[AxelPaulsenJr]

I can only imagine what this thread would look like if Clinton had made the same remark.

People would have seen it for just what it was and is..... The President made reference to the reason for the season, then without a pause he turned to the fellow playing Santa, and thanked him for coming. Nothing more, nothing less. Give it up folks, the President did not make a Jesus joke.

[inquest]

OK, I take it all back. I looked at the video hosted on the White House website (linked to on the page that Krodg linked to at #64), and it appears that his "Santa" remark was directed at a particular person in the audience, and that it did indeed come after a pause after his opening statements.