There are quite a few Republicans running in the 2012 race now, and I’ve heard rumors of Sarah Palin throwing her hat in as well. However, as of this week (8-25) I think the major three candidates are: Romney, Perry, and Bachman. Therefore, I’ll include the charitable donations of each of these candidates, all of whom claim to be Christians.
Rick Perry
This article describes Rick Perry as being big on talking about Christian principles, including giving, but not putting his money where his mouth is. According to the article, he only gives 3-4% to Charity. Also, mentioned in this article is Newt Gingrich, whose only donations are to a Christian organization that funds his campaign.
Michelle Bachman
Bachman’s an interesting candidate because she doesn’t share what she has given publicly and refuses to comment on interviews. Her net worth is up to around $2 million, and there is only one documented instance of her giving to charity. Although she does’t give much to charity in dollars, she does give time to certain causes of her Christian faith. The article criticizes her for this, but I feel that as long as the cause is a good one that is helping society and people come closer to God then it’s all good.
Mitt Romney
After reading the article on Mitt Romney, I was very impressed. Not only does he give time to charitable causes, but he donates around 14% to charity including: the LDS church, health causes such as cancer research, etc., and numerous other charities for humanitarian efforts. Additionally, when he was elected to office, he didn’t take pay so the funds could be used elsewhere to help the state out. He has also said he wouldn’t take the $400,000 annual salary if he was elected president.
Although there are other candidates such as Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, and others, I couldn’t find any information on them probably because they lag nationally in the polls. If anyone has some information on other candidates, feel free to share.
Update February, 2012
Rick Santorum
Last week, Santorum released his taxes. He pulls a lot of the Christian voters, however, has been recently criticized by other Evangelical leaders because of his significant income (over $1 million annually), yet his minimal charitable contribution (under 2%).
Grace for Grace 
8 comments
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August 25, 2011 at 12:20 pm
JJ Rousseau
The fact that Mitt is far richer than the rest might be an important variable.
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August 25, 2011 at 5:20 pm
graceforgrace
JJ,
This study is purely on a percentage basis and therefore dollar amounts are irrelevant.
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August 25, 2011 at 7:57 pm
ezra
Let’s gain some perspective here, in Bachmann’s defense.
*Note that the liberal Huffington Post contacted a liberal professor at the liberal Carlton College for the information.
*Note the implication: Bachmann talks about charity and then does nothing.
*Note that the conservative Bachmann does not like to flaunt her giving, which happens to be a Christian principle from the mouth of our Lord, who said, “Do not be like the pharisees, who trumpet their giving; let your giving be done in secret. Don’t let your left hand know what the right is doing. The Lord, who sees the secret, will reward you.” (Paraphrase of Jesus in Matthew 6:1-4).
To the Post’s credit, they investigated Bachmann’s civil and private charity work, which includes:
1993 – Founding a charter school that fostered moral and values.
Foster children – Caring for at least 20 foster children in the course of six years, in their home of five children.
Teen Challenge, which seeks to reclaim wayward youth, is promoted by MB.
Pro-Life organizations, like Minnesotans Citizens Concerned for Life, by MB.
Her church emphasizes 10% tithing, which would put donations over 27K.
The Post cited one organization that did not get a nickel, “that we are aware of.” One, the United Way of Washington Co East, happens to support “the needs of young mothers, high school students, mentally ill adults, and victims of rape. They also work to prevent teen pregnancy, STDs, heart disease, and stroke.” While that would include some worthy activity, note that some of that is lib-speak for promoting sexual activity among young adults, handing out condoms, and birth control pills, and suppling abortion on demand. Why would Bachmann support licentious activity which works against Christian ideals?
Bachmann is very vocal about the work she values. She lends it her presence and time, which is valuable by itself. What she gives personally IS her own business — and easily over what many libs who actually achieved a place in the White House gave: Al Gore, $353 (1997) and Joe Biden $369 (2011). Hardly a dollar a day. Wow.
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August 26, 2011 at 11:30 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Ezra,
You bring up some good points with Bachman giving up her time, which I did mention. I just find it strange that there is not any (or hardly any) documentation of her giving financially. That’s pretty hard to cover your tracks on stuff like that.
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August 26, 2011 at 6:02 am
Cal
Ezra makes some excellent points.
But hats off to Mitt, as well as Michelle.
I was particularly impressed that when Mitt was elected to office, he didn’t take pay so the funds could be used elsewhere to help the state out. That’s the kind of example we need nowadays.
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August 27, 2011 at 11:02 pm
LBK
Ezra, you know one of the key differences between a conservative and right wing nut or a liberal and a left wing nut? They will make a charge that has merit and the wing nut will add to it something that has little relation to reality. Your charge about “promoting sexual activity among young adults” is pure nonsense. These programs tend to discourage sexual activity, but have to do with the reality of unwanted pregnancy and STD. If they are going to be sexually active, should they not be using devices that protect the young from either situation?
If you want to make a correct charge, don”t say promote. say “many experts believe it leads to greater sexual activity.” If that is not satisfactory please give an example of someone in that program actually say “go out and have more sex.”
There is another big reason why some choose not to give to United Way. They have a very bad ratio between total donations and amounts spent on Charity. In the past they have put a dollar figure on the hours donated, double counted contributions and counted other groups donations to their or common charities. This would give them much better statistics.
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September 21, 2011 at 5:16 am
Angie
People who care for foster children get paid by the state if they make 300 percent less than the poverty level.
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January 23, 2012 at 10:08 am
GI Gingrich « Constructive Society World News Review. (CS-R)
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