Stephen Colbert: ‘I’m Offended By Those Who Would Condemn The Christmas Lifestyle’ |
Last night, Stephen Colbert responded to Rick Perry’s infamously unpopularnew ad, in which Perry complains that gays can serve openly in the military, but children can’t celebrate Christmas in school. Colbert joins the governor in rebuking those who would “condemn the Christmas lifestyle,” pointing out that “unlike being gay, loving Christmas is not a choice.” He, himself, was “attracted to Christmas at a very early age” and is “not ashamed” of who he is or how much he “truly loves Christmas.” Watch it:
NEWS FLASH
U.S. Chamber Of Commerce To Host RNC Holiday Party |
Next Thursday, the Republican National Committee will hold its annual holiday party at the supposedly non-partisan U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Though the Chamber of Commerce has tried to assert its independence, events like this reinforce the notion that, as Politico’s Ken Vogel notes, the corporate trade association might “be thought of as a GOP arm.” In 2010, the Chamber was the top outside spending group, buying over $32 million worth of advertising, almost exclusively backing Republicans. The invite:
Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry released a delusional campaign ad promising to end President Obama’s non-existent “war on religion.” Yet, when pressed to explain just how Obama is waging this imaginary war by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Perry was reduced to playing a weak game of guilt by association:
PERRY: We’ve got a federal judge, for instance, in San Antonio that said these kids can’t say an invocation at school. I mean, they say you can’t even use the word “invocation” at their commencement.
BLITZER: Is that President Obama’s war on religion?
PERRY: I’m just giving you some examples of what we’re seeing from the left, of which, I would suggest to you, President Obama is a member of the left and, uh, substantial left of center beliefs.
Watch it:
It’s difficult to count the problems with Perry’s statement, not the least of which is the fact that the “federal judge” Perry refers to was appointed in 1994 — 15 years before Barack Obama became president. Even if one disagrees with this judge’s understanding of the separation of church and state, it is impossible to see how the judge’s decision is Obama’s fault.
More importantly, Perry’s suggestion that Obama can be blamed for everything done by a “member of the left” would be comic if it were not so reminiscent of Joe McCarthy. Blaming Obama for the irrelevant action of a judge who has no tie whatsoever to Obama is no different from blaming Perry for a member of the right’s statement that “feminists,” “gays,” and “lesbians” caused 9/11.
Moreover, as Blitzer points out, Perry’s claim that Obama is engaged in some kind of war on faith is ludicrous on its face. Just a few days ago, President Obama said at the lighting of a national Christmas tree that Jesus “grew up to become a leader with a servant’s heart who taught us a message as simple as it is powerful — that we should love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves.
War On Christmas: Right-Wing Group Creates ‘Naughty Or Nice’ List Of Companies That Do Not Mention Christmas Enough |
Tis’ the Season to be jolly, or if you are the American Family Association, to construct a list of aberrant companies out to destroy Christmas. Offering up their yearly “Naughty of Nice” list, the religious-right organization is branding companies according to whether they recognize Christmas enough. If a company uses the term Christmas “on a regular basis, we consider that company Christmas-friendly,” AFA says. If a company “refers to Christmas infrequently, or in a single advertising medium,” then they’re listed as “marginal” and are bordering on delinquency. But if a company uses Christmas “sparingly in a single or unique product description, but as a company, does not recognize it,” then that company is “censoring” (or waging all out war on) Jesus’s birthday. Here is AFA’s list, updated Nov. 30:
Update
Incidentally, AFA should be kinder to the lingerie models of Victoria’s Secret and consider an upgrade to “marginal” as they did wish Americans “a Merry Christmas” in their holiday video. They are “Angels,” after all. Watch it:
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) kicked this year’s War on Christmas into high gear last week when he announced that he wouldn’t participate in Tulsa’s annual “Holiday Parade of Lights” because the city renamed the parade, replacing “Christmas” with “Holiday.” This week, First Baptist Church of Dallas pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress joined the war effort. Jeffress announced on a local radio station this morning that his church is launching a website — the Grinch Alert — “dedicated to showcasing businesses that do not show outward signs of supporting Christmas.” The top of the site reads: “Help us keep Christmas everywhere!”:
Have you encountered a “Grinch” this Christmas season? Share your experiences here at GrinchAlert.com! Here, you can nominate businesses and organizations that shut-out expressions of Christmas in their interactions with the public via marketing, advertising and public relations. When companies use misplaced political correctness to halt the celebration of Christmas, they belong on the “Naughty List.”
We also want to know which companies are celebrating Christmas with excitement and meaning–especially those who keep Christ in Christmas where He belongs! Those companies and organizations will be placed on our “Nice List.” Help us preserve Christ this Christmas.
The Dallas Observer reports that every morning on KCBI-FM radio, Jeffress will read the names of businesses submitted to his Naughty and Nice lists:
[I]t all started last week with the public shaming of a bank in Southlake that decided not to put up a Christmas tree in its lobby; says the morning-show host, the bank has since changed its mind due to the divine intervention. To which Jeffress adds: “I wanted to do something positive to encourage businesses to acknowledge Christmas and not bow to the strident voices of a minority who object to the holiday.”
