Yes, we can.

[scaeagles]

Hey, SL, I'm obviously no McCain fan. I just think Obama gets treated differently than either Hillary or McCain.

It's just like the SNL skit of the Obama press conference....

"Mr. Obama, earlier we asked you if there was anything you needed - some water, anything, and you said no. I wanted to ask you.....are you sure? I mean, I can run out and get you something right now....".

[Alex]

Here's my view of the charitable giving. Could he have given more? Almost certainly. Should he have given more? Probably, especially since he knew he would be pursuing a political career.

But I don't view it as a really bad thing that he didn't. Until his first book was published and made a fair chunk of change they'd never had a lot of money. They both had extensive college debt, and when the money started coming in they had a 2-year-old and a child on the way.

Plus, the source of money was not remotely guaranteed. The vast majority of their income in those years was from a book deal and royalties. There was no guarantee that they wouldn't return to the money they were making just a few years ago. Plus he's going to run for office which has a decent paycheck if he wins but a not so good one if he loses.

What does this add up to, for me? Being pretty darn conservative with his money. Paying off debts. Establishing a better household. Putting a lot away for retirement and the future education of your children. Just generally acting as if the gravy train could come to an immediate stop at any moment.

And as his income has become more secured he has increased the charitable giving. This can certainly be read simply as political expediency and I'm sure that is a not inconsiderable part of it. But also, it is the political future that also brought in the money so there is a certain amount of a chicken and egg thing going there.

But then, if I ever run for high office I will be screwed. Because we never claim our charitable donations for tax purposes, figuring it is nobody else's business.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

What does this add up to, for me? Being pretty darn conservative with his money. Paying off debts. Establishing a better household. Putting a lot away for retirement and the future education of your children. Just generally acting as if the gravy train could come to an immediate stop at any moment.

Here's the problem I have with that....I do not have nearly enough tucked away for college for my kids. Same with retirement. I have some, of course, and something could happen, i suppose, that would stop my income.

If I had the mentality of not giving (much) until I was completely established, and everyone else did as well, there wouldn't be a whole lot of giving going on.

Shouldn't we be concerned about others who have real needs? I am not suggesting everyone become Mother Teresa here, but it seems to me there are more important things than putting away for a college education, though that is not a bad thing at all.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Shouldn't we be concerned about others who have real needs? I am not suggesting everyone become Mother Teresa here, but it seems to me there are more important things than putting away for a college education, though that is not a bad thing at all.

I agree to an extent. But again, the nature of the income is significant to me. He had no way early on of being at all confident that the windfall would repeat itself year after year after year. For all he know those two or three years would be the high water mark of his life. That the window for getting himself established was short.

It isn't like he went to work for a law firm where he was earning $250,000/year and to keep the money rolling all he had to do was not get fired. He wrote a book. For all he knew that money would stop coming in after a couple years and no other book he wrote would ever get notice.

Plus, we don't know what else he was doing with his money that might be considered good charitable (though not tax deductible). Maybe nothing, maybe he was sending money to his grandmother in Kenya. I don't know. But not knowing isn't really grounds for jumping to the worst case conclusion. Unless that worst case conclusion fits in with the opinion you want to spin anyway. Just as jumping to the best case solution if you want to present him as Christ walking the earth again isn't warranted.



Besides, you're missing the appropriate conservative critique of this news (though you almost got it in your last post). But I don't want to do your work for you.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I hope that those who have an issue with Obama staying with his church agree 100% with their church leaders views then.

But the statements made by the Pastor were pretty extreme and quite strong. That does make a difference.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

...prostitution fund...

I don't discuss your private life, please don't discuss mine

[innerSpaceman]

Furthermore, what Trent Lott said and what someone's pastor said are very apples and oranges. I could give a hoot what some senator's pastor says. What they say themselves is a legitimate concern.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Furthermore, what Trent Lott said and what someone's pastor said are very apples and oranges. I could give a hoot what some senator's pastor says. What they say themselves is a legitimate concern.

The issue with the Pastor statements has been that Obama has chosen to stay with the church. Some people interpret this as a tacit agreement with the statements.

I don't agree with this logic, but some do.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

The issue with the Pastor statements has been that Obama has chosen to stay with the church. Some people interpret this as a tacit agreement with the statements.

I don't agree with this logic, but some do.

I hope that those who have an issue with Obama staying with his church agree 100% with their church leaders views then. And heaven forbid their friends ever do anything questionable.

One of the many things I like about Obama is that he comes off as human. Admits he smoked pot (and inhaled! ). He seems to take care of his family needs (see Kevin's post). Doesn't agree with everything his church leader does, or his friends do.

Awesome, we don't have a guy with a God complex running for office. YAY!

[BarTopDancer]

I saw that same poll on the Today Show.

[innerSpaceman]

Says you, and you're entitled to that belief. You're also entitled to look unkindly on anyone who doesn't share your belief.

But I say others can have differing priorities ... college education fund, world travel fund, prostitution fund, jewelry bling fund ... it's none of my freaking business. And I don't think any of it hits my personal radar on qualifications to be president.

Rather it's all that pesky views on issues, policy plans, governing plans, international action plans ... ya know, that stupid president stuff.