I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits my deductions so I, & many others, will likely donate less in 2013.
—
Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 01, 2013We don’t see anything controversial about Fleischer’s tweet. In fact, we suspect that virtually every economist on the planet would agree with the crux of his argument. If the tax deduction for charitable donations increases, charitable giving goes up (all other things equal). If the deduction is reduced, charitable deductions go down.
Moreover, we see nothing wrong with taking into account tax considerations when deciding how much to give to charity.
If Fleischer is wrong — that is, if people who give money to charity are never influenced by tax deductions — then why have a charitable deduction in the first place?
Why do groups like the United Way, the American Red Cross, and Lutheran Services in America oppose any change to the deduction if limiting it will have no effect on charitable giving?
Unfortunately, many liberals aren’t interested in economics (or logic). Rather than acknowledge the truth in what Fleischer said, they responded with their usual vitriol:
@AriFleischer You're a piece of shit, Ari.—
Elon Green (@elongreen) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer lol talk about being a complete jerk, admitting you donate for the tax deduction #NoSoul—
Astrid Silva (@Astrid_NV) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer asshole, if the only reason you were donating is for the deduction, you need a new soul.—
Dante Atkins (@DanteAtkins) January 01, 2013
Asshole. “@AriFleischer: I > donations to charity in 2012. This deal < my deductions so I, & many others, will likely donate less in 2013.”—
Kendall Clark (@kendall) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Consensus has it that you're a complete jerk. Care to confirm that?—
Uncle Jimmy (@jimmywhiz) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Do you really donate to charity to get deductions? That could be what's wrong with America today….—
Susan L Brannigan (@susanlbrannigan) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer disgusting.—
(@OriginalBad) January 01, 2013
Love that Twitter is shitting on @AriFleischer for his bullshit tweet about his "charitable giving." #jerk—
Carlea (@carleab) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Wow. You're a dick.—
Ryan (@ryanhealy) January 01, 2013
.@AriFleischer The world weeps when you tweet the vacancy in your soul.—
Sarah Reese Jones (@srjones66) January 01, 2013
Other words, you're a jerk || MT @AriFleischer Increased donations to charity in 2012. Deal limits deductions so I'll donate less in 2013.—
Jeremy Littau (@JeremyLittau) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer glad your heart is in the right place dirtbag.—
Soundproofblog (@soundproofblog) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer and you are terrible person for it.—
Josh (@JalbyMD) January 01, 2013
So what @AriFleischer is saying is that he only gives to charities for the tax deductions? That attitude won't get him into heaven. #WWJD—
Proud Gay Marine (@GayMarine) January 01, 2013
So @AriFleischer is going 2 stop giving to charity cause its either donate to charity or stop lighting Cigars with 100$ bills #SorryCharity—
romeo (@arthuromeo) January 01, 2013
Wow, @AriFleischer is truly a morally bankrupt tool, huh?—
Rachel Goldberg (@mamasnark) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Good logic Ari, fuck the poor people who depend on charity. That'll show the democrats. #arrogantdouche—
Morgan (@morganwjohnson) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Keep your donation Scrooge !—
Earthbone (@earthbone) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer you r a horse's ass…decrease donation to Rove n give to charity….u r a jerk—
bill plante (@billplante) January 01, 2013
Shorter @arifleischer: Yep, I'm pretty much the titanic asshole you imagine me to be.—
phillip anderson (@phillipanderson) January 01, 2013
RT @jamonthirteen: @AriFleischer Looks like the primary reason you donate to charity is to lower your taxable income. #asshole #scumbag—
Kyle (@lankyguy) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer You should be in jail you TRAITOR!—
d hartley (@donthebear) January 01, 2013
How Christian of you. MT @AriFleischer: I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits my deductions so I'll donate less in 2013—
Jeremy Teel
(@Jeremy_Teel) January 01, 2013
