Horserace
March 25, 2008 1:41 PM

Obama Releases Seven Years Of Tax Returns

The Obama campaign announced this afternoon it has posted the candidate's tax returns on its Web site and challenges Clinton to do the same.

"The returns are complete, including all schedules, and are now available to anyone to view," the campaign announced in a statement. "The Obama campaign urged Senator Clinton to join Senator Obama in making her returns public. Full disclosure on Senator Clinton’s part is especially important because she recently loaned $5 million to her campaign, shortly after revelations surfaced that her husband was to receive a $20 million payout from Yucaipa, a supermarket holding company that invests in tax shelters in the Cayman Islands."

As for some highlights, the Obama and his wife Michelle reported joint income of $991,296 in 2006 (the most recent year released) which included $430,700 in salaries and $506,618 in reported business income. In 2005, their income was $1,670,995 – a huge jump from 2004, when the couple reported earning $207,342. One interesting note, in 2006, the couple reported donating $60,307 to charity, including $22,500 to the Trinity United Church of Christ.

The CBS News political unit provides a look at some of the numbers from the returns:

  • 2006: Joint income totaled $991,296 (includes $430,700 combined salaries; $506,618 business income and $51,200 from Treehouse Foods, where Michelle sat on the corporate board). Breakdowns of the above numbers aren't immediately available. Also, the couple donated $60,307 to charity (includes $22,500 to Trinity United Church of Christ; $15,000 to CARE; $13,107 to the Congressional Black Caucus; $5,000 to Muntu Theatre and $4,700 to miscellaneous charities)

  • 2005: Joint income totaled $1,670,995 (includes $154,047 for B. Obama's Senate salary; $316,962 for Michelle's University of Chicago Hospital salary; $874,167 from Random House; $335,206 from Dystel & Goodrich and $45,000 in "other income" from Treehouse Foods and Bay Valley Foods, where Michelle sat on the corporate board). They gave $77,315 to charity (includes $5,000 to Trinity Church of Christ; $11,315 to misc. charities; $25,000 to Illinois Reading Council; $20,500 to Rochelle Lee Fund and $16,000 to CARE)

  • 2004: Joint income totaled $207,342 (includes $32,144 to B. Obama from University of Chicago; $53,288 state senator salary and $121,910 for Michelle's University of Chicago Hospital salary). The couple gave $2,500 in miscellaneous charity contributions.

  • 2003: Joint income totaled $238,327 (includes $64,287 to Barack from University of Chicago; $58,151 state senator salary, and $115,889 for Michelle's University of Chicago Hospital salary). They gave $3,400 to miscellaneous charities.

  • 2002: Joint income totaled $226,300 (includes $69,287 to Barack from University of Chicago; $58,187 state senator salary and $98,826 for Michelle's University of Chicago Hospital salary). The couple gave $1,050 to miscellaneous charities.

  • 2001: Joint income totaled $176,965 (no breakdown provided on salary, however this includes $98,158 in "business income" B. Obama reported from side work as an attorney). They gave $1,470 to miscellaneous charities.

  • 2000: Joint income totaled $212,999 (no breakdown provided on salary, however this includes $16,500 in "business income" B. Obama reported from side work as "foundation director/educational speaker"). They gave $2,350 to miscellaneous charities.
  • Tags:
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    Add a Comment See all 30 Comments
    by jone775 March 25, 2008 2:01 PM PDT
    Cue the haters.
    Reply to this comment
    by smashwl7 March 25, 2008 3:02 PM PDT
    Were is Clintons Tax Returns? Just wondering about hers and McCains
    Reply to this comment
    by gregncat March 25, 2008 3:12 PM PDT
    I find it fascinating. Where is the charitable giving. A church that he has gone to for 20 years and does "so much good" gets so little. As a christion does he not yet understand tithe.
    Why can''t this compassionate man help out a little with his own money before he looks to the government for soltions. Raises a lot of questions for me. Even I give more than they do and I make 20% of his income.
    Reply to this comment
    by PulSamsara March 25, 2008 3:18 PM PDT
    Hillary Clinton - If you''re not hiding anything... just release your returns. Why is this so difficult to do ? Why ?
    Reply to this comment
    by wylie-d March 25, 2008 3:24 PM PDT
    Geez, the Obamas earn a $1,000,000 over 5 years and donate all of 1% to charity.

