tax returns. Judging someone's charitable history by looking only at monetary donations listed on their tax returns, therefore, can be highly misleading.

thinkingfella : What a joke!

I'm loving all the republicans posting as 'former' 'Obama supporters' here.

Keep it up guys, your anger and mastery of the language are making my arguments for me.

Obama in '08.

Didn't anyone point out that was the year Senator and Mrs. Obama finished paying off their college and law school loans. How much did they have left over after that? How much would anyone have left over after that unless they were employed by a NYC law firm?

The Obamas' charitable contributions have consistently risen each successive year after that.

Obama and Michelle spent their time working on behalf of the poor in Chicago. They both took lower paying jobs to help in the community. They gave their time. Unfortunately, community organizing doesn't pay as well as shady trips to Dubai. I wonder what McCain and his 23 million dollar wife's taxes look like.

Oh for crying out loud. Let's get some facts and perspective in here please:

1) The Obama's could have given money every week to a charity and simply not requested their deduction. Many people do this, including me: when I put money in the church basket every week I don't ask for a receipt so I can write it off on my taxes. I know some do, but it's not a criminal offense to fail to ask for a deduction.
2) They could have given money to worthwhile causes that are not tax deductible.
3) They could have contributed to their community with labor and work. This wouldn't show up as a charitable contribution on the tax return.
4) You group all four years together to make it seem like they are big earners (over a million dollars!), and stingy givers, but if you look at each year individually they were relatively modest earners until the book started to sell in 2006, each earning around $125k a year. This is not an unusual wage for college graduates with advanced degrees.
5) It is difficult for people who make less to give more, because a greater percentage of their earnings are needed for expenses like mrotage, bills, etc. 6) You fail to note that in 2006 and 2007, as they started to make more money, they gave a considerably larger portion of their income to charity.
7) Can we get a comparison with McCain and Clinton's charitable giving here? Or at least some mention of why you can't? Is that too much to ask?

Umm.

Didn't the Obamas not make any money until 2005, and then they gave about 60K away to charity in 05? Nice cherry-pick!