Sen. Stacey Campfield pushing 'Merry Christmas' bill

[d_r]

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

NASHVILLE — Inspired by Texas legislation, state Sen. Stacey Campfield has introduced a “Merry Christmas bill” for Tennessee that he says will assure schoolchildren and their teachers have a legal right to use what the bill calls “traditional greetings” during “winter celebrations.”

“This stops all these silly lawsuits that say you can’t say ‘merry Christmas’ or ‘happy Hanukkah’ or have a Christmas tree,” said Campfield, R-Knoxville, who has pre-filed SB1425 for consideration by the General Assembly in 2014.

While unaware of a specific case where Christmas has become an issue in Tennessee schools, the senator said he knows of people “afraid of lawsuits” and passage of the bill would provide them with reassurance.

“The ACLU is always freaking out about that stuff,” Campfield said.

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/aug/14/campfield-pushing-merry-christmas-bill/

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Stacy Campfield says to teachers "you can't say 'gay,' but you can say 'merry christmas.' just make sure the kids test scores are high enough if they are going to get TANIF."

[Happyhippychick]

1. Dear people of Tennessee

Your tax dollars are not being put to good use.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. Boy that will create JOBS, I'm so sure.

Freakin' IDIOTS!

I'll bet Santa Clause was one of Stacey Campfield's biggest political donors. He probably talks to the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy too.

[brooklynite]

3. I see a conflict here...

"Don we now our Gay Apparel, FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA......."

[bunnies]

6. ...

[mac56]

7. DUZY material!

[d_r]

16. rotfl

[awoke_in_2003]

18. DUzy...

have a gay holiday season (that will piss some of those asses off)

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. good grief

that is to stupid for words

[Newsjock]

5. Ramadan Kareem to Rep. Campfield!

Who's going to freak out now?

[burnodo]

8. Stacey is a girls' name...

Are you a GIRL, Stacey?!?

(not actually offering this up as a real insult, meant more for this shallow person's interpretation of various things like '"Merry Christmas" must be protected' by passage of a law that is nonsensical and wastes taxpayer money)

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Let everyone say ¡Feliz Navidad! and watch them all freak out!

[awoke_in_2003]

19. How do you say "happy holidays" in Spanish...

that way you piss them off twice. Once for saying holiday, and again for saying it in Spanish.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. Felices fiestas.

But, to be honest, I don't think it is used very often in Spanish speaking countries, but it has been awhile since I have spoken to native speakers. It certainly would chap some hides though to say "Happy Holidays" in Spanish!

[awoke_in_2003]

22. I will remember that. nt

[SCVDem]

10. Do you want to play a game?

Let's play TAX THE CHURCHES!!!

[meanit]

11. Let me get this straight

There has never been a case where someone has had a legal issue with saying "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanukkah" or having a Christmas tree in Tennessee, but this anus Campfield wants to pass a law anyway to stop all of the lawsuits that aren't happening, because he "knows people" who are worried about the lawsuits that aren't happening....

There was a day when a man like this would have been removed from public office.

My, how far we have fallen.

[brer cat]

12. He is definately qualified

to be a GOP presidential candidate.

[L0oniX]

13. I'm glad they are doing what is the most important thing to do.

[Swede Atlanta]

14. The whackos at it again.......

The only issue that has ever been raised with "Merry Christmas" is that public schools, as an extension of the government, are prohibited from "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to mean that any overt action by a governmental actor that appears to endorse or promote one religion is akin to making a law respecting an establishment of religion and if not that it prohibits or significantly impacts the free exercise of another religion.

So most school districts, understanding this concern, have encouraged the use of "holiday" such as Happy Holidays, etc. especially since Hannukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa occur in close proximity to one another.

If the schools posted Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas and Joyous Kwanzaa at the same time that might mollify Jews, Christians and those that celebrate Kwanzaa but what about Muslims, Hindus, atheists, etc.

Christmas has become a secular holiday so there is nothing religious about it anymore.

[Faygo Kid]

15. This guy is an all-time asswipe. Look at this.

We've heard of this guy before. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacey_Campfield

[awoke_in_2003]

20. Thanks for the link...

This dude is, to quote Bugs, an ultra maroon.

[ck4829]

17. “always freaking out about that stuff," All this projection from the right could fill a book

[olddots]

23. good to know that republipukes believe in Santa & Jesus

they don't believe in science but they believe in ??????

[From The Ashes]

24. Gee isn't it a little early...

..for all that 'War on Christmas' crap?

[Bragi]

25. Yep, time for War on Xmas Committee meeting

Our group usually waits till September, but this year we clearly need to get going earlier. I need to make sure my spray paint is working before the first manger goes up.

[d_r]

26. before labor day??

I swear it keeps coming earlier every year

[Bragi]

28. On the upside, we can fashionably still wear white /nt

[rrneck]

27. Where are the small government mavens when we need them?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_General_Assembly

Legislators are paid a base salary of $19,009 along with a per diem expense of $171 per legislative day.