Over at Think Progress, commenter Clifton Beroid hits the bullseye in characterizing
Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy, Gretchen Carlson and Peter Johnson Jr. as "the wit triplets, Half, Dim and Nit" for their ridiculous smackdown of President Obama over his
recognition of Ramadan:
As Ramadan begins, Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan is a festive time that is anticipated for months by Muslims everywhere. Families and communities share the happiness of gathering together for iftar and prayers. Bazaars light up the night in many cities from Rabat to Jakarta. And here in the United States, Muslim Americans share Ramadan traditions with their neighbors, fellow students, and co-workers.
For so many Muslims around the world, Ramadan is also a time of deep reflection and sacrifice. As in other faiths, fasting is used to increase spirituality, discipline, and consciousness of God's mercy. It is also a reminder of the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate. The heartbreaking accounts of lost lives and the images of families and children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and compel us to act. Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief efforts.
Times like this remind us of the lesson of all great faiths, including Islam—that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. In that spirit, I wish Muslims around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem.
A welcome statement of goodwill to all Muslims and those of us non-Muslims who, for reasons of family affiliation or friendship, share the traditions of Ramadan. Thank you, Mr. President.
But for the three wits, this was a terrible affront to Christians:
CARLSON: Some people said that they might have an issue with the fact that he didn’t issue a proclamation for Easter. So some people are saying is this an outreach to the Muslim world and why isn’t there an outreach to the Christian world.”
DOOCY: Of course the White House does historically have White House Easter Egg Roll, but they didn’t issue a proclamation they did for Ramadan just now…I think he did mention briefly in his weekend address that weekend Easter — in passing — but still, nothing big. It is Christianity’s holiest, most sacred holiday.
JOHNSON: I think the coming Easter you’ll see a statement coming out of the White House.
DOOCY: Oh during the election year?
JOHNSON: Clearly, it was a terrible terrible error.
A terrible error only to people who never say "Muslim" except through clenched teeth.
As Tanya Somonader writes, the wits noted that other presidents have hosted the fast-breaking iftar dinners yet the three "only reserve their anti-Easter proclamation for Obama." But neither George W. Bush George H.W. Bush nor Ronald Reagan issued Easter proclamations. George W. Bush held eight iftar dinners at the White House. Not only that, in 2003, he issued this statement:
I send greetings to Muslims in the United States and around the world observing the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the holiest season in the Islamic faith, commemorating the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammed. This month of intro-spection provides Muslims a time to focus on their faith and practice God's commands. Through fasting, prayer, contemplation, and charity, Muslims around the world renew their commitment to lead lives of honesty, integrity, and compassion.
Throughout our history, people of different faiths have shaped the character of our Nation. Islam is a peaceful religion, and people who practice the Islamic faith have made great contributions to our Nation and the world. As Americans, we cherish our freedom to worship and we remain committed to welcoming individuals of all religions. By working together to advance freedom and mutual understanding, we are creating a brighter future of hope and opportunity.
Laura joins me in sending our best wishes. Ramadan mubarak.
President Obama has been the host of an Easter prayer breakfast and attended a Christian church service on Easter. But, with the president's birthplace now definitively out of the running as a topic, the wits must scramble to find evidence that inside Obama somewhere is a secret Muslim yearning to impose sharia from Baltimore to Boise.
(h/t to Hillbilly Dem)
[Update]: briefer has pointed out (with links) that both George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan gave Easter proclamations or statements.