The VP’s Tithe
by Bob HamerEarlier this week, UPI reported Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife released their 2008 tax returns and while the Second Couple had an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $269,256, they gave a mere $1,885 to charity. Not quite the Biblical standard of a tithe. According to a statement by the White House, the charitable donations are “NOT (my emphasis added) the sum of their annual contributions to charity. They donate to their church, among other contributions.” Then what is the sum of their contributions to charity? Inquiring minds want to know.
I realize many recent political appointees have had tax avoidance issues but no one has yet been accused of understating their charitable contributions. Even Turbo Tax encourages you to take full advantage of charitable contributions in several different ways, as I’m sure the Treasury Secretary can attest. But on the bright side, the Biden Family increased their charitable givings fifteen-fold compared to a decade ago.
During the election, Biden released his tax returns for the years 1998 through 2007. In 2007, he and his wife gave $995 to charity on an AGI of $319,853. In no other year in that decade did they give more than $380 to charity–their stingiest year being 1999 when on an AGI of $210,797 they claimed a $120 charitable deduction. When those tax returns were released, a spokesperson commenting on the family’s lack of largess said Biden and his wife “do volunteer work with military families.”
What a person gives to charity is a personal decision. I’m not suggesting otherwise. But when the main thrust of the political campaign is to “spread the wealth,” it seems obvious the Vice-President and his wife had no intent to spread their personal wealth, just everyone else’s.
At least he pays his taxes, which according to him is a patriotic act, and for that our nation should be grateful.
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51 Comments
I grew up in Delaware myself and I have heard apologists for Biden claim that he helps charities in "other ways" mostly by giving speeches at charity events, but of course he directly benefited politically from making these appearances
I am sure, to Joe and his wife, their "giving to charity" is having to think for us unenlightened masses out here in Redneckville who apparently need the government to tell us where our money needs to go.
which increased his name ID and gave him the appearance of being a charitable fellow, at least in theory rather than actual practice. (I sent off my last comment without finishing it.)
He's pretty pathetic. Hey Joe, if you want to back up your tax philosophy and notion of patriotism, just calculate the tax you would have paid under your regime's confiscatory plan. Send it in , notify the press, and start puffing out your chest even more! He and his like will never understand. People give much more to charity when they are free to choose rather than have it taken from them.
LOL…I get audited about every other year because Latter Day Saints give a strict 10% Tithe during the year.
When the IRS would check and see that I lived in Utah they understood….but now that I have moved to Arkansas, there is no way the IRS believes a redneck Mormon would give that much money to his church…lol.
Shame on you VP Biden. I make a lot less than you and gave over 20 times what you did with Tithing, Fast Offering and supporting a Missionary in Argentina……..
By their fruits ye shall know them !!!!!
Do as I say ………..
Forced charity isn't charity. My forced giving to the government is more than twice that of my voluntary charitable deductions, and I do indeed tithe. Taking my money to give it to people who may or may not deserve it or need it is quite different from my charitable/church donations which are voluntary, far more efficient in their usage, and given to those who truly need it, not those who demand it as a matter of right. Equalizing incomes is hardly the same thing as helping your neighbor in times of trouble. Socialism versus Christian charity. And yes, I include Jewish charity, Muslim charity, atheist charity and any other charity that isn't a forcible taking of one's hard-earned money.
To paraphrase J C Watts, "charity is what you do when nobody is looking."
You don't want to know what Biden is doing when nobody is looking.
I still want to know how Biden could afford to buy that big expensive house he has on such a meager income.
Leftards like high taxes because they think everybody is as stingy as they are.
Joe Biden = Jerk!
Now Hawk don’t be selfish, don’t you know that Social Security is a trust fund, and taxes are voluntary, Hahahaha!
Yeah, and someday we'll get it back. . . unless we earn too much, or the babyboomers spend it all first, or the government goes broke, or they need it for something else.
He’s a friend of Angelo of coarse, and perhaps this explains why he’s a skinflint, or is he just a jerk.
PS: You asked about my Avatar. It’s me 25yrs ago playing Bass in some club. My daughter has scolded me for being lazy, I guess I need something from this century, ha.
Now, Andrew you know that money is waiting for us safely in Washington, Hahahaha!
The older version is "Character is how you act when no one is looking."
In Joe's case, he's a person completely comfortable hording his wealth even when he knows others are suffering for the crumbs he throws in the garbage.
That's a polite way of saying he's a rich dirt bag. On the integrity scale, he fits in real well with Catholic legislators that support and expand abortion rights.
Come on Hawk…give it up…. I am going on welfare soon and I want to make sure there is lot there for the next 40 years …….
Laura Bush donated all net proceeds from a $ 150,000 advance for a children’s book. This is the woman who got ridiculed by Democrats for being a mere librarian.
Barack Obama secured a $ 500,000 advance for a book project five days before taking office. I guess he will enjoy those "tax cuts for the rich" while they last.
Right, in the lock box. . . LOL!
Really? I bought the Weird Al line. Shows what I know! LOL!
I'm still amazed that no one has ever looked into this (Biden, not your avatar). On his income, there is just no way that he can afford a multimillion dollar home.
It is emblematic of the left's dislike of private charity. They would rather force it by way of government. Unless it is for a behavioral disease there is no place for donations.
guarded day and night by Bwarney Fwank…..and his partner
I'm just sayin'……
when people that write laws think that donating 1% or so of their income, you can understand why they think cutting back on charitable donations as a tax deduction is not an issue.
Of course they would rather have our tithes and let THEM decide who to give it to. The good news is some day they will need to explain their actions to a Higher Authority
nah, the kids get a bigger swing set.
