Obama at Christmas Tree Lighting: Christ ‘A Manifestation of God’s Love’
President Obama highlighted his faith in his brief speech at the White House Christmas tree lighting Thursday night.
“More than 2,000 years ago, a child was born to two faithful travelers who could find rest only in a stable, among the cattle and the sheep,” Obama said. “But this was not just any child. Christ’s birth made the angels rejoice and attracted shepherds and kings from afar. He was a manifestation of God’s love for us.”
As he has in the past, Obama widened his address to focus on what religions have in common. (His remarks begin at minute 2:38 in the embedded video).
“And He grew up to become a leader with a servant’s heart who taught us a message as simple as it is powerful: that we should love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. That teaching has come to encircle the globe,” Obama said. “No matter who we are, or where we come from, or how we worship, it’s a message that can unite all of us on this holiday season.”
Obama’s address comes after some criticism that he did not mention God in his Thanksgiving address. On his show, comedian Jon Stewart showed clips of Fox News contributors criticizing the president. The network also noted that President Clinton mentioned God in half of his Thanksgiving addresses and that President George W. Bush left God out of one of his addresses.
