Obama shares in sacrifice of common Americans, returns 5% of salary

[Atomic Playboy]

That's pretty much it. He has made over $10,000,000 since getting into office. His $20K Giveback ammounts to 0.2% Way to give something back.

You can't compare one year's donations against four years of salary, that's absurd. Obama's tax returns are up for everyone to see; in 2011, he claimed $172,130 in charitable contributions on an adjusted gross income of $789,674. That year alone completely destroys the idea that he's only given back $20k on the millions he's made. And for several years prior, he's been donating 6 figure sums to charity. Don't come in here with some horseshit about how he's only given back 0.2%, because that's what we refer to as "lying."

 

[SpatiallyAware]

You can't compare one year's donations against four years of salary, that's absurd. Obama's tax returns are up for everyone to see; in 2011, he claimed $172,130 in charitable contributions on an adjusted gross income of $789,674. That year alone completely destroys the idea that he's only given back $20k on the millions he's made. And for several years prior, he's been donating 6 figure sums to charity. Don't come in here with some horseshit about how he's only given back 0.2%, because that's what we refer to as "lying."

What happened to all of those book royalties in 2011 and 2012?


I wonder if he got smart and setup a business entity to receive those donations. Just wait until the presidency is over and cash out.....

 

[thraashman]

What happened to all of those book royalties in 2011 and 2012?


I wonder if he got smart and setup a business entity to receive those donations. Just wait until the presidency is over and cash out.....

In 2009 Obama donated $329,100 plus the $1.4million from the Nobel prize. In 2010 he donated $245,075. In 2011 he donated $172,000 to charities. It appears the 2012 numbers aren't available yet.

You can quit lying now that you've been proven to be a lying liar.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

What happened to all of those book royalties in 2011 and 2012?

You understand that royalties are tied to the sales of the product in question, right? Here's a thought exercise for you to ponder: Why would Obama's book possibly enjoy greater sales figures in 2008 when a relatively unknown Senator ended up winning the Democratic nomination and eventually the Presidency as opposed to 2011-12 when he's been a national figure for several years and everyone who is interested in his story already bought the book 4 years ago?

 

[GMC12]

So what? He can give speeches for $millions as soon as he's retired, corporations will fall all over themselves to give him big bucks, publishers will pay millions for a ghost written book and yet he gives a lower percentage of his money to charity then most the folks I know.

A nice little PR effort that costs him little and means even less.

The issue is where's all the big mouth talk about cuts on federal budgets cut back so I think the president in lnclulding him self with the workers he care but where's the big mouths walk the talk

 

[monovillage]

The issue is where's all the big mouth talk about cuts on federal budgets cut back so I think the president in lnclulding him self with the workers he care but where's the big mouths walk the talk

I'd be happy to donate a few quarters if I knew I was going to be making big dollars soon. Like I said it's a small political gesture that costs him very little and means even less.

It's like these Obama apologists talking about his earnings after he was elected president, but sure as hell won't put his finances out there before he became such a public figure. He was a cheap bastard that gave very little to charity before his election to the Senate.

 

[werepossum]

Donating his $400k presidential salary out of his $2,000,000 yearly income would've been much less of a smack in the face.

Technically the only reason he's making those book royalties is due to his presidency, so that would've at least been the honest thing to do if our Dear Leader is going to preach about sharing the sacrifice with the common American.

Hell, in regards to his book royalty income, "he didn't build that", we as a society did, so give it up. But, like many socialist-leaning leaders, none of that crap applies to him.... Only us peasants.

But how could I support taking his income because he "didn't build that" while fighting his attempts to take my income because I "didn't build that"?

The tendency to implement "do as I say, not as I do" is prevalent among all those in power and probably all of us. A local reporter went through the tax rolls and found that practically everyone, left and right, had taken advantage of their power. 0.8 acre McMansion estates were almost invariably taxed as working farms, a blatant abuse.

I understand that Biden declined to take a 5% "sacrifice"...maybe he's not nearly as dumb as he looks!

I believe Biden is one of those rare political animals who is too honest to make money unethically and too stupid to make money ethically from his position. Thus 5% of his salary would be much closer to 5% of his total income. Regardless, Biden has been pretty consistent about donating very little to charity, so I'm not at all surprised that he has not made such a gesture.

A politician spreads PR propaganda... wow, there's a newsflash.

Have you ever heard of these things we have, called politicians? Must not.. because you're outraged and surprised that they're doing something that's in their nature to do.

One could make a good argument that we teach them that. We often support politicians who seldom act in accordance with our own values, but heaven help the one we don't believe "feels our pain".

