Here's apparently the first article, which implies that it was a Santa joke:
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.html?id=10425
Article is by Dustin Hawkins, for a website called "The Conservative Voice" in "TCV Exclusive News". Filed about 12 hours ago, WND ran with it about 6 hours ago.
Meanwhile, here's the White House transcript, complete with a video:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051201-7.html
"THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Welcome to the Christmas Pageant of Peace. Laura and I are so honored to join you all. The lighting of the National Christmas tree is one of the great traditions in our Nation's Capital. 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. (Laughter.) 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 -- (laughter) -- if you're looking for something to do. I appreciate all our entertainers. Thanks for being here. This is a fantastic evening.
I want to thank Peter Nostrand, who is the Chairman of the Christmas Pageant of Peace, and John Betchkal, all the members of the board. I appreciate Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, other members of my Cabinet who are here. I appreciate the members of Congress who have come.
I particularly want to give a special thanks to the National Parks Service Director Fran Mainella and all the good folks who work for the National Parks Service. (Applause.) Reverend Martin, thank you very much as well.
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. We also remember that we have a responsibility to help those in need. America is a compassionate and generous land. And acts of kindness toward others fulfill the spirit of the season.
As we approach Christmas in this time of war, we pray for freedom, and justice, and peace on Earth. In his Christmas Eve address to the nation in 1941, Franklin Roosevelt said that "Against enemies who preach the principles of hate and practice them, we set our faith in human love, and in God's care for us and all men everywhere." We ask for God to watch over our men and women in uniform who are serving overseas.Their families miss them -- hold a seat open for them -- and pray for their safe return. America's military men and women stand for freedom -- and they serve the cause of peace. Many of them are serving in distant lands tonight, but they are close to our hearts.
As an expression of our hope for peace and happiness in this Christmas season, we light the national Christmas tree. Jackie, Melissa, and Jenna Kantor of Bethesda are with us here. They started "Project Backpack," to help give children displaced by Hurricane Katrina new backpacks filled with books, and toys and school supplies. These girls are an example of the compassion that is found in the hearts and souls of Americans everywhere, and they have shown how much good can be done when we reach out to help a neighbor in need. And so Laura and I now invite them to join us to turn on the lights.
And would you help turn on these lights, as well, by counting down. Five ... Four ... Three ... Two ... One. (Applause.)
END 5:59 P.M. EST
I watched the video, and this is a total nonstory, other than that once again Joe Farah and World Nut Daily has dishonestly twisted a story the same way ABC/CNN/MSNBC/CBS/NBC/New York Times do, in order to slam Bush and once again play the victim. And perhaps a second story of how some professional self-annointed martyrs for Jesus (Papercut division of the Order of Perpetual Panties in a Wad) once again lap up every bit of bait from a thoroughly and continuously discredited internet rag(WND), who do more damage to social conservatism than everything ever printed in the NY Slimes.
But switching into World Nut Daily's wakeup mode - "How can we be offended today?" (applying Rush's old line) - let's notice how the President cruely told children that Santa wasn't real, but rather a guy named Peter Nostrand:
"Santa, thanks for coming. (Laughter.) 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 -- (laughter) -- if you're looking for something to do. I appreciate all our entertainers. Thanks for being here. This is a fantastic evening. I want to thank Peter Nostrand..."
Christmas is a time to rejoice
we pray for freedom, and justice, and peace on Earth
We ask for God to watch over our men and women in uniform who are serving overseas
Five ... Four ... Three ... Two ... One.
Yeah, I’d say Bush is really looking to offend Christians with this speech. For those who think that this joke represents their government telling them they can’t be Christian, I really see your point.
/sarc
Thanks for posting a link to the video. Yes, he took a pause before changing the subject.
We go through this each year with people who get themselves all riled up over the fact that the White House Christmas card contains a Psalm rather than a New Testament verse, or some who are offended because the President made a reference to the Prince of Peace, because you see, he's supposed to say the name Jesus rather than the name Prince of Peace.
One poster actually complained, seriously, that the Bible he carried to church during the Christmas season was too small.