Frontline in the "War on Christmas"

Tis the season to foist the argument of the absurd upon the public. The staff over at Media Matters has documented the whole bloody affair. Thanks Media Matters.


The War on Christmas Wages On

Bill O’Reilly declares more victories and casualties in America’s “War on Christmas”

Washington, DC – Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly revived his annual “war” on Christmas debate by announcing the wins and losses for the 2006 season. O’Reilly stated that “the return of Christmas to most retails stores in America” was a “big win[] for Americans, who believe this country stands for what’s right.” However, remaining positive, O’Reilly also highlighted several losses this season including the retail chain Crate & Barrel for its policy of using the term “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” and the New York City school system for its policy of prohibiting nativity displays while allowing Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and reindeers, and other “secular” symbols of Christmas.

In response to O’Reilly’s comments, Media Matters for America spokesman Karl Frisch said: “Bill O’Reilly’s contrived ‘war’ on Christmas is another example of how he has created divisiveness where there is none. It is clear that O’Reilly would rather invent a culture war in the United States than admit to a real civil war taking place in Iraq.”

O’Reilly went on to declare that he would no longer shop at Crate & Barrel due to its supposed rejection of Christmas because of its use of the term “Happy Holidays” in its stores, adding, “Maybe the imams who got thrown off the plane [in Minneapolis] [would] shop” there.

As Media Matters has documented, O'Reilly began warning of a "siege" on Christmas shortly before the 2004 holiday season with Fox News host Sean Hannity, which continued with the inclusion of Fox News host John Gibson through the 2005 season. Gibson is the author of The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought (Sentinel, October 2005).