Joe Walsh Enters War On Christmas

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 20, 2011 8:40PM

8th District Rep. Joe Walsh (center) at a "Cup 'O Joe With Joe" meeting in Lake Zurich in January. (Photo from the congressman's website.)

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-McHenry) showed his concern for important legislative matters in a letter to Congressional colleagues criticizing guidelines which prohibit specific holiday greetings like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hannukah.”

Under current guidelines, which the House Franking Commission set in 1974, representatives in the House may only use “Happy Holidays,” according to the Sun-Times. The letter, cosigned by Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), asks the Committee on House Administration to revise the rules:

“We are not celebrating winter this December. We are celebrating significant moments in two religions that have fundamentally shaped our nation — and as Members of Congress who represent thousands of constituents celebrating these holidays, we ask you to reconsider these outdated and restrictive rules.”

Walsh also called the restrictions “political correctness run amok.”

Not every representative is outraged over the Franking Commission’s war on Christmas, however. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic candidate in Walsh’s district, told the Times “Let me get this straight: The payroll tax cut is expiring in 10 days, and he’s worried about issues of religion?”