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Should the Democrats make a Stand for Christmas?
It would be a way to make points with many Christian voters

I know I don't have to go through a litany of the Christmas horror stories that take place yearly in the name of "non-establishment" of Christianity. You have read about schools being told that they cannot sing Christmas carols, Christmas trees being removed from courthouses and replaced with non-threatening winter or holiday scenes, and department stores telling their clerks that they cannot say "Merry Christmas" but only the non-offensive "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings". It goes on and on and on. And, of course, those of us (and I include me) who think that there is nothing wrong in government and schools recognizing a holiday that remains one of the central celebrations of a largely Christian populace, each of these attacks on Christmas makes us more and more angry at those who seek to tear it down.

In today's Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan writes a column entitled "It's Policy, Not Poetry--Democrats puzzle over how to 'manipulate symbols.' Why not start by taking a stand for Christmas?" She makes an interesting argument:

It's not poetry but policy that claims support and wins. Allow me to prove this, for I think I can. I know something the Democratic Party can do right now that will improve its standing and increase its popularity. It can be done this week. Its impact will be quick and measurable.

It is this: Stop the war on religious expression in America. Have Terry McAuliffe come forward and announce that the Democratic Party knows that a small group of radicals continue to try to "scrub" such holidays as Christmas from the public square. They do this while citing the Constitution, but the Constitution does not say it is wrong or impolite to say "Merry Christmas" or illegal to have a crèche in the public square. The Constitution says we have freedom of religion, not from religion. Have Terry McAuliffe announce that from here on in the Democratic Party is on the side of those who want religion in the public square, and the Ten Commandments on the courthouse wall for that matter. Then he should put up a big sign that says "Merry Christmas" on the sidewalk in front of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on South Capitol Street. The Democratic Party should put itself on the side of Christmas, and Hanukkah, and the fact of transcendent faith.

This would be taking a stand on an issue that roils a lot of people, and believe me those people don't think conservatives are scrubbing America of Christmas, they think it's liberals; and they don't think it's Republicans, they think it's Democrats. Confound them, Terry! Come forward with a stand.

I agree. As long as the Democratic party supports those who are attacking Christmas in the name of "non-establishment" or "diversity", they will continue to start out with two strikes against them in red-state America. But then, maybe that isn't that bad after all.

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