Christmas tree tax? Sounds like it should have come from the onion...

[CosmicCowboy]

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).
To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

[coyotes_geek]

Heaven forbid the Christmas tree industry do their own promotion and research.................

[boutons_deux]

Nothing like the taxpayer $10Bs wasted for decades promoting/subsidizing/protecting BigFarma's grains, dairy, beef, pork, chickens, soy, cotton, etc, etc.

[ElNono]

Wouldn't that be discriminatory on a religious basis?

[hater]

Wouldn't that be discriminatory on a religious basis?

which book on the bible is chrismas tree mentioned?

[ElNono]

which book on the bible is chrismas tree mentioned?

That's not the point. Christmas is observed to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.

[hater]

That's not the point. Christmas is observed to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.

So then we should abolish the chrismas Federal Holiday?

[LnGrrrR]

I thought Obama was a liberal, who by definition want to outlaw any mention of Christmas? I'm confused.

[ElNono]

So then we should abolish the chrismas Federal Holiday?

Why? You think you're getting penalized by not going to work?

[TeyshaBlue]

How the fuck are we gonna finance the War on Christmas without this tax?:ihit:p:

[hater]

Why? You think you're getting penalized by not going to work?


Wouldn't that be discriminatory on a religious basis?

[TeyshaBlue]

".....to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees"

Really? This is a problem? Another answer to a question nobody asked.
http://www.audioandanarchy.com/images/smilies/fack.png

[RandomGuy]

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).
To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title07/7cfr1214_main_02.tpl


PART 1214--KIWIFRUIT RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION ORDER

Haven't finished looking this up, but given that this is bouncing around the conservative blathersphere at light speed, I wonder if anyone has bothered fact-checking this yet.

Given conservatives' proclivity to go with the emotionally appealing outrage, despite inconvienient things like facts, I am going to have to take this with some large amount of skepticism. The fact that the referenced section appears to have something to do with Kiwifruit doesn't help lend credibility.

Might have the wrong section, or missing something, so I will finish.

[ElNono]

Why? You think you're getting penalized by not going to work?


Wouldn't that be discriminatory on a religious basis?


So you think you're getting penalized by not going to work?

[CosmicCowboy]

I checked it out. It was pushed by the big northwest growers. They had a "vote" of all the big growers and the majority wanted the promotion but it was far from unanimous. All the Texas growers opposed it.

[hater]

So you think you're getting penalized by not going to work?

Newsflash: ppl of other religions think shutting office down in christmas is discrimination:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/6608929/Shutting-office-over-Christmas-is-indirect-discrimination-against-other-religions.html

[coyotes_geek]

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title07/7cfr1214_main_02.tpl



Haven't finished looking this up, but given that this is bouncing around the conservative blathersphere at light speed, I wonder if anyone has bothered fact-checking this yet.

Given conservatives' proclivity to go with the emotionally appealing outrage, despite inconvienient things like facts, I am going to have to take this with some large amount of skepticism. The fact that the referenced section appears to have something to do with Kiwifruit doesn't help lend credibility.

Might have the wrong section, or missing something, so I will finish.

It's legit.



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1214

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-10-0008-FR-1A]
RIN 0581-AD00


Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule establishes an industry-funded promotion, research,
and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The Christmas
Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) is authorized
under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996
(1996 Act). The Order will establish a national Christmas Tree
Promotion Board (Board) comprised of 11 producers and one importer.
Under the Order, producers and importers of fresh cut Christmas trees
will pay an initial assessment of fifteen cents per Christmas tree.
Producers and importers that produce or import less than 500 Christmas
trees annually will be exempt from the assessment. A referendum will be
conducted, among producers and importers, three years after the
collection of assessments begin to determine if Christmas tree
producers and importers favor the continuation of this program.

DATES: Effective November 9, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia A. Petrella, Marketing
Specialist, Research and Promotion Division, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 1406, Stop
0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (301) 334-2891; or
facsimile: (301) 334-2896; or email: [email protected].