Makes sense, asshole!“@AriFleischer:I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits deductions so I'll likely donate less in2013"—
shane johnson (@noSHANEnoGAIN) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Because why would you donate to charity unless you get a tax deduction, right?! #jerk—
Mike Grunder (@megrunder) January 01, 2013
That makes u a dick MT @AriFleischer I increased charity donations in 12. This deal limits my deductions so I& others will donate less in 13—
Katelyn Ann (@katelyn__ann) January 01, 2013
Ari Fleischer just told the world he only gives to get tax benefits. Nice.—
Joan (@LibertyBelleJ) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer ..Ari..keep your money..if your donations to your shul depends on tax deductions you have a moral problem not a financial one.—
Art Leider (@asl3676) January 01, 2013
Asshole. RT @AriFleischer I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits my deductions so I will likely donate less in 2013.—
Bill Gary (@bgaryjr) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer If you give to charity only based in your deductions Y R bigger jerk than I already thought. #GOP #TCOT #FiscalCliff #AHOLE—
(@nhdogmom) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer you sound like a heartless jerk.—
Jon Byler (@jebyler) January 01, 2013
Dick. MT “@AriFleischer: I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits my deductions so I will likely donate less in 2013.”—
GTOG Artistry (@GTOGArtistry) January 01, 2013
He's an honest asshole. MT @AriFleischer: I increased my donations in 2012. This limits my deductions so I will likely donate less in 2013.—
Peter Blake (@pblake142) January 01, 2013
ASSHOLE ->RT @AriFleischer: I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits my deductions so I will likely donate less in 2013.—
Neff Conner (@nffcnnr) January 01, 2013
What a dick. RT @AriFleischer I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits deductions so I & many others donate less in 2013—
Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) January 01, 2013
Ari Fleischer is such a jerk…his primary reason for giving donations to charity is in order to receive tax deductions.—
Raymond Gellner (@regellner) January 01, 2013
"@AriFleischer: I inc donations 2 charity in 2012. This deal limits my ded so I, & many others, will likely donate less in 2013." jerk.—
Brad Absalom (@bcabsalom) January 01, 2013
He's a Dick head RT @word_34: Congrats to .@AriFleischer for setting a record on douchebaggery on the first day of Jan 2013—
NRA Sucks (@Gun_ControlNow) January 01, 2013
WOW! Who knew that @AriFleischer was a dick with money? I'm really sick to death of these assholes.—
just julie (@vintagegoddess) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer it's not a donation if you are only doing it to benefit yourself, dick. Learn what charity means.—
Tim Daly (@tweetlesstim) January 01, 2013
Holy crap @arifleischer is a prick. How about you just donate what you want and not feel the need to tell world about it. Called doing good—
gregor (@captainsdead) January 01, 2013
Fixed! “@AriFleischer: This deal limits my deductions so I, & many others, will likely donate less in 2013… Because I am a gaping asshole—
Nate (@DelcoNate) January 01, 2013
Fleischer tried to explain himself. If he can’t deduct his charitable contributions, he’ll have to pay higher taxes and will therefore have less money to give away:
For those having a fit re my charity tweet, when gvt reduces ppl's take home pay, ppl have less $ to donate/spend. It's math—
Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 01, 2013
But that didn’t help. In fact, it only made matters worse.
That's not what tweet said. MT @AriFleischer: re my charity tweet, when gvt reduces ppl's takehome pay, ppl have less $ to donate. It's math—
Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) January 01, 2013
@AlecMacGillis @AriFleischer Yep, noticed that as well. Completely different point.—
Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer you're a saint—
Hope Brannon (@hellohopey) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer Not really. Why are rich people so self-entitled? You actually have to start paying your fair share. Deal with it.—
クンツ (@ItsVersayce) January 01, 2013
@AriFleischer You're also an asshole, that's a fact.—
Henrik Ilisson (@GrantDN) January 01, 2013
Fleischer is guilty of only one mistake: He tried to explain economics to liberals. He’ll know better next time.
