We 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:
https://twitter.com/elongreen/status/286152097869737985
@AriFleischer lol talk about being a complete jerk, admitting you donate for the tax deduction #NoSoul
— Astrid Silva (@Astrid_NV) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer asshole, if the only reason you were donating is for the deduction, you need a new soul.
— ?Dante Atkins? (@DanteAtkins) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/kendall/status/286152847458988032
https://twitter.com/jimmywhiz/status/286158865689612288
@AriFleischer Do you really donate to charity to get deductions? That could be what's wrong with America today….
— (((SBrannigan))) (@susanlbrannigan) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer disgusting.
— Hoff-mann Hoff-amazing (@OriginalBad) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/carleab/status/286170168613298176
@AriFleischer Wow. You're a dick.
— Ryan (@ryanhealy) January 1, 2013
.@AriFleischer The world weeps when you tweet the vacancy in your soul.
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/JeremyLittau/status/286175781930008576
https://twitter.com/soundproofblog/status/286183289440587777
https://twitter.com/JalbyMD/status/286182954017882112
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 1, 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 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/mamasnark/status/286181932335771648
@AriFleischer Good logic Ari, fuck the poor people who depend on charity. That'll show the democrats. #arrogantdouche
— Morgan (@morganwjohnson) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer Keep your donation Scrooge !
— Earthbone (@earthbone) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer you r a horse's ass…decrease donation to Rove n give to charity….u r a jerk
— bill plante (@billplante) January 1, 2013
Shorter @arifleischer: Yep, I'm pretty much the titanic asshole you imagine me to be.
— phillip anderson (@phillipanderson) January 1, 2013
RT @jamonthirteen: @AriFleischer Looks like the primary reason you donate to charity is to lower your taxable income. #asshole #scumbag
— kyle baxter ?️? (@lankyguy) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer You should be in jail you TRAITOR!
— d hartley (@donthebear) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Teel/status/286181002894770176
Makes sense, asshole!“@AriFleischer:I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits deductions so I'll likely donate less in2013"
— Born Bored (@shnjohnson) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer Because why would you donate to charity unless you get a tax deduction, right?! #jerk
— Mike (@PairOfMicrocats) January 1, 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
— K8 ?? (@katelyn__ann) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/LibertyBelleJ/status/286180955817914369
https://twitter.com/asl3676/status/286180668852015104
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 1, 2013
@AriFleischer If you give to charity only based in your deductions Y R bigger jerk than I already thought. #GOP #TCOT #FiscalCliff #AHOLE
— ?Sharon #TrumpIsTheThug (@nhdogmom) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/jebyler/status/286165014245691393
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 1, 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.
— obviously anti fascist (@pblake142) January 1, 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 ? in ? Texas (@nffcnnr) January 1, 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 1, 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 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/bcabsalom/status/286157519049596930
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 (@NRASucks) January 1, 2013
WOW! Who knew that @AriFleischer was a dick with money? I'm really sick to death of these assholes.
— ???Julie??? (@vintagegoddess) January 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/tweetlesstim/status/286154339616174080
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
— near dead captain (@captainsdead) January 1, 2013
Fixed! “@AriFleischer: This deal limits my deductions so I, & many others, will likely donate less in 2013… Because I am a gaping asshole
— Delco Jabroni (@DelcoJabroni) January 1, 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 1, 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 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/286186693294452736
https://twitter.com/hellohopey/status/286190682048172032
@AriFleischer Not really. Why are rich people so self-entitled? You actually have to start paying your fair share. Deal with it.
— Joseph (@Itsversayce) January 1, 2013
@AriFleischer You're also an asshole, that's a fact.
— Henrik Ilisson (@GrantDN) January 1, 2013
Fleischer is guilty of only one mistake: He tried to explain economics to liberals. He’ll know better next time.
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