Inside the Beltway: Butt out, Santa

The Washington Times ^ | October 14, 2012 | Jennifer Harper

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

So much for Santa Claus, who could turn up slim and gluten-free at any moment. A new version of the classic “A Visit from St. Nicholas” edits out all references to Mr. Claus‘ pipe smoking in the beloved old poem, rewritten by Pamela McColl, a writer and smoking-cessation advocate in Vancouver, Canada, who deleted two verses penned in 1823 by original author Clement Moore, for “the benefit of children in the 21st century,” she says. Vanished: “The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.”

Santa now explains to young readers, “Here at the North Pole, we decided to leave all of that tired old business of smoking well behind us a long time ago. The reindeer also asked that I confirm that I have only ever worn faux fur.”

Uh-oh.

“No one can backtrack now. Santa has stopped smoking, and 2012 is the year he quit, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” Ms. McColl told The New York Post.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

“No one can backtrack now. Santa has stopped smoking, and 2012 is the year he quit, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” Ms. McColl told The New York Post.

Is that you, Drango?

Nanny State PING!

[JimmyMc]

I hope Mrs Mccole finds a lump of coal under her Christmas tree. But I guess cutting and selling are next on her list to ban. After that, she will fight run the rights of turkeys.

[Venturer]

This idiot thinks she has done something to save the world.

She may as well go fart in a hurricane.

[ViLaLuz]

I’m surprised she didn’t mention his homosexual relationship with his elves, or the toy maker union, or how global warning is ruining the North Pole.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Lazamataz]

I love you, Alamo Girl.

[jsanders2001]

This is where liberalism has taken us. They would rather take a video of their classmates being burned by thugs and post it on the Facebook page to get their Likes count up then step up and stop the thugs from burning their classmates to death. Our country is sick.

[Alamo-Girl]

Love right back ‘atcha, dear Laz!

[SandRat]

Bet she would have left those lines in if he’d been smoking MaryJane or it had been a Crack Pipe.