There’s no word on how far Jeffress’s crusade will stretch geographically, but perhaps the Florida State government may be next. A spokesperson for the Florida Turnpike Enterprise said the agency banned all holiday decorations two months ago after some Christian groups complained about Halloween decorations. Thus, she said, turnpike leaders have now decided to ban holiday decorations of any kind.
Last week, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) announced that he would refuse to participate in Tulsa’s “Holiday Parade of Lights” because the city had renamed the parade, replacing “Christmas” with “Holiday.” After taking part in the parade every year for three decades, Inhofe took a public stand against what he called a “shameful attempt to take Christ, the true reason for our celebration, out of the parade’s title.” “Until the parade is again named the Christmas Parade of Lights, I will not participate,” he declared.
This morning, Fox & Friends interviewed the chairman of the parade and Inhofe about the senator’s boycott. “I think not participating because we changed the name is kind of a silly reason,” said Larry Fox, the parade’s chairman. But Inhofe and host Gretchen Carlson saw nothing “silly” about the renaming, seeing it as part of a larger nefarious plot to give “the boot” to Christians:
INHOFE: Gretchen, I rode my horse in that parade for 30 years and I never missed one until they changed the name. When he said that was a silly reason, I don’t think that was a silly reason at all. … But, you know, this is a bigger picture. … You know, I would expect it some other places, but not here in Oklahoma. [...]
CARLSON: So, what you’re saying is, that it’s not like you’re not tolerant of other religions. … What you’re saying is — what a lot of people are saying in our society right now — which is if we’re supposed to be tolerate of all these other religions, which pretty much everyone accepts, why does it always seem like Christianity is the one to take the boot?
INHOFE: They’re the ones to get the hit. … I think there are a lot people of other faiths who wonder also, why do they always pick on the Christians?
Watch it:
It’s worth noting that while Inhofe laments the demise of Christian supremacy in the parade’s name — the event itself will still feature Christmas themes and decorations — his state has gone to great lengths to ward against the non-existent threat of Islamic supremacy, enacting a constitutional amendment to ban Sharia law. So perhaps it’s not surprising that he wouldn’t expect this outburst of political correctness “here in Oklahoma.”
And while Carlson went out of her way to speak for Inhofe and clarify “that it’s not like you’re not tolerant of other religions,” the senator has been less than tolerant in the past.
Anti-science champion Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) is also a culture warrior. Yesterday, the Oklahoma Republican announced that he won’t take part in Tulsa’s annual “Holiday Parade of Lights” because the city reanamed the parade, replacing “Christmas” with “Holiday”:
“Last year, the forces of political correctness removed the word ‘Christmas’ and replaced it with ‘Holiday’ instead,” the Oklahoma Republican said. “I am deeply saddened and disappointed by this change.”
Inhofe, who was Tulsa’s mayor from 1978 to 1984, said he had participated in the parade annually, riding a horse as his children and grandchildren watched.
“I did not do so last year because I’m not going to ride in a Christmas parade that doesn’t recognize Christmas,” he said. “I am hopeful that the good people of Tulsa and the city’s leadership will demand a correction to this shameful attempt to take Christ, the true reason for our celebration, out of the parade’s title. Until the parade is again named the Christmas Parade of Lights, I will not participate.”
Inhofe said he declined to participate in last year’s parade because of the same reason, but he did not want to make it public “because of the debate surrounding the health-care law.” “When he (Inhofe) learned that they were going with ‘Holiday’ again this year, he wanted to make his position known,” Inhofe’s spokesperson said. Tulsa mayor Dewey Bartlett acknowledged the reality of the situation. “If it was up to me, I’d call it a Christmas parade, but I also understand that we have a diverse community, and I’m sensitive to the importance of the many cultures and traditions that make up our city,” he said. Inhofe, however, is not so aware of these kinds of sensitivities. (HT: Right Wing Watch)
Early this morning, the Senate passed comprehensive health care reform legislation by a vote of 60-39 — with Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) not voting — ending more than four weeks of acrimonious floor debate. “This morning is not the end of the process,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) reminded progressives dissatisfied with the Senate bill. “It’s only the beginning.” Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), the longest serving federal lawmaker in U.S. history, cast his vote saying, “Mr. President, this is for my friend Ted Kennedy. Aye.” Watch highlights compiled by Igor Volsky at the Wonk Room:
As CAP President and CEO John Podesta noted, health care reform “would extend health care coverage to a record 31 million Americans who are currently uninsured, bringing the total insured population to 94 percent.” However, every single Republican opposed the legislation. RNC Chairman Michael Steele immediately put out a statement blasting the legislation as a “gift that keeps on taking”:
This morning, as millions of Americans prepared to gather with their families in celebration of Christmas, President Obama and Harry Reid gathered with their liberal allies in celebration of government. Mr. Reid and company honored President Obama’s Christmas wish for increased federal control and passed their government-run health care experiment out of the Senate. [...]
As we move forward, America can look forward to watching Nancy Pelosi conduct the arm-twisting needed to convince her most liberal colleagues that the Senate version is the best Trojan horse possible to hide a true single payer system, which is what this debate has always been about. This Christmas, the Democrats and President Obama have given America the one gift that keeps on taking.
