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.

Transcript: Read more

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, run by the controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio, released a “news brief” this week announcing that it will be forcing the system’s 8,000 inmates to listen to “Christmas music” during the holiday season, even though the Arpaio has faced six lawsuits over the issue in the past two years. From the statement (written in Christmas-themed red and green fonts):

Arpaio claims that “[h]oliday music from all countries and faiths” will be represented in the play list, but he repeatedly refers to “Christmas music,” which of course excludes many faiths. According to ABC News, Arpaio said that “for agnostics,” he would “mix in the singing Chipmunks” — who also presumably sing Christmas carols. “We can’t say ‘Merry Christmas’ in the U.S., in the world anymore,” said Arpaio, fulling joining in the War on Christmas. “What are we coming to? I am saying it. I am singing it. It’s gonna be in this jail, and that’s the way the ball bounces.”

In previous grievances, inmates have called Arpaio’s stunt “cruel and unusual punishment” and said that it is forcing them to “participate in religious celebrations.” As the Phoenix New Times points out, “The practice of forcing people to listen to crappy music all day long has been used in the past for interrogation purposes. For example, the U.S. military blared Metallica music at detainees in Guantanamo Bay with the intention of breaking them down psychologically.”

Arpaio is not a benevolent sheriff trying to cheer up inmates during the holiday season. His unconventional tactics are often unusually cruel and sometimes outright racist. His deputies are on the lookout for people “who look like they just came from Mexico” (based on how they look and talk), and he has said that “illegals” are “all dirty” and should be “checked” like “fruits and vegetables.”

Recently Arpaio’s tactics gained attention again when a woman spoke out and said she was detained in Arpaio’s jail while nine months pregnant. She eventually had to give birth while shackled to a bed and then “was not allowed to hold her baby and was told that if no one came to pick up the child within 72 hours, the baby would be turned over to state custody.”

Conservatives turned out on Capitol Hill today for a “Code Red Rally” to “kill” health care reform legislation, organized by groups such as the right-wing Americans for Prosperity (AFP). The Tax Day Tea Party website promoted the event by appealing to Americans to make a “sacrifice” right before Christmas and promised plans for a controversial “die-in“:

We call this plan “Government Waiting Rooms”. The intention is to go inside the Senate offices and hallways, and play out the role of patients waiting for treatment in government controlled medical facilities. As the day goes on some of us will pretend to die from our untreated illnesses and collapse on the floor. [...]

We know it’s a sacrifice to do this right before Christmas. But throughout history American Patriots have made far greater sacrifices than this to protect our liberty. Now the burden (and the honor) falls on us.

ThinkProgress attended the rally and the subsequent dispersal to Senate offices, and we observed no die-ins. One activist we spoke with confirmed that the original die-in strategy wasn’t going on, but didn’t seem to know what had happened. However, the events of the day did take up the mantle of co-opting Christmas as the season to “kill the bill.”

At a small gathering this morning in Upper Senate Park, Tea Party activists sang The 12 Days of Christmas, refashioned with lyrics about the problems under President Obama. Later on at a larger gathering organized by AFP, both Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and conservative radio host Laura Ingraham invoked Christmas as a reason to defeat reform. Watch it:

In the morning, there was also a vehicle driving around Capitol Hill with a large “Kill the Bill” sign and a “Merry Christmas” banner (as well as a crossed-out photograph of two men kissing). At the rally, there were several Christmas-themed signs, including one saying that “Obama Claus” was going to “redistribute your presents,” placed next to pictures of Obama as socialist and fascist figures:

AFP staffers were also handing out a list called “The 12 Days of Christmas: Health Care Edition” about what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) gave the country, including “a doctor shortage” and “what women don’t want” (view a larger image here):

Yesterday, Steve Benen noted that 19 House Republicans had signed onto H. Res. 951, a resolution to honor Christmas and “strongly” disapprove of attempts to ban Christmas references. Today, ThinkProgress obtained an e-mail sent around to Republican and Democratic legislative directors by Rep. Henry Brown’s (R-SC) office, asking them to have their bosses sign onto the legislation. Brown’s chief of staff, Chris Berardini, wrote:

We have added 44 cosponsors in just the first 24 hours since H. Res 951 was introduced and we would love to have your boss join us.

Co-sponsors include Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), and Jack Kingston (R-GA). The only Democrat on the list is Danny Davis (IL). All these GOP co-sponsors come despite House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-OH) tirade against a Democratic resolution recognizing the Chinese philosopher Confucius, which he called “unacceptable” during an economic crisis. Notably absent from the list is Rep. Steve King (R-IA), whose office confirmed to us that he’s not yet a co-sponsor. In 2007, King introduced a similar measure after voting against resolutions honoring Diwali and Ramadan.

It’s not even Thanksgiving, but the American Family Association (AFA) has already taken up arms in the War on Christmas. On Nov. 11, the right-wing organization announced that it was urging its followers to boycott Gap Inc. (Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy) from now until Christmas Day because the company refuses to say the word “Christmas”:

For years, Gap has refused to use the word Christmas in its television commercials, newspaper ads and in-store promotions, despite tens of thousands of consumer requests to recognize Christmas and in spite of repeated requests from AFA to do the same.

Last year, Gap issued this politically-correct statement to Christmas shoppers: “Gap recognizes that many traditions are celebrated throughout this season and we feel it is important to display holiday signage that is inclusive to everyone.”

Christmas is special because of Jesus. It’s not just a “winter holiday.” For millions of Americans the giving and receiving of gifts is in honor of the One who gave Himself. For the Gap to pretend that isn’t the foundation of the Christmas season is political correctness at best and religious bigotry at worst. The Gap is censoring the word Christmas, pure and simple.

AFA’s first shot in the war is a misfire, as Dan Neil of the LA Times points out today. In one of the first lines of Gap’s new holiday ad, the actors yell, “Go Christmas!” (as well as “Go Hanukkah! Go Kwanzaa! Go Solstice!”) Watch it:

ThinkProgress also checked out the websites of Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy and quickly found several items that feature Christmas items including several Christmas books, a pair of boxer shorts that says “Christmas” in several languages and pajama pants that also have “Christmas” written on them.

“The big loser here is the AFA,” writes Neil. “The annual War-on-Christmas drumbeat is absolutely not about defending the sacredness of Christmas. It is instead — transparently — marketing, a ratings gambit for Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, and for the AFA, the centerpiece of its annual fundraising. This year, thanks to Gap, the AFA fumbled its boycott ball and in the process managed to look both intolerant and out of touch.”

Last night, Bill O’Reilly continued his crusade against an atheist plaque on display next to a nativity scene inside Washington’s state capitol building. Asked her opinion on the matter, Fox & Friends host Gretchen Carlson declared, “[T]his is a complete insult to Christianity!” O’Reilly agreed and warned that if atheists are not stopped, their next move would be to “revoke” Christmas as a federal holiday. Watch it: