On the December 19 edition of Fox News' The Live Desk, while discussing Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) newly released campaign commercial -- which Obama's campaign website calls its "New Holiday Ad" -- host Martha MacCallum and political analyst Keli Goff noted that it is one of Obama's daughters, rather than Obama himself, who says “Merry Christmas” in the ad. Fox News contributor Father Jonathan Morris claimed, “I'm sure his advisers were saying, 'Better not say Merry Christmas.' ” Morris continued: "[I]t's not just about this War on Christmas, that nobody's -- everyone's afraid to say it. There's more to Christmas than just the wording. But the fact that in our political atmosphere right now, political advisers -- 'Don't say it, don't say it. Have your daughter say it. Beautiful.'" McCallum responded by saying: “Yeah, but you know what? I also guarantee, given everything he's been going through lately, that they wanted that Merry Christmas message somewhere in that ad. And they said, 'You know what, let's have your adorable daughters say it.' ”
In the ad, Obama -- seated with his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Sasha and Malia -- says: “So from our family to yours, I'm Barack Obama, and I approved this message,” at which point his daughters say, “Merry Christmas,” and, “Happy Holidays.”
MacCALLUM: Let's look at the Barack Obama ad for equal time - equal time for his ad. Let's check it out. There's a few more coming, too.
[begin video clip]
MICHELLE OBAMA: We'd like to take a moment to thank you and your family for the warmth and friendship that you've shown ours. For sharing your hospitality and your stories.
BARACK OBAMA: In this holiday season, we're reminded that the things that unite us as a people are more powerful and enduring than anything that sets us apart, and we all have a stake in each other, in something larger than ourselves. So from our family to yours, I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.
MALIA OBAMA: Merry Christmas.
SASHA OBAMA: Happy Holidays.
[end video clip]
MacCALLUM: That's pretty -- you've got a picture-perfect family going there, he's got the two little kids, and, you know, some of the others did not use family members, but he's, you know -- it's a perfect card.
KELI GOFF (political analyst): That's so brilliant, and the most brilliant part about it is the fact that if you notice who says “Merry Christmas” --
MacCALLUM: His daughter.
MORRIS: Why -- why wouldn't he want to say it?
GOFF: No one's going to go on national television and attack a child for saying “Merry Christmas.”
JEANINE PIRRO (GOP attorney): Because we'll be sitting here dissecting why he said it.
MORRIS: Like we're doing.
PIRRO: It's perfect! It's perfect, that whole thing is perfect. It's warm and it's real.
KEITH ABLOW (Fox News contributor): But I think the folds in her sweater formed a cross. But I'm not sure. I'm not sure, I can't say for sure.
MacCALLUM: Father Jonathan, what do you think about the fact that the children say “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays,” they're covering the bases for him.
MORRIS: It's very nice, but I always do get a little bit, I would say, saddened when I'm sure his advisers were saying, “Better not say Merry Christmas.” OK, it's not just about this War on Christmas, that nobody's - everyone's afraid to say it. There's more to Christmas than just the wording, but the fact in our political atmosphere right now, political advisers, “Don't say it, don't say it. Have your daughter say it. Beautiful.”
MacCALLUM: Yeah, but you know what? I also guarantee, given everything he's been going through lately, that they wanted that Merry Christmas message somewhere in that ad. And they said, “You know what, let's have your adorable daughters say it.” So, pretty interesting.
