Obama not only says ‘God,’ but also ‘Christmas,’ ‘Christians’

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President Obama, roundly criticized for failing to mention God in his weekly address at Thanksgiving, did refer to God in his Christmas Eve address.

He also brought up ‘Christmas’ -- he and the first lady squeezed ‘Christmas’ in three times, with the president also referring to ‘our Christian faith.’

Perhaps this will satisfy Fox’s Bill O’Reilly, who on Tuesday groused in his blog about Congress being forbidden from free mailings that include Christmas sentiments.

‘Christmas is not a word anyone should be ashamed of,’ O’Reilly blogged.

On Saturday, Obama seemed to suggest that he could spread Christmas cheer as well as the next guy; his address primarily stressed good wishes to America’s troops.

‘Giving of ourselves, service to others -- that’s what this season is all about,’ the president said. ‘For my family and millions of Americans, that’s what Christmas is all about.’

‘Part of what it means to love God is to love one another,’ he said. ‘To be our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper.’

The president then widened the net.

‘But that belief is not just at the center of our Christian faith,’ he said. ‘It’s shared by Americans of all faiths and backgrounds.’

‘So whatever you believe, wherever you’re from, let’s remember the spirit of service that connects us all to this season -- as Americans. Each of us can do our part to serve our communities and our country.’

Then First Lady Michelle Obama wished Americans a ‘Merry Christmas,’ and the president said, ‘Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy New Year everybody.’

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-- Amy Hubbard+

Video: White House