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm

[Blake]

I checked it out. It was pushed by the big northwest growers. They had a "vote" of all the big growers and the majority wanted the promotion but it was far from unanimous. All the Texas growers opposed it.

what currently is the image problem with Christmas trees that they need the government to fix?

[TeyshaBlue]

what currently is the image problem with Christmas trees that they need the government to fix?

lolz. That was my question.:lol

[TeyshaBlue]

It's legit.

"Given conservatives' proclivity to go with the emotionally appealing outrage, despite inconvienient things like facts, I am going to have to take this with some large amount of skepticism."
GFY CG!:ihit

[scott]

SUMMARY: This rule establishes an industry-funded promotion, research,
and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The Christmas
Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) is authorized
under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996
(1996 Act). The Order will establish a national Christmas Tree
Promotion Board (Board) comprised of 11 producers and one importer.
Under the Order, producers and importers of fresh cut Christmas trees
will pay an initial assessment of fifteen cents per Christmas tree.
Producers and importers that produce or import less than 500 Christmas
trees annually will be exempt from the assessment. A referendum will be
conducted, among producers and importers, three years after the
collection of assessments begin to determine if Christmas tree
producers and importers favor the continuation of this program.

This is the important meat.

It's an industry-supported, industry-financed, industry-run marketing program. Tons of them exist. Who cares about any of them?

[CosmicCowboy]

what currently is the image problem with Christmas trees that they need the government to fix?

They are worried that more people (like me) are going to the upscale artificial trees. I spent $300 five years ago for a good one and no more hassle with live trees.

[coyotes_geek]

From the same link I posted earlier.


Need for a Program

A national research and promotion program for Christmas trees would
help the industry to address the many market problems it currently
faces. According to the Task Force, two main factors currently
affecting Christmas tree sales, both in the domestic market and abroad,
are increased competition and changing consumer habits.
According to additional data supplied by the Task Force, the market
share of fresh Christmas trees in the U.S. from 1965 to 2008 has
declined by 6 percent. In comparison, the market share of artificial
trees has increased 655 percent from 1965 to 2008.
According to the proponent data, sales of fresh cut Christmas trees
decreased by 15 million trees from 37 million trees sold in 1991 down
to 22 million trees sold in 2002. The industry saw an increase in sales
in 2003 through 2007 when the industry conducted a voluntary marketing
campaign which was lead by a small group of producers and retailers.
This voluntary marketing campaign saw sales rebound by 9 million
trees--from 22 million trees sold in 2002 to 31 million trees sold in
2007. Even with the strong sales response to the marketing efforts, the
voluntary marketing program suffered from a lack of funding.
The Christmas tree industry has tried three different times to
conduct promotional programs based on voluntary contributions. Each
time, after about three years, the revenue declined to a point where
the programs were ineffective. The decline in revenue is attributable
to the voluntary nature of these programs. Therefore, the proponents
have determined that they need a mechanism that would be sustainable
over time. They believe that a national Christmas tree research and
promotion program would accomplish this goal.

[RandomGuy]

Finished reading.

Since the moron doing the blogging was at least smart enough to include his source material, I got a lot closer to an answer.

Ultimate source material for the fake/stupid outrage:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm


Why this is fake/stupid outrage:


The proponent, [i.e. THE PEOPLE ASKING FOR THE FEE-RG] the Christmas Tree Checkoff Task Force is an
industry wide group of producers and importers that support this
proposed program. They have conducted meetings throughout the United States with several State and multi-State Christmas tree organizations.
The proposed program is not intended to duplicate any State program.
The proponents have determined that they need a mechanism that would be
sustainable over time. A national Christmas tree research and promotion
program would accomplish this goal.

OUTRAGE! The people paying the fee designed it! Horrors!!


