Obama's charity

[Sam]

Barack Hussein Obama has released financial records. This is an excerpt showing how giving they are:

The Obamas also became more charitable as their incomes grew larger. In 2000, the couple gave $2,350 to charity, or about 1 percent of their total gross income.

In 2006, they donated $60,307 to charities, or about 6 percent of their gross income.

In 2005, the Obamas note a $5,000 donation to the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where the controversial Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., was Obama's pastor. If Obama tithed more regularly to the church, there's no record of it in these tax returns.

[TRFrance]

After looking through the records, it appears that Obama didn't donate anything to Hurricane Katrina relief.

Wassup? I thought Barack was down with helping the brothas!!(??)

I wonder what Rev. Jeremiah Wright has to say about this.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

After looking through the records, it appears that Obama didn't donate anything to Hurricane Katrina relief.

Wassup? I thought Barack was down with helping the brothas!!(??)

I wonder what Rev. Jeremiah Wright has to say about this.

Don't mean to broad brush everybody but there are lots of liberals who don't give much to charity and lots of conservatives who do.

[jaxfam6]

Now Sam you can broad brush the political world all you want but do not broad brush the Christian world. The church I attend would be considered VERY liberal by most standards of the Pentecostal Apostolic world but they are the most giving people I have ever met. To any and all causes, inside and outside the church. We sent money, clothes, and toiletries to hurricane victims. We have taken up offerings for needy families inside and outside our congregation. We have sent money to missionaries in need. Our giving at this church has doubled. We always paid our tithes and put in the offerings and felt blessed by God for doing it but since coming to this liberal church our given has doubled and we are now more blessed by God.

But I do agree with you on a political level. The lib's want to give to charity but they want to use the con's money and the middle American's money to do it. That is why the TAX everyone and everything but themselves. I swear if they could get by with passing a law to allow themselves a tax break they would do it and not bat an eye.
How did I go from giving to charity to taxes??? I might just be a preacher afterall.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by jaxfam6

Now Sam you can broad brush the political world all you want but do not broad brush the Christian world....

It was not my intent to broad brush the Christian world. From 1992 until about 2 years ago I went to a large Vineyard Church. During that time I was on various prayer teams, spent 5 years as a pastor on call, and participated in Saturday outreach. The Vineyard is an evangelical church but would be considered ultra liberal on what we refer to here as "standards." That church was very giving. They gave their old church building ($800,000 to an African American congregation that was not part of their organization). They have given away "members" and paid "staff" to establish churches in nearby areas. They have a food pantry, do finance training and job training to help people, have a nurse and clinic for limited health care help, etc. I currently attend a church called The Hamilton Dream Center. Again, from the viewpoint of this forum it would be considered Charismatic and liberal on standards (I've taught mid week Bible study in shorts, sandals, and a tee shirt) but again, this is a very giving church although most of the people who go there also need help.

I think according to Matthew 25:31-46 the church is to be a giving institution.

[ChristopherHall]

In fairness, how much did McCain give to charity? I'm just curious. I know he's one of the more better off members of Congress. I'm willing to wager he's given quite a bit in all honesty.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by ChristopherHall

In fairness, how much did McCain give to charity? I'm just curious. I know he's one of the more better off members of Congress. I'm willing to wager he's given quite a bit in all honesty.

I have no idea what McCain's financial worth or his charitable giving are. Nor do I know how much the Clintons make or how much they give to charity. Same with Dubya. I don't know this stuff about him either.

[ChristopherHall]

Here's the AP Article on Obama's giving:

Obama increases charitable giving

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer Tue Mar 25, 9:53 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama gave nearly a quarter of a million dollars to charity last year as he entered the presidential race, significantly more than during the nine previous years combined.
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The Illinois senator has yet to release his 2007 tax return. His campaign said Tuesday it will be made public by Tax Day, April 15, while at the same time disclosing that Obama gave $240,000 to charity last year.

From 1998 through 2006, Obama donated a total of $150,892 to charity.

Obama posted his 2000 to 2006 returns on his campaign Web site Tuesday to pressure rival Hillary Rodham Clinton to do the same. His campaign repeatedly has criticized Clinton for failing to release tax returns for the years since she and her husband left the White House in 2001.

Clinton, campaigning in Pennsylvania, said she hoped to release the returns "within the next week."

The returns Obama posted online already had been provided to The Associated Press, along with returns from 1998 and 1999.

The Obamas' income increased dramatically in the past decade.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, earned $181,507 to $272,759 each year from 1998-2004.

Their income jumped to $1.6 million in 2005, Obama's first year in the Senate, with the rerelease of his first book, "Dreams from My Father." They made nearly $1 million in 2006, half of it from his second book, "The Audacity of Hope."

The Obamas' charitable giving also increased with their newfound wealth.

From 1998-2004, they gave between $1,050-$3,400 each year. In 2005, they gave $77,315, including donations to literacy and anti-poverty campaigns and their church. In 2006, they gave $60,307 to charity.

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by ChristopherHall

Here's the AP Article on Obama's giving:

Thanks for sharing the FULL story with us CH and not partial truths.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by chosenbyone

Thanks for sharing the FULL story with us CH and not partial truths.

There is yet hope for him!