[El Cid]

...“Americans’ greatest moral failure in my lifetime,” he said, “has been that we still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.”

I don't disagree with Mr. Hussein Obama's basic statement - but let's dig into it a bit deeper:

A) When Big Government takes over the function of neighbor helping neighbor - what do you expect? People get desensitized with respect to giving. And those receiving get desensitized to the fact that they are receiving charity. Charity becomes an 'entitlement'.
The godless welfare state gets people addicted to being dependent on the government as caretaker - and when some event like Katrina happens -- we see how wonderfully this works out.

B) And (A) aside we (America) still gives more through charitable causes throughout the world. When that tsunami hit in Indonesia -- Who opened their pockets the most?

C) The Gospel is intended to bring people to an understanding that they are sinners in desperate need of a Saviour - which is Only through Christ Jesus. It is not to be used as a tool to promote one's ideal of political nirvana and social welfare.
Mr. Obama should stick to quoting from Karl Marx if he is promoting his particular brand of social engineering.

[sinanju]

Charity is an unknown concept under socialism.

The individual attitude becomes: “I gave at the office.”