Posted on 12/02/2005 8:39:51 AM PST by emiller
President Bush took part in the annual lighting of the National Christmas tree last night, but failed to mention by name Jesus Christ, whose birth millions celebrate in the U.S. and around the world.
"Christmas is a time to rejoice, and to give thanks for the blessings of the season and for the blessings that surround us every day of the year," said Bush, flanked by the first lady, as well as members of Congress and the Cabinet.
The president made a brief allusion to Jesus, but crafted it into a joke which got mild response.
"Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy – and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity. Santa, thanks for coming. Glad you made it. I know you've got a lot of commitments this time of year. By the way, we have a lot of chimneys at the White House if you're looking for something to do."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
WND needs to seriously lighten up.
That's not a Jesus joke. That is a Santa joke.
Satan, thanks for coming. Glad you made it. I know you've got a lot of commitments this time of year.
Looks like you are desperately trying to create a story out of a non-story. The headline is misleading too.
"Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy – and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity. Santa, thanks for coming."
Now on to hosting Ramadan festivals and Muslim prayer meetings in the White House.
Unbelieveable.
This is getting really old.
Too many Christians are so insecure in their faith that they feel dissed everytime anything happens in public this time of year without someone directly quoting Luke and Matthew.
Enough already.
I pray Bush is in the Lord's word daily...
No kidding.
My jaw literally dropped when I read this. How could he?
America was founded by Christian Europeans. Period.
Agreed. The president is not my spiritual leader, and I do not expect him to talk to me about Jesus. If he does, that's a nice bonus. But it is always optional. I won't criticize him if he passes up an opportunity. And, of course, it would be like picking a fight with the Left.
If the President is going to go picking a fight with the Left (and he should) it should be about Immigration, the war, or spending. Not about the origin of Christmas.
Sometimes WND and NewsMax make conservatives look as silly to the undecided middle of the road as DU does.
This is a petty complaint
I'm half-expecting someone to appear on this thread to exclaim that he will never vote for Bush again. Jeez (wait, is that a Jesus joke?).
No one is asking for scripture quoting. But to play the PC game with the reason for this season is yet again....a PC slap in the face.
WOW.....some of you folks really need to get a life!! Go ahead and pick up your jaw.
Ramadan Yule Bush
Where's the Jesus joke?
Yep. Poster has been a member of Free Republic for only a month...
I guess I'm still waiting to be offended...
No problems with what he said to me.
Atleast they don't riot and kill people because they are offended like Muslims.
Relax, that was a subject change. But of course WND prints it in a way that makes you think he was referring to Santa as the 'one humble life' (he wasn't.)
>>>Ramadan Yule Bush
Your headline is false and misleading.
and how woould it look if it were formatted just slightly different...
"Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy – and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity.
"Santa, thanks for coming. Glad you made it. I know you've got a lot of commitments this time of year. By the way, we have a lot of chimneys at the White House if you're looking for something to do."
new topic, new paragraph, problem solved.
He didn't have to quote Scripture, but, given the war against islamofacism and the secular assault on Christmas here at home, we don't need GWB minimizing the message for a cheap laugh. Just my beleagured opinion.
If you truly wish to be accurate, "America" was conquered by Christian Europeans. There were human inhabitants present on what is now the North and South American continents prior to Europeans arriving.
Methinks this poster, emiller, is a sleeper troll.
LOL .. guess he'll have to find something else to complain about
No, it's a Jesus joke. The setup makes you think it's about Jesus, the punchline takes you to Santa. He's comparing Santa, a jolly elf, to Jesus, the savior and lord.
Yes, but stores start selling the artifical ones in October.
Really. I was expecting some awful joke. Seemed to me, to be two different thoughts.. He spoke of one humble life, and then, mentioned Santa.. Whats the problem!?
WND has seemed to perfect the art of dishonest victimology, on par with Jesse Jackson.
I guess if you put 100 chips on your shoulder, sooner or later wind will knock a few off.
I think you are confusing Jesus with allah - AKA 'The "God" too stupid to have a sense of humor.'
We'd be all over Billary if either said something like this.
No, it was a subject change. The pause and voice inflection aren't passed on in print. I bet the actual transcript starts a new paragraph when he begins talking about Santa.
Jesus is not worried about Santa Claus.
Catching on yet?
LOL ... Remember that year that the Iraqis had Santa and were torturing him. Jesus went over to Iraq and saved Santa but was killed in the process. And Santa declared that on Christmas every year we should remember Jesus who died to save Santa.
I know Christmas is about Santa and presents, but we really should take a moment this year to think about Jesus Christ and how he gave his own life so the rest of us can enjoy Christmas.
He never would have gotten away with a joke about Mohammad.
Well lets impeach him.
Has anyone seen video of it? The delivery is key to figuring out if that's what it was. It's easy to see how it could be seen as a joke-- setting you up to think "Jesus" and then saying "Santa" instead.
This nation was founded on many things, but FREEDOM OF RELIGION right now, is germain. How come, in recent years, I feel as a christian, former catholic, I am being discriminated against and told by my own government that my beliefs are less important than that of muslims, jews, budhists, kwanzaa and athiests????
Just fire his speechwriters.
Enough already.
My sentiments EXACTLY!
"Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy – and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity."
(brief pause)
"Santa, thanks for coming. Glad you made it. I know you've got a lot of commitments this time of year. By the way, we have a lot of chimneys at the White House if you're looking for something to do."
_____________
There. Everything's all better. Let's not give the Seculars something to complain about.
LOL....you should stop taking World Nut Daily so seriously. As other posters have pointed out, there was a subject change. The person who posted this thread is a troll who does not bother to reply to a single comment. Stop taking such "FReepers" and their WND stories so seriously.
The way it is written, you might think that the two lines are connected, but if you watched it live you'd know that it was should have been written as two different paragraphs.
Dubya turned to address Santa, who was standing next to him, when Dubya said "[g]lad you could make it Santa."
Sheesh, lighten up people.
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