    They should switch to the Republican Party.
    Reply to this comment
    by nvorr March 25, 2008 3:34 PM PDT
    And McCain?
    Reply to this comment
    by phillysage March 25, 2008 5:09 PM PDT
    Hillary Clinton for President
    John Conyers for Vice President (he''''s an experienced, mature Black Democrat who attends a typical Black Church, not a weird one)
    When Barack was in diapers, Hillary was living in the Chicago area reaching out to minorities as a teenage girl.
    When Barack was a teenager going to parties where alcohol and cocaine were being served, Hillary was working for minority children as an attorney.
    The media shouldn''t be asking why poor whites are voting for Hillary. Rather they should be asking why blacks, rich and poor aren''t! Could it possibly be racism against white? (Oh, but that''s allowed!)
    Reply to this comment
    by adriennegrey March 25, 2008 5:21 PM PDT
    Rev. Wright:
    "He ain''t White, he ain''t Rich, and he ain''t Priviledged."

    There goes 2 out of 3.

    *****A
    Reply to this comment
    by girlinvt-2009 March 25, 2008 6:49 PM PDT
    Thats funny he bought his 1.6 million dallor home with a history of earning 234.000 and change.He really must think voters are stupid,he said he used his money from his books to pay off college loans for him and his wife,yet they could come up with a down payment of what 5%/10% on his home.With his history of earnings its funny
    Reply to this comment
    by girlinvt-2009 March 25, 2008 6:51 PM PDT
    Lets see Obamas tax returns for the Rezko years
    Reply to this comment
    by nanging3 March 25, 2008 8:39 PM PDT

    Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president.


    The request for $1 million for the University of Chicago Medical Center was to help pay for construction of a new pavilion.

    Michelle Obama was promoted to vice president for external affairs and had her annual salary increased from $121,910 to $316,962.
    Reply to this comment
    by nanging3 March 25, 2008 8:41 PM PDT
    Obama did manage to secure $1.3 million for a high-explosive technology program for the Army%u2019s Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The program was overseen by General Dynamics, and one of Obama%u2019s top supporters, James Crown %u2014 a member of Obama%u2019s national finance committee %u2014 serves on the board of General Dynamics.


    Obama also secured a $750,000 earmark for renovation of a space center named for Crown%u2019s grandfather, Henry Crown, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

    Reply to this comment
    by nanging3 March 25, 2008 8:47 PM PDT
    How can they afford their two milion dollar+ home..Oh I forgot Rezko gave him the land.
    Reply to this comment
    by craigh9 March 25, 2008 11:22 PM PDT
    Get all your jabs out of the way regarding Obamas'' finances - he''s finally got Hillary over a barrel - what till you see her taxes and earmarks - she''ll make Obama look like a boy scout. The clinton house of cards is starting to crumble - bye bye Hillary
    Reply to this comment
    by March 26, 2008 1:01 AM PDT
    drunk thinkers. The $1.6m was on mortgage. Common sense should dictate this to the heads of these ''pull him down at all cost'' maniacs. Compare to those that has mortaged your future in making billions from an unnecessary war and from business deals.
    Reply to this comment
    by jld1959 March 26, 2008 6:17 AM PDT
    I am not surprised that she lied about her Bosnian trip. Sinbad was on that trip and stated previously that Sen Clinton was lying. How did Clinton respond to Sinbad''s account of trip" He''s a comedian" and now the video shows up and she misspoke/misremembered. What a bunch of ***. What other lies or embellishments has she told? I just viewed the video "Hillary the Movie" and if 10% of the allegations are true, I wouldn''t trust Sen Clinton for any political office , not to mention President. The video can be viewed at link below
    Is she trustworthy?

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=XHoC-8C13Mk

    Reply to this comment
    by infidel_us March 26, 2008 9:11 AM PDT
    Wow.....when Ubama says ''the rich don''t pay enough'', he''s right! His charitable donations amount to a little over 1%. What a generous guy!!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by mrvolleyba11 March 26, 2008 11:44 AM PDT
    Obama just released his latest tax returns, not all of the ones listed in this article! ...aslo about the comment of him giving less than 1%, how much do you donate to charities? (Not that I''d believe you anyways) ...and when they say the rich are paying enough it is in reference to taxes not charity you idiot!!! stupid people shouldn''t breed!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by taddles-2009 March 26, 2008 11:57 AM PDT
    "Wow.....when Ubama says ''''the rich don''''t pay enough'''', he''''s right! His charitable donations amount to a little over 1%. What a generous guy!!!!

    Posted by Infidel_Us at 09:11 AM : Mar 26, 2008"

    Huh, I see that math is not your strong point.
    2000 = 1.1%
    2001 = .8%
    2002 = .5%
    2003 = 1.5%
    2004 = 1.2%
    2005 = 5%
    2006 = 6%
    total average = 2.3%

    How much did you give to charity? I''d hazard a guess of 0%.
    Reply to this comment
    by taddles-2009 March 26, 2008 12:00 PM PDT
    "The request for $1 million for the University of Chicago Medical Center was to help pay for construction of a new pavilion.

