Rick Steves donating $1 million in ‘Bush tax cuts’ to Edmonds arts center

The Herald ^ | 8/25/11 | Bill Sheets

[Spartan79]

Why can't sanctimonious liberal plutocrats like Steves who are calling for higher taxes on the rich be required to release their tax returns, so that we can all know how much they're really paying in taxes?

[Beagle8U]

“Well, I’ll give him credit for putting his money where his mouth is.”

Huh? You mean he stuffed his money up Obama’s azz?

[bmwcyle]

Just another phony liberal who is upset Obama is failing and can’t admit it.

[whd23]

Unfortunately I bought a set of those DVD travel videos about 5 years ago. I recently read some of the liberal stuff Rick Steves wrote on Facebook and I ‘unfriended’ him.

Don't kick yourself; Rick's travel shows are great and fun to watch. I think he does a great job keeping his political views out of his professional work for PBS.

And since you've already paid for it (both your set of DVDs and his show on PBS) you might as well enjoy it.

In any event, Rick is doing exactly the right thing here: deciding for himself what to do with his money and sending it directly to the charity of his choice rather then letting government get its grubby hands on his money and wasting 50% or more of it before funding those things Rick is interested in.

[Future Snake Eater]

Good for him. No government edicts, no forcing at gunpoint, just giving his money where he believes it should go.

If only all leftists were so inclined...

[libertarian27]

Awesome, now the gov’t can slash the art center funding even more - he’s taking up the slack

Gee thanks Ricky.....
Charity begins at home
Now, middle class little me will not have my taxes go to the arts - you are doing it for me..../s

[Texas Eagle]

"Over the last decade, my tax burden has decreased even as public funding for important local programs and institutions has been decimated -- a trend I find alarming," he said in a written statement.

Riiiiiiiight. As if The Corporation For Public Broadcasting didn't get more money each year from President Bush.

[Venturer]

Why didn’t he give the money to the Washington Hospital Center Burn Unit. Or to the Salvation Army, or to any of thousands of worthy institutions that need help.

Liberals have their priorities I suppose, but an Arts Center when people are hurting isn’t one of mine.

So Rick has his heart in the right place, but his head up his rectum.

If the story is true about him leaving his wife and kids, he won’t be making any more donations, his wife’s attorneys will see to that, when they finish with him he may need to move into the Arts Center.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Good for Rick Steves. At least he’s putting his money where his mouth is. Buffett, and other rich Democrats should do the same.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

If the story is true about him leaving his wife and kids, he won’t be making any more donations, his wife’s attorneys will see to that, when they finish with him he may need to move into the Arts Center.

I read that he got divorced last year, but I didn't see what the details were.

[Atlantan]

That’s an old picture of Steve and his family. His son has graduated from college and his daughter is probably in college.

[Bluebird Singing]

I just sent him this email, subject: Yes We Can!

I commend you on your donation to the arts. That’s the kind of attitude that made America great in the first place. You have avoided government confiscating your money, and wasting it, and applied it directly to those who can use it the best. Well done! Hopefully America is headed back in that direction where the “rich” can subsidize causes and industries that will benefit this wonderful country. Yes We Can!

[Texas Eagle]

"Over the last decade, my tax burden has decreased even as public funding for important local programs and institutions has been decimated -- a trend I find alarming," he said in a written statement.

As this chart from CPB's own website clearly shows, Rick Steves is a lying sack of PBS.

CPB Appropriations in millions of dollars

2001... $340.00
2002... $350.00
2003... $362.80
2004... $377.80
2005... $386.8
2006 ...$396.0
2007... $400.00
2008... $393.0
2009... $400.00
2010... $420.00
2011... $430.00
2012... $445.00

Are these people not aware that there's this new creation out there called "the internet" where one can go to confirm or refute ridiculous claims?

[Outrance]

Bravo Rick!

It’s your money and you have the right to spend it the way you see fit. That’s, what it’s all about.

[silverleaf]

all tax deductible, of course

[silverleaf]

great minds

Rick Steves missed obama’s point

obama doesnt want the rich to donate their money to charity
he wants it collected by the federal govt to spend

[radioone]

He uses one of those EVIL loopholes; deducts it from his income tax, and probably gets one wing of the building named after him. You can bet this isn’t just being done for “charity”.

[mosesdapoet]

He’s not as bad as some of the others in that business . Least he put his money where his mouth is. But like most of those in the entertainment business they haven’t a clue about the waste and corruption or the fact the country is going broke because of it.

[bray]

Yep, most likely suggested by his accountant to avoid more taxes. Why didn’t he give it to the IRS if he felt so guilty?

Pray for America

[Albion Wilde]

He got divorced last year.

Astounding. I always just assumed he was gay until he did that Christmas show with his wife and kids. Too bad for the kids to have to go through this. Even if they are now adults, divorce wrecks the offsprings' hearts.