All the news the past few days has been on Newt Gingrich and his past marital failures. Flying under the radar was his reporting on his income tax. Gingrich released his 2010 returns showing that he had an income of more $3.1 million. He paid $994,708 in taxes on that income.
What few will notice is that Gingrich gave $81,133 in cash or checks to charities. Sounds good until you realize that it amounts to only 2.6% of his income. Once again one of our politicians who wants to run our country and offers himself up as an example has failed the American people.
Now before your anger boils over if you are a Newt fan let me state that I am an equal opportunity critic of politicians charitable giving. I might actually end up voting for Newt, I have not made my mind up, but I am disappointed with his charitable giving. How can you make over $3 million dollars and only give 2.6% of it away?
Sadly our politicians have a poor track record of giving. Consider this from a blog post I wrote in May of 2010…
President Barack and Michelle Obama - The Obama’s last year earned $5.6 million dollars and gave nearly 6% or $329,100 to charity. That is much improved from the year’s before he announced his bid to run for president when they gave just less than 1% to charity while making not millions but well into the six figure categories. For a guy who famously said to Joe the Plummer that we need to spread the wealth around his charitable giving, while improving, still is not a shining example of charity. Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton were much more charitable.
Vice-President Joe and Jill Biden - The Biden’s also upped their charitable giving last year to a whopping 1.5% of their $333,182 income. While we might think that miserly consider that in years past Joe and Jill gave on average just .14% of their six figure combined incomes to charity. So, they are making progress I guess.
Sarah Palin - In 2006 and 2007, she and her husband donated 2 to 3 percent of their income, or about $4,000. Most of those donations, according to her tax returns, were of clothes and household items to the Salvation Army in Wasilla, Alaska. Not hardly the kind of giving to make your heart glow. It is reported now that Palin is making millions in appearance and speaking fees. Let’s see if the Palin’s become more generous now that they live more comfortably as millionaires as opposed to having to make due on six figure salaries.
Dick Chaney - The Daily Beast reports, “When Dick Cheney was still a vice-presidential candidate in 2000, the charitable donations column in his tax return caught the eyes of the media. During the 1990s, Cheney earned $20,677,742 and donated $209,832, or just over 1 percent of his income, putting him well below the American average. More recently, he and his wife, Lynne, have atoned for their tight-fistedness. In 2005, when they made over $8.8 million, the Cheneys donated just under $6.9 million to charity after exercising stock options and royalties from Mrs. Cheney’s books, according to their tax return.”
Political activist and former Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson - The Sisyphus Files reports that, “He has often claimed that he operates from a “liberal spirit of compassion and love” while conservatives are “heartless and uncaring toward the silent poor.” But according to his publicly-released tax returns, he regularly donates less than 1 percent to charity.”
In the spirit of fairness I will give kudos to the McCain’s and Clinton’s.
Bill and Hillary Clinton - The Daily Beast reports, “In the eight years after President Bill Clinton left office, he and Hillary soared north through the tax brackets, earning a combined $109 million. During those eight years, tax returns show they recorded some $10.2 million in charitable contributions, or a very generous 9.35 percent of their income.”
John and Cindy McCain - McCain gave 18% to charities in 2006, 26% to charities in 2007.
That was what I wrote in 2010. I am saddened that I have to post again about the failings of our leaders in something so simple, generosity. It is time that our politicians lead by example. I am reminded of Jesus words when he said, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
How is your giving?
Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group
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