Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Posted By James Besser
'Tis the Season / James Besser in Washington
Jewish leaders are mostly steering clear of the controversy over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's new campaign ad in Iowa. The ad is a kind of video Christmas card in which the former pastor commiserates with TV viewers sick of political ads and instead just talks about Christmas and its importance as the "celebration of the birth of Christ."
Huckabee appears in front of a bookcase that gives the appearance of a cross, which has led some church-state groups to cry foul over what they say is a crudely sectarian appeal aimed at evangelical voters in several key caucus and primary states.
One Jewish leader isn't keeping quiet; Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that the campaign ad is "just one more step in the wrong direction - crossing the church state line with a thud."
Is the bookcase actually a cross?
"It is a cross, whether it's a bookcase or not," he said. "My bookcase doesn't shine light like that. In essence this is a Christmas message from a presidential candidate, meant to tell Christian voters that he believes in Christ and in Christmas. It's about as far as you can go in crossing the line."
Now Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), the Republican/libertarian/longshot GOP contender, is wading in; Paul told Fox News that the ad "reminds me of what Sinclair Lewis once said. He says, 'when fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in the flag carrying a cross. Now, I don't know whether that's a fair assessment or not, but you wonder about using a cross like he is the only Christian or implying that subtly."
A prominent Catholic group also protested the overtly religious appeal in a campaign ad.
The Huckabee Christmas controversy comes a few days after the White House unveiled an official Christmas card with a Jewish Bible passage - which prompted criticism from media superstar Barbara Walters, who worried that atheists were being excluded.
But some Christian leaders were also upset, saying that the card once again failed to mention the word "Christmas," and that the only visible religious symbol was a Christmas tree in the background.
Season's greetings, folks.
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