Meg Whitman charitable donations scarce

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In response to moderator Tom Brokaw's debate question from Oct. 12 asking if Whitman ever used her wealth for philanthropy, Meg Whitman stated that her family foundation "supports higher education and health care". Whitman has yet to release her 2009 tax returns. However, Matier & Ross expose what Whitman considered charitable donations in her 2008 tax returns:
- $1.15 million to her and her husband's ranch in Telluride, Colorado
- $200,000 to the Environmental Defense Fund (that's in CA)
- $5,000 to the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation
- another 5k to her church (her only other in-state contribution)

Whitman's 2009 returns have yet to be made public. Whitman's campaign spokesperson Tucker Bounds said that all of Whitman's $98 million of eBay stock profit is "designated for charitable giving". So raising money to keep her own property=charity? For her own family, at least.

Meanwhile, Jerry Brown and his wife have donated $600,000 either personally or through their foundation to the two Oakland charter schools that Brown helped launch: Oakland Military Institute and Oakland School for the Arts.

Now I wonder if Whitman's so-called charitable donations will be a new Brown campaign talking point.