Wednesday, December 07, 2005
O'Reilly Boycotts Bush**
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON --In a rather shocking move, boisterous broadcaster Bill O'Reilly -- who for several years has been waging a quiet lonely campaign against the secularization of Christmas -- today turned his fire on President Bush and the White House.
Using unusually strong language, O'Reilly called the president's team, "incredibly dense grinches...so infected with political correctness, so afraid somebody might complain about the word 'Christmas,' that they throw the baby Jesus out with the bathwater."
The cause of O'Reilly's ire? The White House's decision to send out "holiday" cards instead of the traditional "Christmas" cards:
The White House decision comes just days after House Speaker Dennis Hastert restored the name "Christmas Tree" to the 65-foot spruce that adorns the Capitol Hill lawn during the "holiday" season.
O'Reilly promptly announced that he was henceforth boycotting the White House gift shop:
**Satire alert!!
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Using unusually strong language, O'Reilly called the president's team, "incredibly dense grinches...so infected with political correctness, so afraid somebody might complain about the word 'Christmas,' that they throw the baby Jesus out with the bathwater."
The cause of O'Reilly's ire? The White House's decision to send out "holiday" cards instead of the traditional "Christmas" cards:
"Certainly President and Mrs. Bush, because of their faith, celebrate Christmas," said Susan Whitson, Laura Bush's press secretary. "Their cards in recent years have included best wishes for a holiday season, rather than Christmas wishes, because they are sent to people of all faiths."O'Reilly wasn't taking the White House spin:
The federal holiday of Christmas is once again under siege this year by secular forces that want to wipe out any public display of America's Judeo-Christian traditions. And what a problematic situation this has become, especially for big business. Sears and Kmart will absolutely not mention the word "Christmas" in advertising this year. Wal-Mart will not either, along with [the White House]. The reason these operations give for avoiding the C-word is that they don't want to offend anyone by mentioning a holiday they might not celebrate. These stores believe the greeting "Happy Holidays" is more "inclusive," although I'm sure there are some Americans who don't believe in any holidays, so what about them?
Frankly, [Chief] executives who [have] banished Christmas from...advertising are insane. By doing that, they are offending tens of millions of traditional Americans who respect the Christmas season and want it called exactly what it is -- Christmas.Mrs. Bush's press secretary declined to answer what sort of cards the First Family sends to Americans who don't believe in any holidays, but did hope that they would, "Have a nice compassionate conservative day."
The White House decision comes just days after House Speaker Dennis Hastert restored the name "Christmas Tree" to the 65-foot spruce that adorns the Capitol Hill lawn during the "holiday" season.
O'Reilly promptly announced that he was henceforth boycotting the White House gift shop:
Well, humbug...I'm shopping elsewhere. Three wise men once came bearing gifts to honor a baby who would grow up to bring a great message to the world. If corporate chieftains are not wise enough to honor that message as well, they don't deserve any Christmas cheer. Simple as that.O'Reilly was also weighing action against the vice president's office after hearing Lynn Cheney's secretary wish caller's a "Hally Burton & a Merry New Year."
**Satire alert!!