Summary

This rule establishes an industry-funded promotion, research, and
information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The Christmas Tree
Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), was submitted to
the Department of Agriculture (Department) by the Christmas Tree
Checkoff Task Force (Task Force), an industry wide group of producers
and importers that support this program.
Under the Order, producers and importers of fresh cut Christmas trees will pay an initial assessment of $0.15 cents per tree, which would be paid to the Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board). This Board will be responsible for
administration and operation of the Order.
...
A referendum will be conducted, among producers and importers,
three years after the collection of assessments begin to determine if
Christmas tree producers and importers favor the continuation of this
program. A final rule on the referendum procedures will be published in
the Federal Register at a later time. The rule also announces the
Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) approval of new Christmas tree
information collection requirements by the OMB for the operation of the
Order.

Not only that, they can roll it back in three years if they don't like it!!

Federal overreach if I ever saw it!

GMAFB.


Datapoint:
The State Department maintains programs designed to help exporters when companies want to sell their products overseas. Programs and fees like this from the Ag department feed into these programs.

Claiming this is "Obama's Christmas tree tax" is vastly and douchebaggingly misleading, given it was asked for by the very people who will be paying it.

Not that conservative bloggers will care for the actual facts, when they find them inconvenient.

[Blake]

the only saving grace I can see for this is that from an environmental standpoint, real trees are actually better for the environment than buying an artificial one.....even if you keep it for 10 years.

I'm just as guilty as the next person, but honestly, our need to cut down a tree that belongs outside and stick it in our living room for 2+ weeks before tossing it out on the curb is deplorable.

[RandomGuy]

"Given conservatives' proclivity to go with the emotionally appealing outrage, despite inconvienient things like facts, I am going to have to take this with some large amount of skepticism."
GFY CG!:ihit

Unastonishingly enough, it isn't quite as outrageous as the OP makes it seem.

There is a reason why I tend to be skeptical of claims by conservative bloggers about what I need to be outraged.

They have a tendency to leave out things an objective person would find relevant, such as was the case here.

Do you think the omission was careless or intentional?


Mr. President, that’s a new 15-cent tax to pay for a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax — his Administration cites the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996. Just because the Obama Administration has the legal power to impose its Christmas Tree Tax doesn’t mean it should do so.

The economy is barely growing and nine percent of the American people have no jobs. Is a new tax on Christmas trees the best President Obama can do?

[CosmicCowboy]

Finished reading.

Since the moron doing the blogging was at least smart enough to include his source material, I got a lot closer to an answer.

Ultimate source material for the fake/stupid outrage:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm


Why this is fake/stupid outrage:



OUTRAGE! The people paying the fee designed it! Horrors!!



Not only that, they can roll it back in three years if they don't like it!!

Federal overreach if I ever saw it!

GMAFB.


Datapoint:
The State Department maintains programs designed to help exporters when companies want to sell their products overseas. Programs and fees like this from the Ag department feed into these programs.

Claiming this is "Obama's Christmas tree tax" is vastly and douchebaggingly misleading, given it was asked for by the very people who will be paying it.

Not that conservative bloggers will care for the actual facts, when they find them inconvenient.

I didn't say anything about obama...the link did...

The difference is, that most of the trade organizations are voluntary...

example:

Certified Angus Beef...The growers pay a fee to the organization to use the label "certified angus beef" which pays for the promotion campaign. Beef growers don't have to pay the fee if they don't want to use the label...In this case the hundreds of growers that didn't want to belong are still forced to pay the fee.

[coyotes_geek]

the only saving grace I can see for this is that from an environmental standpoint, real trees are actually better for the environment than buying an artificial one.....even if you keep it for 10 years.

I'm just as guilty as the next person, but honestly, our need to cut down a tree that belongs outside and stick it in our living room for 2+ weeks before tossing it out on the curb is deplorable.

Deplorable? :lol Please.

[RandomGuy]

I didn't say anything about obama...the link did...


That's why I didn't bust yer balls over it and called the blogger a moron.

You had the decency to look up some extra facts, something worth noting as well. :tu

[ElNono]

Newsflash: ppl of other religions think shutting office down in christmas is discrimination:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/6608929/Shutting-office-over-Christmas-is-indirect-discrimination-against-other-religions.html

What do you think?