Conservatives have been aggressively trying to portray health care reform as an assault on Christmas and Christian values. Fox News even said that senators voting against reform are doing so because they understand “the true meaning of Christmas.” Today on the floor, Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) said that Americans would be getting “a lump of coal” this Christmas. Apparently, this meme is catching on. TPM notes that today on C-SPAN, a caller — “Bunny” from Kansas — was so upset over the health care bill’s passage that she said she would be taking down all her Christmas decorations. “I have taken my Christmas wreath off my house. I have taken all the lights down,” she said. “This is supposed to be a nation under God, and it isn’t. They absolutely have ruined Christmas.” Watch it (at approximately 45:00):
After the passage of the historic bill, President Obama said, “As I’ve said before, these are not small reforms; these are big reforms. If passed, this will be the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important reform of our health care system since Medicare passed in the 1960s. And what makes it so important is not just its cost savings or its deficit reductions. It’s the impact reform will have on Americans who no longer have to go without a checkup or prescriptions that they need because they can’t afford them; on families who no longer have to worry that a single illness will send them into financial ruin; and on businesses that will no longer face exorbitant insurance rates that hamper their competitiveness.”
Leading the fight to defend Christianity in the so-called “War on Christmas,” Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) introduced congressional resolution 951, which “urges protection of the symbols and traditions of Christmas.” Despite criticism from House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) against frivolous legislation, Brown has pressed forward and collected 74 GOP cosponsors. The religious meaning of Christmas is serious to Brown. In an explanation of his resolution to the Christian Broadcast Network, Brown noted that, “we’re in a troubled world,” so “we can’t lose sight of our deep faith by some how or another diminishing the value of Christmas.”
The main threat to Christmas, Brown contents, is the use of the term “happy holidays” rather than an emphasis on “Christ and Christmas.” In an interview with Fox Business last week, Brown lashed out at the use of “happy holidays”:
BROWN: We forget the real meaning of Christmas by using “happy holidays” or “joy to the seasons” or some other word rather than “Merry Christmas.” [...]
Every year, more and more people are shying away from “Merry Christmas” and using “happy holidays” or some other means of expressing this special time for us.
Watch it:
Indeed, Brown has even attempted to use his resolution as a jab against President Obama. Declaring that the Obamas’ holiday card doesn’t mention Christmas, Brown said, “I believe that sending a Christmas card without referencing a holiday and its purpose limits the Christmas celebration in favor of a more ‘politically correct’ holiday.” Brown’s fight to preserve Christmas and shun “happy holidays” has earned him the title of “patriot” from noted culture warrior Bill O’Reilly.
However, Brown’s 2008 December newsletter wished a “happy holiday” to his constituents for the “holiday season.” Although the newsletter had a link to the White House Christmas tree website, it made no other mention of Christ or Christmas. (Click here for a screenshot) And as Slate’s Chris Beam has observed, Brown didn’t introduce his resolution last year, even though President Bush’s 2008 holiday card didn’t mention Christmas either.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is still refusing to support Senate health care reform legislation, with his main objection being that the bill doesn’t restrict women’s rights enough by severely limiting access to abortions. Today on Fox News, host Steve Doocy and analyst Peter Johnson, Jr. lauded Nelson for his “moral” stance. But they then went even further, arguing that Nelson is obstructing progress because he “understands the true meaning of Christmas” — unlike all the immoral people who want to make sure that Americans have access to quality, affordable health care as soon as possible:
DOOCY: Democrat senator from Nebraska Ben Nelson, the holdout on health care reform right now on the Democrat side. The sticking point? Abortion, which could push lawmakers up right until Christmas. But could it be because he understands the true meaning of Christmas? [...]
JOHNSON: So what you have is an interesting, almost Christmas pageant. On one hand, we have this political or secular rush for the Democratic Party: “We must get this done by Christmas,” and if you don’t it done, you’re going to be there on Christmas Eve, you’re going to be there on the day after Christmas, and you’re going to get this done.
But on the other hand, I was thinking, perhaps there is a greater moral or ethical imperative from Sen. Ben Nelson, conservative Democrat from Nebraska, who has a lot of experience in the insurance industry and was a very successful governor in that state. He’s saying, implicitly, the true meaning of Christmas is that you don’t destroy babies. You don’t destroy children. And that the federal government should not be part and parcel of that in terms of funding it.
Watch it:
Democrats wanted to pass health care before Christmas; Republicans like DeMint are the ones trying to delay the process to the holiday. DeMint told The Hill that it was his “responsibility” to “stretch this out,” stressing that “he would force [Senate Majority Leader] Reid to go late into Christmas Eve to pass healthcare legislation.”
Conservatives have been trying to co-opt Christmas to essentially claim that progressives supporting the Senate health care legislation are waging a War on Christmas. This week at the Code Red Rally on Capitol Hill, Tea Party protesters said they were making a Christmas “sacrifice” by coming and petitioning senators to kill the bill, and right-wing radio host Laura Ingraham compared Reid to the Grinch.
