Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Frozen Chosen ·
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:13pm
According to this article, Governor Perry contributes about half of one percent of his income to churches and religious organizations. This is down in Al Gore and Joe Biden territory for stinginess and both of those politicians took flak from the conservative media for their low level of contributions.
As a candidate who openly courts the evangelical vote, will this information hurt Perry with church goers? Should it? Is paying tithing a major issue in the evangelical world?
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May '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
That's bad news. Of course it hurts, and should hurt.
It increases my worries that he'll turn out to be a shyster.
Dec '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
I don't report my charitable giving, especially that given for religious reasons, to the government. It's between me and God. It's none of Tim Geithner's business. If I lose out a little on my tax return, oh well.
Jun '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Well, many of you reading this knew I wouldn't let it go but of course, it was Perry's response to a boy at a New Hampshire event (who appeared to be his mother's ventriloquist's dummy) on the age of the Earth, which Perry artfully ducked:
How old do I think the earth is? You know what? I don’t have any idea. I know it’s pretty old. So it goes back a long, long way. I’m not sure anybody actually knows completely and absolutely how old the earth is.
But then instead of quitting while he was ahead, he said this (emphasis mine):
I hear your mom was asking about evolution and, you know, it’s a theory that’s out there. It’s got some gaps in it, but in Texas we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools. Because I figure you’re smart enough to figure out which one is right.
Really Governor? I don't think so. That would be a violation of federal law. Is Perry that ignorant about what's being taught in Texas public schools? Or was he simply wishfully thinking out loud?
May '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
And does that photo scream "Elmer Gantry" to anyone else?
I so hope I'm wrong. But I worry.
Jun '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
"Really Governor? I don't think so. That would be a violation of federal law. Is Perry that ignorant about what's being taught in Texas public schools? Or was he simply wishfully thinking out loud?"
Wow.....I'd need to have some clarification on this.
I would have no problem with a science teacher starting his lecture on evolution saying something like this: "This is a science class and I will only be covering scientific theories. Many of you may follow the strict biblical teaching of creationism. I will not comment on those biblical views, nor will I engage question in that vein. I expect you all to attentively read and study the material I present and demonstrate your understanding through labs, essays, and exams. I in no way will judge your religious beliefs -- I will stick to science and leave the religious discussions to your family and church."
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Oh my. Well, I must say that it's a surprising and disappointing nugget of information. Whether it affects whether he's qualified to be POTUS, I'm not sure, but leaning toward no.
In my denomination (Reformed Church in America), once you become a Member, you assume a financial obligation to support the Church and her ministries. I guess that's not the case with Membership in Evangelical denominations...?
Jun '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
StickerShock: "Really Governor? I don't think so. That would be a violation of federal law. Is Perry that ignorant about what's being taught in Texas public schools? Or was he simply wishfully thinking out loud?"
Wow.....I'd need to have some clarification on this.
I would have no problem with a science teacher starting his lecture on evolution saying something like this: "This is a science class and I will only be covering scientific theories. Many of you may follow the strict biblical teaching of creationism. I will not comment on those biblical views, nor will I engage question in that vein. I expect you all to attentively read and study the material I present and demonstrate your understanding through labs, essays, and exams. I in no way will judge your religious beliefs -- I will stick to science and leave the religious discussions to your family and church." · Aug 18 at 5:16pm
All well and good but then why make the statement at all? Why not wait for a student to propose something that was unscientific first? Why not just go about the business of teaching science?
Dec '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Topic hijack alert. Start your own topic if you wanna hate on him for a seperate reason.
Jul '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Amen.
May '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
I don't want to hate on anyone, anywhere.
What I want is for us Republicans to nominate someone, first, who can beat Obama decisively, and second,who can be trusted not to implode and bring the Tea Party movement down with him.
To me this news about his charitable giving is another reason to doubt the sincerity of his religious persona.
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 5:38pmAug '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Given how little Governor Perry contributes to charity he may have been wise to follow your lead...
Jun '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Jimmy Carter
Amen. · Aug 18 at 5:35pm
Oh, stop bandying about the word "hate". It's not worthy of you. It's disheartening that any conservative that calls into question any aspect of any other conservative's or Republican's record is engaged in a "hateful" activity. If Perry is the nominee, I will vote for him. Until that time I reserve the right to comment on him, his record and his adoring fans if necessary. You might as well accuse Michelle Malkin of engaging in a hate campaign against Perry. Perry like every other Republican candidate deserves a thorough vetting and all of us would be irresponsible to give him a pass.
Jun '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
No intention of hijacking the topic. Will let Perry's charitable contributions speak for themselves.
Jul '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Oh, stop bandying about the word "evolution" on a post about charity. Start Yer Own post.
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 5:50pmAug '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
This guy grew up dirt poor in west Texas. Anybody have a notion as to how that would contribute to a culture of white shirts, ties and suitcoats on Sunday for the men ? Do you think his mama had the white gloves on in church if they had one to go to in Burningprivy Texas or wherever they grew up ? Come on, that is not a metric of value .
And would you rather he was giving money to Jeremiah Wright or Father Pfleger ?
Until you restructure welfare in this country and channel the system back through the churches, you wont see the need for tithe other then sanctimony and architecture.Sorry, but the government has been trying harder than anyone else to tear that down. Outlawing bake sales, creating obstacles to private welfare, being agnostic, it keeps coming. When the community gets back in charge of it's poor and destitute ,widow's coal and all, then we will feel the need in those churches as they fill with people.
It's a tone deaf and cheap shot.
Molly Ivins speaks from the grave..............
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 5:53pmJun '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Jimmy Carter: Oh, stop bandying about the word "evolution" on a post about charity. Start Yer Own post. · Aug 18 at 5:50pm
Edited on Aug 18 at 05:50 pm
I politely refer you to my comment #13.
Aug '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
flownover: .
Until you restructure welfare in this country and channel the system back through the churches, you wont see the need for tithe other then sanctimony and architecture.Sorry, but the government has been trying harder than anyone else to tear that down. Outlawing bake sales, creating obstacles to private welfare, being agnostic, it keeps coming. When the community gets back in charge of it's poor and destitute ,widow's coal and all, then we will feel the need in those churches as they fill with people.
The Left has always claimed that taxes are their preferred form of charitable giving and the Right has always rejected that silly notion.
There has been untold good done by the churches and other private charities of this country. The need for contributions is greater than ever and most conservatives - who are of far less means than Gov Perry for the most part - give generously.
Perry is the one who chose to run as the evangelical Christian. If he's going to talk the talk he needs to walk the walk...
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 6:22pmMay '11
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
I do think he has some explaining to do. At least he didn't take a deduction for donating his used underwear like Clinton did.
Jul '10
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
I'd like to see Perry's response, but the tithing rate has not been very high nationally for quite some time. As of last year, Barna Group surveys showed 24% of evangelicals tithed, which was higher than non-mainline Protestants 13%, churchgoers 11%, and non-evangelical born-again Christians 10%. Those numbers were fairly consistent over the last decade, but in the last year have declined.
You can see the details here and here.
Edit: Let me add, I'm not excusing the matter. I think it speaks volumes about the sad state of affairs that the Church in America sees such low levels of giving nationally. In a nation in which the majority of the population still self-identifies as Christian, it's embarrassing the level of tithing has consistently remained below 10%.
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 7:02pmMay '11
Re: Perry Stingy with Charitable Donations
Another thing he will need to explain, based on the article you linked, is how do you make a million dollars a year as governor? Is he going to have to take a pay cut?