 

[Ryan]

guy makes north of 400K as a govt employee, not to mention as others said all the sweetheart deals he will get out of office, plus now all his stuff is "free"...he could give back 100% and not feel the burn.

Please...shut...the...fuck...up. Obama's salary could easily go toward paying for all of the stuff in the White House that that IS NOT FREE.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/cost-living-white-house

Most of us probably think the Obamas live a lavish life on the taxpayers’ dime, but, according to Kantor, finances are tight in the White House. While rent is free, just about nothing else is. The president and first lady pay for their food, parties, vacations, butlers, housekeepers, ushers… and at Ritz Carleton prices. If they want to bring someone on Air Force One who isn’t in the official traveling delegation, they have to reimburse the American people the equivalent of first-class airfare for the flight.


“People say that there’s kind of a ritual with every new president and first lady. They get to the White House, they move in, they start to live there. A month or so in, they get their first bill, and there is a moment of shock,” says Kantor. Being wealthy gives a first family a real advantage and -- while the Obamas are rich Americans by just about any measure -- they don’t have the kind of personal wealth that can move the needle in the White House.

 

[Incorruptible]

guy makes north of 400K as a govt employee, not to mention as others said all the sweetheart deals he will get out of office, plus now all his stuff is "free"...he could give back 100% and not feel the burn.

And this is why I have no respect for him and most of the other presidents.

 

[Exterous]

Please...shut...the...fuck...up. Obama's salary could easily go toward paying for all of the stuff in the White House that that IS NOT FREE.

While rent is free, just about nothing else is. The president and first lady pay for their food, parties, vacations, butlers, housekeepers, ushers… and at Ritz Carleton prices.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/cost-living-white-house

While not everything is free the article is misleading by the omission of the word 'unofficial'

There are authorized to be appropriated each fiscal year to the President such sums as may be necessary for—
(1) the care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurnishing, improvement, air-conditioning, heating, and lighting (including electric power and fixtures) of the Executive Residence at the White House;
(2) the official expenses of the White House Office;
(3) the official entertainment expenses of the President;
(4) the official entertainment expenses for allocation within the Executive Office of the President; and
(5) the subsistence expenses of persons in the Government service while traveling on official business in connection with the travel of the President.

Any expense for official use is free - including food, parties and personnel for those events. Depending on the type of event the money for that may come from the State Department or from the White House budget, not him. They get an official staff - including a chef and a number of assistant chefs (one of who is being furloughed) but anything beyond the official staff - which is a measly 468 people - they have to pay for

He also gets a budget of $100,000 for travel to be dispensed at his sole discression (although that won't get him very far)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/113

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

While not everything is free the article is misleading by the omission of the word 'unofficial'



Any expense for official use is free - including food, parties and personnel for those events. Depending on the type of event the money for that may come from the State Department or from the White House budget. They get an official staff - including a chef and a number of assistant chefs (one of who is being furloughed) but anything beyond the official staff - which is a measly 468 people - they have to pay for

He also gets a budget of $100,000 for travel to be dispensed at his sole discression (although that won't get him very far)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/113

It appears that "shut...the...fuck...up" Ryan was either intentionally trying to deceive or, more likely, is mentally incapable of grasping such simple and obvious facts.

 

[2timer]

I'd be happy to donate a few quarters if I knew I was going to be making big dollars soon. Like I said it's a small political gesture that costs him very little and means even less.

It's like these Obama apologists talking about his earnings after he was elected president, but sure as hell won't put his finances out there before he became such a public figure. He was a cheap bastard that gave very little to charity before his election to the Senate.

And I can run my mouth on forums all day long, too.

Point is Obama did it, you didn't, and neither did the Republicans responsible.

 

[monovillage]

And I can run my mouth on forums all day long, too.

Point is Obama did it, you didn't, and neither did the Republicans responsible.

Yes, I do donate a goodly portion of my income to charity, I always have, but it's something that's new to Obama and his wife and the reason his did it was for the press.

 

[werepossum]

While not everything is free the article is misleading by the omission of the word 'unofficial'



Any expense for official use is free - including food, parties and personnel for those events. Depending on the type of event the money for that may come from the State Department or from the White House budget, not him. They get an official staff - including a chef and a number of assistant chefs (one of who is being furloughed) but anything beyond the official staff - which is a measly 468 people - they have to pay for

He also gets a budget of $100,000 for travel to be dispensed at his sole discression (although that won't get him very far)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/113

That is a huge difference indeed.

It appears that "shut...the...fuck...up" Ryan was either intentionally trying to deceive or, more likely, is mentally incapable of grasping such simple and obvious facts.

Not sure that's an "either/or" situation. I believe the word for which you are searching is "and".