    Michelle Obama was promoted to vice president for external affairs and had her annual salary increased from $121,910 to $316,962.

    Posted by nanging3 at 08:39 PM : Mar 25, 2008"


    The request for funds was ultimately turned down. The hospital administration has stated that Mrs. Obama was in no way involved with the request for funds.

    The pay increase was appropriate for the position she was in.

    What''s your point?
    Reply to this comment
    by infidel_us March 26, 2008 12:02 PM PDT
    I see the Ubama arse lickers are out in force today. Has Wal-Mart given ya''ll they day off???
    Reply to this comment
    by gregncat March 26, 2008 12:06 PM PDT
    mrvolleyba11, why are you so angry. Anyone is entitled to give what ever they want to charity. But, I am tired of rich democrats who insist that government is the answer to everything but do not feel like they need to help out with their own money. I need them to demonstrate with their actions that they really do care about all of the issues they speak of. Less than 1% of a 200,000 income is shameful in my opinion. Character can defined by what a person does when no one is looking. Only when he becomes a national figure does he begin giving in a meaningful way.
    Reply to this comment
    by taddles-2009 March 26, 2008 12:07 PM PDT
    "Unbelievable...Obama has smeared Hillary for not making her tax return public for weeks and come to find out he''''s just releasing his.

    Posted by truth-hurts at 02:19 AM : Mar 26, 2008"


    Obama''s tax returns have been out for a while. This release is just a list of all of his tax returns for the past 7 years.
    Reply to this comment
    by taddles-2009 March 26, 2008 12:08 PM PDT
    "I see the Ubama arse lickers are out in force today. Has Wal-Mart given ya''''ll they day off???

    Posted by Infidel_Us at 12:02 PM : Mar 26, 2008"

    Do you have anything of value to post or just your usual juvenile drivel?
    Reply to this comment
    by taddles-2009 March 26, 2008 12:10 PM PDT
    "Less than 1% of a 200,000 income is shameful in my opinion. Character can defined by what a person does when no one is looking. Only when he becomes a national figure does he begin giving in a meaningful way.

    Posted by gregncat at 12:06 PM : Mar 26, 2008"


    When his income has allowed him to give more he has.
    Reply to this comment
    by mjvw2 March 26, 2008 1:23 PM PDT
    "$13,107 to the Congressional Black Caucus"

    Now theres a charity. What ***.
    Reply to this comment
    by infidel_us March 26, 2008 1:33 PM PDT
    Do you have anything of value to post or just your usual juvenile drivel?
    Posted by taddles at 12:08 PM : Mar 26, 2008

    You first
    Reply to this comment
    by sosoe-2009 March 26, 2008 6:02 PM PDT
    Where the he## are Hell-ery''s tax returns? She''s stalling for time so she, Slick Willie, and her staff, can "dummy" them up!! She made a big deal when she ran in New York, because her opponent hadn''t released his returns!! She''s too busy "doggin" Barack to "right-winged" newspapers! Her priorities and her character are all ***###-up!! And , so what! if Barack gave to the Black Caucus!!White people give to their causes ALL The Time!! We would''nt need a Black Caucus, if America wasn''t so racist!!! At least he wasn''t "sucking up" to Lobbyist like Hell-ery and McCain!!
    Reply to this comment
    by fathat2 March 26, 2008 11:15 PM PDT
    Mr.Obama is a lair and needs to stop with the sticks and stones!Mr. Obama give the raceist Chruch over $22,000 dollars to hate more people!Obama a liar
    Reply to this comment
    by xsxc March 27, 2008 7:46 AM PDT
    The Clinton''s has a fraud case in process--This is one more thing they are hiding.

    Below is the case number of the actual case against Bill and Hillary Clinton for campaign finance fraud. The mainstream media has been blocking this information from all of their blogs and forums.

    Also, they refuse to print any information about this case. The Clintons and company are being brought up on charges of fraudulently taking money from Peter F. Paul. They bilk this guy out of nearly 2.0 million dollars total, but he pursuing restitution for 1.2 million dollars.

    This is very real. I have provided a link to the case so that you can see it for yourself. Please pass this on to everyone you know. I hope that this email gets to the people in Pennsylvania before their primary election.

    Notice that the case is scheduled for hearing THREE days after the Pennsylvania primary. This is what the Clintons don%u2019t want us to know.

    Hillary Clinton is really trying to dope us into thinking that she is honest and she really cares about Americans.

    www.lasuperiorcourt.org

    Choose Civil - then Case Summary - type in the Case Number BC304174
    Reply to this comment
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