Especially by night. That Fwank, he does so love his treasure bath you know…
Wow, our politicians are so good to us. That lock box gives me a warm feeling, I think I’m gonna become weepy.
Ewww… is that where dirty money comes from?
That ones easy! A crooked Washington politician = Jerk!
yes, his every action is a charitable bonus for we, the ungrateful proletariat. It is to my great shame that he is Catholic.
or else……….
LOL!
Looks like it's unanimous. Biden is a cheapskate, dishonest dirt bag who believes in giving money to the needy, so long as it isn't his own money.
Oh boy, ya got that right!
are hairplugs not a charitable contribution? …a deduction? …a admitance of personal insecurity?
You couldn't be more right about that.
Odd, the WH says he also contributes to his church. The WH is unaware that chuch gifts are legitmate claimable deductions??? He is a catholic; in Delaware the diocese, or in many cases the parish, gives annual statements for your returns.. Biden is full of crap again. The WH, on the other hand, either doesn't know because none of them contribute to churches, or is telling us in future only ACORN tithes will be allowed.
Well I guess I am going to have to be the negative commenter here………
The thing I have the problem with is that anyone's tax return is made public in this manner. I understand the need or desire of politicians to be forthright in showing their taxes are paid but the publicizing of such data for review is something that grates to me.
I feel that whatever someone's personal position is should be private. Things like what percentage of my taxes do I pay to charity are not in my mind fair game for public debate. Much as I dislike Biden I dislike the very intrusion of our tax system even more. The gathering of knowledge of my finances is almost as off putting as the taxes themselves.
I'm not wild about public info, but it's everywhere, and seemingly impossible to stop. . What PO's me is that generous Joe is doing his damnest to take all of ours in the name of assumed patriotism? Nonsense – just another brutal reminder of the hypocrites at the throne.
This guy is a real tool. Try as I might, I can't come up with anything else to say.
Which poses a curious question. Why in the hell would you spend 30 – 70 million dollars for a position that legally pays 150K a year? Love them PACs, perks and those Congressional health benefits.
We make about a third of that as a household and give 5 times that much, to our church alone!!! The Biblical definition of a tithe is the 10% that is given to the "storehouse" or your local church. That is Biblically mandated as God's money due to Him from the first fruits of your labor. Anything above and beyond that is an offering and can be given anywhere. If Biden is touting this (not saying that he is) as his tithe and his church receives less than $26925.60 as a tithe then he is not tithing in a Biblical sense. He may be making offerings, but not tithing.
prince obama and his sub dont donate cause they consider theirs to be the donation they force by using our tax money and forcing us to donate to the charity of their choice – accorn, aclu, rainbow, sharpton and other corruption and criminal agencies
prince obama – leader of the America bashers and king of the America haters
When conservatives tout the 'free market' approach to Health Care:Tax Deductible Savings Accounts, I always get depressed. This story hit me the same way. Realize how the paradigms under which we work have been shifted by liberalism.
Instead of perusing tax data about any individual, how about this: we entirely reject the idea that the Tax Code is a vehicle for liberal social engineering. As correct as it may be to add 'Cheap' to the other adjectives that describe Joe Biden ( dishonest, blowhard, punk, insane). Government should not be dictating tax breaks for giving to charitiy, or buying a home, or getting government approved type of replacement windows, or sending their child to college, or putting their money into a health care account. The tax code should be used to collecdt revenue for government, every person should be taxed in a similar fashion, and it's none of the goverment's (or anyone else's)god-damned business who gives what to charity, or any other legal thing they decide to do with their money.
http://www.AlistZ.net
[...] another article that details Joe Biden’s less than generous charitable giving. One year, when his adjusted [...]
I know I don't give as much to charity as I ought to (though, as a percentage of my income, more than Biden apparently does), but I don't claim it on my taxes, either. Partly because it consists of sticking cash in the collection basket at church or the Salvation Army bucket, and I don't get receipts, but partly because I wonder if it counts as charity if I'm getting credit for it on my taxes.
I've never heard anyone make this claim on Biden's behalf, but there is a chance that he keeps his charitable giving anonymous in order to avoid besmirching it with the appearance of trying to profit from it, either in the form of tax deductions or publicity. Admittedly, Occam's Razor and years of observation make it more likely he's just a jerk, but I'm still kind of leery about bashing Biden on this.
@BuckwheatPicard: exactly! Liberal politicians lend their considerable talents to the cause of income redistribution, and that is the extent of their charity. Left to their own devices, they would eliminate all private charity and the tax deductions for same, substituting entitlements paid to those they deem most deserving.
I appreciate what you said but if that is the case for the VP why claim any deductions? In fact, it would seem the wiser political move to claim "zero" and say it is no one's business, rather than claim such minimal deductions.
My wife says I drop more on the floor at the bar than JB gives. I always thought 10% was the norm.
Note he is claiming deductions, so he does not go the anonymous route. Also the catholic church in Delaware does give annual statements. I don't think you can give him the benefit of the doubt on this; it is what it is.
Bob,
This is still the USA, land of the free. Nobody has to give a penny to any charity. For example, I wouldn't care if Bill Gates went broke. He is as crooked as anybody, but when the news media condemned him for not giving to charities I defended his right not to do so.
Giving means "of your own free will." If you or others DEMAND others give to charities, then it is no longer a FREE CHOICE. You seem to want giving to be mandatory. If you had your way, how much would I have to give, and to what charities?
How about we set up a commission that decides how much we (including you) HAVE TO GIVE, and TO WHO WE GIVE IT. Would that satisfy you?
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