GOP Rep. challenges ‘war on Christmas’

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) on Tuesday vowed to protect Christmas against what he called a “vocal minority” offended by its symbols and traditions.

“There is a vocal minority that is offended at the rest of us who want to celebrate Christmas,” he said Tuesday on “Fox and Friends.” “Just because someone is offended doesn’t mean that they can shut down the religious celebration or acknowledgment of every other American.”

Lamborn recently introduced a two-page resolution, H.Res. 448, that would strongly disapprove of efforts to ban Christmas references, while supporting anyone who wants to promote its symbols. 

{mosads}The congressman is among a growing number of conservatives who have vowed to resist “the war on Christmas” that they say threatens to turn the holiday into a secular celebration. Many of them have charged, for example, that it’s become less politically correct to use a Christmas greeting exclusively.

Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, announced early this month that lawmakers are now allowed — for the first time in 40 years — to send holiday cards to constituents that say “Merry Christmas.” 

Fox News host Megyn Kelly drew strong criticism recently for declaring on air that Santa and Jesus Christ are white. She was reacting to an article by Slate called, “Santa Claus Should Not be a White Man Anymore.” 

“When I saw this headline, I kinda laughed and I said, ‘Oh, this is ridiculous. Yet another person claiming it’s racist to have a white Santa.’ And by the way, for all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white,” Kelly said on Fox News. 

Macy’s flagship store in New York, in what appears to be a response, dismissed that claim by arranging the option for customers to request a black Santa with whom they could take pictures.

“Santa is all things to all who believe,” Macy’s said, according to New York’s CBS affiliate.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) also challenged efforts to tamp down Christmas greetings this year. 

“Happy Holidays is what liberals say,” was printed onto a t-shirt the committee said they sold out of on Black Friday weekend. The NRCC subsequently introduced a mug with the same phrase in its online store.  

In response, the Democratic National Convention encouraged its supporters to tweet “Happy Holidays” and other holiday greetings at the NRCC and the Republican National Committee.

Sarah Palin also released a book this season called Good Tidings and Great Joy, in which she expressed frustration for the use of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”