Design Crafters

It might not seem controversial to some Americans, but it turns out that the 2007 official White House Christmas card was the subject of major controversy and ultimately a lawsuit regarding its constitutionality that was recently ruled upon in the District of Columbia.  The Christmas card in question contained a passage from the Bible and numerous recipients of the cards felt that such an overtly religious greeting should not be coming from a government official entity.  The cards were signed by President Bush and the First Lady, Laura Bush and featured a watercolor scene of wintertime gardens at the White House.

One common response to the religious yet political Christmas card was this:  “Don’t you think it’s a little interesting that the president of all the people is sending out a religious Christmas card? Does this also go to agnostics, and atheists, and Muslims?”   In the end, the court found that the Biblical passage inside the Christmas card did not amount to a constitutional violation because it was paid for by the Republican National Committee.  Nonetheless, some found the meeting of church and state to be a potentially disturbing precedent.

It is estimated that approximately 1.4 million Christmas cards are mailed out from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue over the holidays.  Among the recipients of the presidential Christmas cards include members of the Cabinet and Congress, foreign heads of state and government officials, and American ambassadors abroad, as well as countless voters and “ordinary people.”