When former social secretaries gave a luncheon to welcome Ms. Rogers earlier this year, one participant said, she surprised them by suggesting the Obamas were planning a “non-religious Christmas” . . ..
The lunch conversation inevitably turned to whether the White House would display its cr?che, customarily placed in a prominent spot in the East Room. Ms. Rogers, this participant said, replied that the Obamas did not intend to put the manger scene on display — a remark that drew an audible gasp from the tight-knit social secretary sisterhood. (A White House official confirmed that there had been internal discussions about making Christmas more inclusive and whether to display the cr?che.)
Obviously, someone managed to figure out how insulting to Americans -- and how ridiculous -- it would be to decorate The White House for Christmas while forbidding any image of the event Christmas is supposed to be celebrating.
But it's noteworthy -- and a little disturbing -- just how close Jesus came from being turned away from The White House inn.