[cantthinkofanything]

the only saving grace I can see for this is that from an environmental standpoint, real trees are actually better for the environment than buying an artificial one.....even if you keep it for 10 years.

I'm just as guilty as the next person, but honestly, our need to cut down a tree that belongs outside and stick it in our living room for 2+ weeks before tossing it out on the curb is deplorable.

Agreed. But it is preferable than the old Southern tradition of the Christmas Ring of Negros. It was only last century when it was common in the south to bring in about 8-10 black people to the home for full month of December. They would hold hands in a circle, usually in the living room, and sing Christmas songs. About the middle of the month, presents would be placed in the middle of them. On Christmas morning, the negros would take turns calling out the name of a family member, indicating that they could come pull a present out of the middle. When it was time for the last present, they would rotate around the present and sing Jingle Bells. However, once the yuletide season was over, they were forced to leave the house and resume a life of poverty.

[coyotes_geek]

Finished reading.

Since the moron doing the blogging was at least smart enough to include his source material, I got a lot closer to an answer.

Ultimate source material for the fake/stupid outrage:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm


Why this is fake/stupid outrage:



OUTRAGE! The people paying the fee designed it! Horrors!!



Not only that, they can roll it back in three years if they don't like it!!

Federal overreach if I ever saw it!

GMAFB.


Datapoint:
The State Department maintains programs designed to help exporters when companies want to sell their products overseas. Programs and fees like this from the Ag department feed into these programs.

Claiming this is "Obama's Christmas tree tax" is vastly and douchebaggingly misleading, given it was asked for by the very people who will be paying it.

Not that conservative bloggers will care for the actual facts, when they find them inconvenient.

The outrage is certainly overblown, but that doesn't mean there aren't legitimate reasons to be opposed to something like this. You basically have one group of growers wanting to use the power of government to forcibly compel other growers into financially participating in something they have no interest in doing. Without a prevailing concern by the government to some kind of public interest here, I see no reason for the government to get involved.

[scott]

The outrage is certainly overblown, but that doesn't mean there aren't legitimate reasons to be opposed to something like this. You basically have one group of growers wanting to use the power of government to forcibly compel other growers into financially participating in something they have no interest in doing. Without a prevailing concern by the government to some kind of public interest here, I see no reason for the government to get involved.

Finally a reasoned argument against this proposal that isn't "ZOMG HE EVEN KNOWS HOW TO RUIN CHRISTMAS!!!" like has popped up in my email box today from a conservative friend.

One has to wonder why there isn't just some "National Christmas Tree Growers Association" that couldn't accomplish this via association dues. That's how my industry handles these kinds of things.

[CosmicCowboy]

Finally a reasoned argument against this proposal that isn't "ZOMG HE EVEN KNOWS HOW TO RUIN CHRISTMAS!!!" like has popped up in my email box today from a conservative friend.

One has to wonder why there isn't just some "National Christmas Tree Growers Association" that couldn't accomplish this via association dues. That's how my industry handles these kinds of things.

That was my point, that participation was not voluntary.

[scott]

That was my point, that participation was not voluntary.

My apologies. I hearby add you to the "credit for making a valid point against rather than overreacting like a Fox News anchor" list.

[hater]

What do you think?

LOL what the fuck does it matter?

you mentioned a christmas tree tax might be discriminatory due to religion, I said that is similar to saying the Federal Christmas Holiday is discriminatory due to religion.

If you fail to see the similarities, then that's on you.

[CosmicCowboy]

My apologies. I hearby add you to the "credit for making a valid point against rather than overreacting like a Fox News anchor" list.

Minor point, but IMHO Fox NEWS is actually pretty balanced and middle of the road. Shephard Smith is really quite good. If it's Hannity, Greta, O'Reilly etc. that you object to they are opinion personalities and not news anchors.

