Lawmakers Vote Against Christmas Condemned

A New York-based group has sent a letter to constituents of Rep. Gary Ackerman condemning the Democrat’s vote “against Christmas.”

According to the letter sent by The Filangieri Society for Justice and Good Government, the House of Representatives on Dec. 11 overwhelmingly passed Resolution 847 recognizing the religious and historical importance of Christmas and acknowledging America’s Judeo-Christian roots.

Among the nine House members voting against the resolution was Ackerman, a 13-term Congressman representing New York’s 5th Congressional District.

In defending his vote, Ackerman reportedly said, “For the Congress to spend time talking about the coming of the Messiah really broaches the wall of separation of church and state.”

The letter states: “But Congressman Ackerman voted on October 2, 2007 for House Resolution 635 recognizing the commencement of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Then on October 29, 2007 he co-sponsored and voted in favor of House Resolution 747 recognizing the religious and historical significance of the Hindu holiday of Diwali.

“Mr. Ackerman should be ashamed of himself. To vote in favor of Ramadan and Diwali and then to vote against Christmas is hypocritical, dishonest and arrogant at best and anti-Christian and anti-American at worst…

“Christmas is under attack in schools, office buildings, in the media, and public places in general across the country, and Christians are violently persecuted in foreign lands such as Sudan. Mr. Ackerman’s vote is disrespectful of the values of an overwhelming majority of his constituents.”

Ackerman’s district includes part of Queens and parts of Nassau County.

The Filangieri Society is named for the 18th-century Neapolitan philosopher Gaetano Filangieri, whose writings about government promoted free speech, free trade, compulsory education and equal justice before the law.