How in the world can U.S. Senators complain that they are working during the Christmas season? How can this in any way be considered an insult to Christian holy days?
Senators Kyl and DeMint have voiced displeasure that Senate Majority Reid claims he will keep the Senate in session after the Christmas holiday time off and work is left unfinished. Senator Kyl started it off: DeMint’s comments echo those of Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) who said Tuesday that Reid’s voting schedule is impossible to accomplish “without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians.”
DeMint took it furthest, as is his grandstanding habit, by calling it "sacrilegious".
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) called Democrats' push to force through an arms control treaty and an omnibus spending bill right before Christmas "sacrilegious," and warned he'd draw the process out to wage his objections.
“We shouldn’t be jamming a major arms control treaty up against Christmas; it’s sacrilegious and disrespectful," he told POLITICO. "What's going on here is just wrong. This is the most sacred holiday for Christians. They did the same thing last year - they kept everybody here until [Christmas Eve] to force something down everybody's throat. I think Americans are sick of this."
This brought about a quick and angry response from Senate Majority Reid.
“As a Christian, no one has to remind me of the importance of Christmas for all of the Christian faith, all their families across America,” he said. “I don’t need to hear the sanctimonious lectures of Sens. Kyl and DeMint to remind me of what Christmas means.”
I do not appreciate being place in the position of agreeing with the despicable Harry Reid by my fellow Republicans. It was just foolhardy and unnecessary.
I do not think it is wise to ram through the START Treaty during the lame duck session. This is not something historically done and I don't think it is advisable to start with this treaty either. Though it was signed months ago and ready to go, it was only brought up now because of the political calculation done by the White House and the Democrats. Republican calls for allowing it to wait for debate and a thoughtful process in the Senate until the new session is not unreasonable. Even the Russians say there is no rush for an immediate ratification.
I would like for Senator Kyl and Senator DeMint to re-think dragging religious holidays into their political arguments. I would like Senator Kyl and Senator DeMint to consider all those who do work through the Christmas season, and yes, even on Christmas Day. My own husband has been away from home and working on Christmas Day many years of our married life. Neither he nor I nor our son like it when it happens but the truth is, if it's your job, you do it. Period.
What about the service men and women stationed around the world? What about emergency response people and public safety workers? Nurses? Doctors? Retail and service industry workers? They all work on religious holidays, too.
The criticism from Kyl and DeMint may have been warranted about the business being conducted in a lame duck session but not the reason they presented. U.S. Senators are quite pampered and well taken care of on the taxpayer's dime.
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