I would say it's more of a counter-argument against socialists claiming that redistribution policies are charity. Forcefully taking someone else's hard-earned cash and spending it for them is not charitable, and it isn't right.

But anyways, you're right; nobody is really debating that, except for some of the idiots in the dailykos.com link that tony posted. Some of these goofballs are arguing that donations to churches shouldn't be counted as charitable but donations to socialist political organizations should (because it's for the "greater good"). What a bunch of delusional moonbats.