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Your response is off topic on this thread Hilltopper. I am sure there are a multitude of Glenn Beck topics where your response would be sequitur.
Well I was offering a comparative response to the question you asked, however in respects of keeping this topic more focused on Oprah, you are right, my apologies. Upon reflection, I regret even posting on this thread and shall refrain from doing so further.
The post you responded to is talking about her givings to charity, not her givings to audience members. As pointed out before (including by you), she doesn't give anything away to her audience members. The products are provided by her sponsors
You can easily find lists online of the biggest US donors to charity each year (Slate for instance publishes this yearly). For the past decade or so, Oprah is always in the top 50. She gives 40-50 million a year to charity.
So what? As a percentage of her net worth and yearly I suspect the ratio that she gives is really no more than do many Americans. The uber-rich often give much to charities. Do you not think they do so publicly because it benefits them in political circles? Do you not think that in Oprah's case, rather than encouraging others to participate, that her efforts have been to build her name and label? Do you not think there is a political advantage for Oprah in her methods?
Should she receive a social head nod for her efforts? Sure, but no more so than anyone else who gives 10% or more of their income each year to charity.
To whom much is given much is required.
Yes. Seriously. Oprah has become wealthy in the United States. It would be nice to see her showcase some support for charities in the United States. She has become nothing more than a daytime TV game show host.
Did you ever think that maybe she does? Ever heard of an anonymous donation?
So what? As a percentage of her net worth and yearly I suspect the ratio that she gives is really no more than do many Americans. The uber-rich often give much to charities. Do you not think they do so publicly because it benefits them in political circles? Do you not think that in Oprah's case, rather than encouraging others to participate, that her efforts have been to build her name and label? Do you not think there is a political advantage for Oprah in her methods?
Should she receive a social head nod for her efforts? Sure, but no more so than anyone else who gives 10% or more of their income each year to charity.
To whom much is given much is required.
Oprah's Angel Network was created so that people could give to charities through a reputable medium. So she was encouraging others to be generous as well.
I don't watch Oprah, but, I would think the give aways are given by sponsors and what not.
I find it quite odd that the OP chose to single out Oprah and yet there are 346 other American billionaires that could be criticized and/or praised for the generosity (or lack of....depending on your view)
Which brings me back to the question......why is the OP specifically targeting Oprah?
How do you give away that which you haven't owned or purchased? She is just promoting her sponsors with the giveaways. The giveaways are nothing but commercials. The "Oprah factor" for viewers without a brain sends her fans out to the stores to purchase what she recommends or gives away.
Maybe she is just good at what she does... Congress has no problem giving away what it doesn't own or has purchased...
Anyway... your question should be directed to ABC... since it was Barbara Walters reporting 500 million.
I do know she has funded charitable, faith based organizations and local schools in Oakland CA...
What a ridiculous thread! Oprah has given generously to many groups and causes. Are you seriously going to condemn her for giving generously to her audience? If they don't want the gifts, I'm sure they can refuse them, sell them etc. How does giving become politically incorrect or incorrect in any way?
I think so. When you think of the money she spent on her studio audiences vs that money that could have been donated to a charity in the United States, it seems gauche and not befitting someone like Oprah who wants to be the Queen of charity.
I think Oprah gives a lot to charities.
There's nothing wrong with her bestowing gifts on the audience that has supported her television program and the "cult-of-Oprah" since the 1980's. I think the audience has paid enough dues (buying the stuff she hocks on her show, and stuff the advertisers sell to the people who watch her show) to get a trip or a car.
It's her money afterall.
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that the OP chose to single out Oprah and yet there are 346 other American billionaires that could be criticized and/or praised for the generosity (or lack of....depending on your view) 
