THE NO HOLDS BARRED WAR ON CHRISTMAS & Can A Scrappy Gang Of Republicans Save Christmas For A Million Unemployed People? 6DEZ13

THE political party that launches an annual propaganda campaign about the "war on Christmas" is guilty of waging (GASP!) war on Christmas. The unemployment rate is still 7%, tens of millions of Americans who want to work can't find jobs. We are still in a recession. But the gop / tea-baggers who claim to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ are insisting unemployment benefits for the tens of millions of unemployed in the U.S. will not be extended. Benefits for 1.3 million of these people will end on 28DEC13 unless Congress passes an unemployment benefits extension, more will loose their benefits after the new year. Please sign this petition telling Congress to pass an unemployment extension before they go on their holiday break. 

Ever gotten a dirty look for wishing someone "Happy Holidays"?

It's the same story every year. December rolls around, and the next thing you know Bill O'Reilly and FOX News get to work raising the blood pressure of conservatives everywhere, telling tall tales of how evil liberals won't let them sing carols or display nativity sets. And every year, most of those stories turn out to be false -- not that it ever deters the talking heads from telling them.

Well, this year there is a real "War on Christmas"; and it's not being waged by the ACLU or the Democratic Party. This year, the Republicans are playing Scrooge, robbing 1.3 million people across America of desperately needed unemployment benefits right in the middle of the holiday season -- and setting the stage for robbing millions more of the same benefits later.

Yesterday, Nancy Pelosi stood up for the unemployed in a big way, saying she won't support any budget deal in the House that doesn't guarantee these crucial benefits. But Republicans refuse to extend them. Congress is scheduled to go on holiday break in just a few short days, and if they don't reach a deal benefits will be completely cut off on December 28th, sending people who are already in a tough place scrambling for income even as temporary holiday jobs disappear and more people find themselves without work.

Nothing could be more heartless -- or less in the spirit of the season. Tell Republican leaders in Congress to end their "War on Christmas" and extend unemployment benefits now.

When it comes to Christmas, Republicans talk a big game, but sometimes it's hard to tell if they understand what holidays are really about. Regardless of what you call them or how you choose to observe them, the holiday season is about family. It's about community. It's about lifting up people who are struggling and taking care of each other. And that's what makes this situation so appalling.

I know that getting Republicans in Congress to act is always a long shot, but if we can get them to move on anything, it's this. After all, at the end of the day, even the Grinch had a heart. And deep inside, Republicans know that at this time of year especially we should be showing each other compassion and care -- not taking from those who really need it.

So this holiday season, let's come together to tell Republicans enough with the Scrooge act -- end your "War on Christmas" and give millions of people the gift of financial security over the holidays.

Thank you for standing with us,
Jim
Jim Dean
Chair, Democracy for America 
WASHINGTON -- A coalition of House Republicans is preparing a letter to send to their party's leadership pleading for an extension of long-term unemployment insurance, a rare positive sign for the plan's legislative prospects.
The members are currently trying to pick up additional signatures for the letter, which may be sent to leadership either Friday or Monday, according to a House aide. A spokesman for Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) told the Las Vegas Sun and confirmed to The Huffington Post that the congressman would be among those signing on. Several sources said Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.) is leading the effort, meanwhile, but Gibson's office ignored requests for comment.
At a time when Congress appears unlikely to pass an extension of federal unemployment benefits before they expire on Dec. 28, a show of support from members of the House majority could provide a bit of a boost. Still, the prospects of an extension passing seem low, meaning benefits for 1.3 million long-term jobless Americans will likely stop abruptly after Christmas.
Moments after the Labor Department announced on Friday that the economy had added 203,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate had fallen to 7 percent -- the lowest level in five years -- House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) seemingly dismissed the need for an extension of federal benefits.
"Today’s report includes positive signs that should discourage calls for more emergency government 'stimulus,'" Boehner said.
Boehner's spokesman, Brendan Buck, would not say whether the speaker was referring to unemployment insurance specifically. Instead, Buck referred The Huffington Post to a statement Boehner made on the matter Thursday -- before the jobs numbers were announced -- in which he promised to look at a proposal if it were put forward by the president.
"I am not the expert [on the issue]," Boehner added. "Talk to the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee."
The White House has not produced a proposal, though the president's team has tried to amplify pressure on Congress by releasing state-by-state data on the impact a lapse in unemployment insurance would have. The administration also referenced the need for an extension in its response to Friday's jobs report.
House Democrats, meanwhile, put forward a budget plan that includes a $25 billion extension of unemployment insurance, a provision that would be paid for by funding IRS tax collectors to go after delinquent taxpayers.
Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced standalone legislation to reauthorize the benefits as well. But an extension is more likely to pass if it's included in the budget deal currently being negotiated in a bicameral conference committee. Those negotiations will continue to take place over the weekend, led by Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). One congressional aide familiar with the talks said the inclusion of unemployment insurance in the final deal was "still an open item," likely to be resolved with input from the chambers' respective leaders.
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