Charity: Obama vs. McCain

In Obama’s convention address, he stated:

“That's the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.”

It’s no surprise coming from the democrat presidential nominee that he would advocate helping out our fellow Americans, and a big part of his campaign has been focused on what he’ll do to help out the poor and middle class. But does Obama live by his own credo?

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/03/obama-releases.html

I thought it was very interesting that someone who is so actively involved in promoting social change and progressive values seems to be so stingy with his own pocket book. Some years, he gave less than 1% of his income to charity. What I find even more interesting is that he couldn't even donate the extra money that he was able to keep because of Bush's tax cuts.

By the way, Obama’s actual half brother lives in Africa, surviving off pennies per month, so I guess Obama doesn’t really think he should have to be his brother’s keeper. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/08/20/2008-08-20_barack_obamas_povertystricken_halfbrothe.html

Anyway, I got curious and looked up McCain’s tax records:

“In 2007, the Arizona senator reported $405,409 in total income and contributed $105,467, or 26 percent of his total income, to charity. In 2006, Mr. McCain said he had $358,414 in total income and donated $64,695, or 18 percent of his total income, to charity.” http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/4437/john-mccain-discloses-data-o%20n-his-charity-giving

So which is more noble? Trying to use power to force everyone else to help the poor through taxes, or actually putting your money where your mouth is to give sizable portions of your income to those who are less fortunate?