MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
(Obligatory nativity scene follows)
Posted on 12/21/2011 5:57:44 AM PST by IbJensen
WASHINGTON, DC, December 20, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - This year, the Christmas wars are coming to Capitol Hill. Members of the House of Representatives have been banned from using the phrase “Merry Christmas” in any “franked,” or taxpayer-funded, correspondence to their constituents, but have been told that “Happy Holidays” is permissible.
A December 12 memo from the Franking Commission Staff reported by the Washington Examiner noted that the “Franking Manual” already bans using taxpayer-funded postage for correspondence whose sole purpose is to mark special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births, retirements, or holidays.
This year, however, members are being told that even in correspondence sent for otherwise legitimate purposes, the phrase “Merry Christmas” cannot be used.
The ban extends to any e-mail, website, or social media posting that uses “official resources,” according to the memo.
“I called the commission to ask for clarification and was told no ‘Merry Christmas.’ Also told cannot say ‘Happy New Year’ but can say ‘have a happy new year’ – referencing the time period of a new year, but not the holiday,” an anonymous Hill staffer told the news service.
Another Hill staffer reported having been advised of the regulation after submitting a draft mailing.
Franking commission spokesman Salley Wood confirmed that “incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permissible, but Merry Christmas is not.”
Some Congressmen, however, are fighting back.
Illinois Republican Joe Walsh and Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross sent a letter to colleagues Monday asking them to support an effort to change the rule.
“Political correctness is slowly dismantling the meaning of the Christmas and Hanukkah season,” the letter reads, according to the Huffington Post.
“We are not celebrating winter this December. We are celebrating significant moments in two religions that have fundamentally shaped our nation—and as Members of Congress who represent thousands of constituents celebrating these holidays, we ask you to reconsider these outdated and restrictive rules.”
Walsh told the Chicago Sun-Times that the rule was “political correctness run amok.”
The Senate, which operates under different rules, still allows its members to extend Christmas greetings in franked mail.
The central socialist (and God-less) government not only needs to get out of the way of the celebration of our Savior's birth, but needs to clean out their desks and cushy offices and get the hell out of Dodge!
Politicians and their vast retinues need to leave as they're the one's responsible for our demise!
To defend Jesus Christ and Christendom is quite enough reason to begin the war against governments: federal and state!
(It is perfectly acceptable to wish muslims well during their various high holy days)
Is this satire??
The Mulsim war against the God of the Christians and Jews proceeds unabated under the Kenyan Tyrant.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
(Obligatory nativity scene follows)
“Is this satire??”
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We can wish, but it is probably true.
The once great USA is going to Hell in a hand-basket.
I thank God that I am no longer there to watch it.
By the way...MERRY CHRISTMAS :)
This is like paying for a Christmas card to be sent to yourself.
exactly!
I’m more upset that they are being BANNED from even saying the words. The price for the cards is one thing, but to be disallowed from wishing others a Merry Christmas is everything the Founders were against.
Hook up the sarcophagi of Washington, Madison, Jefferson, and Lincoln with 00ga copper wire, and you’d generate enough electricity to power NYC for a year with them spinning in their graves so much these days.
The Republican controlled house too.
Note the Democrat Senate is still allowed to say Merry Christmas. Ironic !
Congress ought to cut off all funding for the Franking Commission.
take away the christmas vacation from anyone who wants to pull this crap....we’ll see things change really fast.
They’re not being banned from wishing their constituents a Merry Christmas. They are being banned from doing so in taxpayer-funded mailings. I agree with this move, insofar as I think the franking privilege should be significantly curtailed - too much of what is sent out is thinly-veiled campaign literature. Any limit on franking is a good limit on franking in my book (though I don’t care much for the obviously anti-religious angle of this particular restriction).
“If these rip off artists want to send their constituents a Christmas card, let them pay for it from their own stash.”
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You totally miss the point, and come off looking like trolls.
Perhaps both of you can save face by saying that ALL franking privileges should be ended.
OK...Franking priveleges should be ended.
And I still hate Christmas cards.
I make the Grinch look like a bell ringer.
Frankly, the Franking Commission can go frank themselves.
I do not need a congressman sending me a Christmas card on the taxpayers dollar. We all know (if you have ANY brain in your head at all) WHY 95% of them would do so...to remind you of who THEY are...in order to increase the chances of you voting for them. If it is their intention to offer you a Merry Christmas...then they can do it like I do it...with their OWN money...not with mine.
Just think how much this costs...for PRETENSE! So it can be tossed in the trash because its meaningless...because its not heartfelt?
Please tell me you understand this. Otherwise...our country truly IS lost...and we will NEVER get ahold of our budget.
But it’s okay for obama to wish all the muslims a happy ramadama ding dong.
How the hell do you enforce this sh*t??
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