[scott]

Minor point, but IMHO Fox NEWS is actually pretty balanced and middle of the road. Shephard Smith is really quite good. If it's Hannity, Greta, O'Reilly etc. that you object to they are opinion personalities and not news anchors.

Well, I'm talking about the station FoxNews not the News that the station might report...

I've found the majority of all "news" reports to be fairly balanced and middle of the road... it's the opinions that follow that aren't (which I have no problem with, so long as opinions are not incorrectly stated as facts).

[hater]

Fox NEWS is actually pretty balanced and middle of the road.

yeah, this road

http://images.politico.com/global/news/090805_roadtrip_297.jpg

[ElNono]

you mentioned a christmas tree tax might be discriminatory due to religion, I said that is similar to saying the Federal Christmas Holiday is discriminatory due to religion.

I actually asked if it would be. The difference here is that EVERYBODY that works for the federal government get a day off, regardless of their religious beliefs, but this tax only hits those that buy christmas trees, which I would suspect are overwhelmingly Christian.

[CosmicCowboy]

yeah, this road

http://images.politico.com/global/news/090805_roadtrip_297.jpg

Typical lack of reading comprehension from hater.

[DarrinS]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-administration-to-delay-new-15-cent-christmas-tree-fee/

[cantthinkofanything]

how the fuck is $6,000,000 +/- going to change anything in the fucking Christmas Tree industry.

[coyotes_geek]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-administration-to-delay-new-15-cent-christmas-tree-fee/

I can't decide which is funnier / more pathetic. Outrage from the masses over the possibility that the cost of a live Christmas tree might go up by an amount less than what we should be able to find in between couch cushions? Or the Obama administration caving in to that faux outrage?

[cantthinkofanything]

I can't decide which is funnier / more pathetic. Outrage from the masses over the possibility that the cost of a live Christmas tree might go up by an amount less than what we should be able to find in between couch cushions? Or the Obama administration caving in to that faux outrage?

It's all funny until they decide to cancel Christmas this year because of the crappy image Christmas trees have.

[Spurminator]

I can't decide which is funnier / more pathetic. Outrage from the masses over the possibility that the cost of a live Christmas tree might go up by an amount less than what we should be able to find in between couch cushions? Or the Obama administration caving in to that faux outrage?

It's all pretty depressing, imo.

[scott]

I can't decide which is funnier / more pathetic. Outrage from the masses over the possibility that the cost of a live Christmas tree might go up by an amount less than what we should be able to find in between couch cushions? Or the Obama administration caving in to that faux outrage?

Quoted for truth.

[bus driver]

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).
To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

i have a fake holiday tree so i guess i am good. :toast

[coyotes_geek]

It's all funny until they decide to cancel Christmas this year because of the crappy image Christmas trees have.

Christmas will never get cancelled and the reason why it won't doesn't even have that much to do with religion.

[cantthinkofanything]

Christmas will never get cancelled and the reason why it won't doesn't even have that much to do with religion.

Wrong. It won't never get cancelled because Wal-Mart loves Baby Jesus.

[Wild Cobra]

which book on the bible is chrismas tree mentioned?
If I recall, the Bible specifically forbids what we do with trees at Christmas.

[Tree hugger]

Impose a higher tax and save more trees.

[Wild Cobra]

That's not the point. Christmas is observed to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.
Maybe it's an anti-Muslim faith tax?

[Blake]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57321664-503544/christmas-tree-tax-sidelined-after-uproar/?tag=strip

Obama holding off after the uproar.

Maintains it's not a tax, that it's just assistance that the industry asked to pay for, like the Got Milk? campaign....

[Wild Cobra]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57321664-503544/christmas-tree-tax-sidelined-after-uproar/?tag=strip

Obama holding off after the uproar.

Maintains it's not a tax, that it's just assistance that the industry asked to pay for, like the Got Milk? campaign....
This is still one more thing that will hurt him election time.

I can see the news now:

"Obama wants to tax your Christmas, but has to wait till after the election now."