The “war on Christmas” meme took a new turn on Monday as Fox News and other Republicans attacked the Republican National Committee for throwing an annual “Holiday Party” instead of a “Christmas Party” this year.
News of the “holiday party” broke over the weekend. While some say it’s an attempt by the RNC to be more inclusive, Republicans pounced on their party for what some have called a new front in the war on Christmas.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, at a campaign appearance in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, said the RNC’s party plans were the fault of liberals trying to destroy the Republican party and establish a secularist, socialist nation.
“This is just the latest example of the liberal secularization of America and demonstrates just how much they hate anything to do with religion, especially Christianity. The fact that the RNC would join in this crime shows just how widespread the conspiracy to destroy religion is in this country,” Gingrich said. “Obviously, the liberals have infiltrated the RNC.”
The “war on Christmas” is a common annual topic on Fox, where any company or political figure that uses the term “holiday” or “holidays” instead of Christmas is attacked and accused of being anti-Christmas, anti-Christian and un-American.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry appeared on “Fox & Friends” Monday morning where he said the RNC’s invitation was the fault of President Barack Obama. Perry released a campaign ad last week where he attacked gays serving in the military and claimed children were not allowed to pray or celebrate Christmas. He said this was his way of securing a future job as a Fox News commentator.
“It doesn’t matter that kids can pray any time they want, in silence, or that no one has ever been prevented from celebrating Christmas. Nothing says peace on earth and good will to men like milking a religious holiday for political reasons,” Perry said. “That’s what Christmas is all about, and that’s something that Fox News and I have in common.”
Yet Perry joined the other side later that day, as the governor’s official website posted a picture of Perry with his family and the message “the first family wishes you happy holidays.” Some say this is an example of just how endangered the celebration of Christmas has become.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and family join the war on Christmas.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said he would offer an opinion on the issue after his staff had a chance to figure out where he stood, but said he would likely change his position based on opinion polls.
RNC chairman Reince Priebus said the “holiday party” was part of an effort to show that the GOP wasn’t just a bunch of white, angry Christians.
“Republican presidential candidates spoke to the Republican Jewish Coalition recently, now all of a sudden we’re being attacked for trying to reach out to these same voters,” Preibus said. “Maybe we’ll have to throw a ‘Christians only, everyone else doesn’t matter’ party next year.”
Fox host Bill O’Reilly said the fact that the RNC is having a “holiday party” instead of a “Christmas party” was proof that the “war on Christmas” is real–especially given that Perry has joined the anti-Christmas crusaders.
“When you look at all the Christmas specials, the sales, the music everywhere and companies shutting down over the holidays, Christmas is nearly on the verge of extinction,” O’Reilly said. “In fact, this very network has, in the past, held an annual holiday party instead of a Christmas party which I myself have attended.”
O’Reilly noted that since he’s called on his followers to walk out of any store where they’re greeted with “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas,” it was time for people to turn away from the Republican Party and Fox News as well.
“I know some bleeding hearts out there will claim that Christmas is about the son of God bringing a message of love and charity for all but these people are pinheads. Christmas is about using religion to promote consumerism,” O’Reilly said. “You should turn away from any store that doesn’t pander to your Christian beliefs, you should abandon the Republican Party and you should also turn away from this very network. I want you to change the channel and never come back to this network ever gain. That’ll send the message that the war on Christmas is not to be trifled with.”
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