As for what issues are most important to evangelicals, it depends on how you frame the question. Most evangelicals do not want to smell, see, hear, taste or touch pollution or cause others to do so -- and they will tell you so. But survey after survey shows evangelicals also place the rights of the unborn and the protection of the biblical construct of marriage as top priorities in expressing their values. Interestingly, researchers at the University of California at Berkley concluded that youth in fact are more conservative than their parents on the issue of abortion, so the future for conservatives looks bright and not dim as critics have claimed.

The bottom line is the rhetoric from Wallis, Vanderslice and McLaren has become tiresome.

I would prefer to see what someone does to alleviate the plight of the poor rather than hear them exploit "the least of these" as talking points in an election stump speech. On that note, I would rather know what this trio’s candidate actually contributed toward charities from his own pocket than listen to them demagogue about votes or policies he’s supported that use others' money to apply to the problem.

Herein lies the rub.

You see, Barack Obama has a rather weak record of charitable giving.

According to tax records, Obama and his wife made charitable contributions of $10,772 total from 2000-2004 on joint earnings of $1.2 million total for the same five years combined. That’s less than one percent to “the least of these” or to support the work of their church.

The Obamas’ gifts to charity jumped for 2005-2006 to $137,622 total, or over 5 percent of $2.6 million total income earned for the two years combined (the rise in income came mainly from Obama’s book sales). But it doesn’t seem to show generosity to charitable causes nor commitment to the ministries of their congregation (a tithe is 10 percent).

On the surface, McCain’s record of charitable giving appears better. In 2007, he gave $105,467 (26 percent) to charity on income of $405,409, and the year before he donated $64,695 (18 percent) of $358,414 total income. However, McCain files separately from his wife, Cindy and she has not released enough tax information to know how much they gave as a couple. She has an estimated worth of $100 million, which includes a beer distributorship she owns (which should be a concern to evangelicals).

To McCain’s credit, records show since 1998 he has donated $1.8 million of book sales to charity and since 1991 he has donated $450,000 in Senate pay increases because he pledged not to accept them.

[Note that for both Obama and McCain, it’s not apparent what amount of their gifts to charity even went to help the needy or to support the work of their respective churches.]

The bottom line is, if you want to know a man's heart, see where he puts his treasure.

Accordingly, if you want to know if a politician really cares for the poor, see if he gives to charity in his personal life.

In the end, I'm convinced that giving less than one percent of your earnings in donations while enjoying the luxuries of life does not show much concern. So for me, before Wallis, Vanderslice and McLaren pitch Obama as the best candidate to champion the cause for “the least of these,” he needs to put his money where his mouth is to prove he really cares.

Will Hall is executive editor of Baptist Press. However, he wrote and submitted this editorial as a personal expression of opinion and not as a representative of Baptist Press.