Feb 5, 2010
“President Obama beytrays his community-organizer roots”
Washingtonpost op-ed by Michael Gerson
Michael Gerson criticizes President Obama for his use of the itemized deduction cap to finance government spending at the expense of the non-profit community, the roots of his career.
Gerson notes: “During the last budget cycle, some defenders of this proposal argued that a tax on giving would help the nonprofit sector by funding greater health coverage, which would relieve pressure on nonprofit social service providers. With health reform now on life support, this bank-shot justification is even more absurd. The Obama administration is left with one argument: that the federal government would use the money gained from this tax better than would the private sector. The president is welcome to make this case, but he can no longer simultaneously claim to be a champion of the nonprofit world. This proposal indicates not only an ideological enthusiasm for expanded government but also a disdain for civil society.”