Charitable giving in general is a strange beast to analyze. Alec MacGillis’ jibes at Romney’s giving, for example, seem to mask the fact the he thinks the charity isn’t up to snuff. He isn’t complaining about the $4m he gives, just who he gives it to.
But let’s look at the work of giving itself: it’s hard. It takes real commitment to whatever to take what you’ve got an voluntarily hand it over to any organization. Even for Romney, $4m is a lot of money.
Per MacGillis would be satisfied if Romney had given it instead to, say, the Humane Society. But someone would have complained that he gave so much to animals and did so little to help people. Or maybe the Red Cross, but then someone else would complain about… I dunno. I’m sure they’d find something.
Give Romney the credit for giving away that much money (by percentage, not raw amount). Critics are welcome to complain—and make judgements—about the recipient, but they should at least acknowledge that charitable giving itself is a Good Thing.
