The holiday political spirit

Re “It’s a campaign, not a crusade,” Opinion, Dec. 23

It is sad that Charlotte Allen has so little faith in her faith that she, like the thuggish Bill O’Reilly, needs to manufacture enemies among the “cultural elites” -- code for Jews, intellectuals, artists and gays in New York and Los Angeles. The vast number of professed Christians in the United States, their numerous and prosperous churches -- mega and minor -- and their current access to the White House are not enough. A fantasy of secular oppression must be brought into the picture.

Those not aligned with Allen’s narrow vision of morality and ethics are not only expected to flatter the righteous but to be grateful for their dominion.

Paul Zelevansky

Beverly Hills

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The gall of Mike Huckabee to utter “Merry Christmas” in one of his presidential campaign ads during the Christmas season! The temerity of Huckabee to mention Christ during Christmas time.

Why, that’s tantamount to mentioning the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July or, even worse, using the word “mother” on Mother’s Day.

Leaving Christ out of Christmas is a prime example of political correctness run amok.

Maria Chaidez

Mission Hills

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Why does Allen call the greeting “Happy holidays” sappy? Doesn’t she know that the birth of Jesus is not the only event in December to be celebrated? Allen seems to believe that our society is divided between Christians and secularists. Of course, that is not the case. Can’t she quote liberal blog editor Jim Newell without saying that he “sniffed” his comment? I hope The Times has plans to feature an essay written by someone with a different viewpoint (and a different writing style) from Allen’s.

Doris Vernon

Camarillo

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Allen mentions that Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister. But for some reason, Allen does not mention that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was a Mormon bishop. This means that Romney could perform marriages, baptize members, give sermons in church and conduct funerals.

Furthermore, 19th century Mormons, under the leadership of founder Joseph Smith Jr. (who was an American presidential candidate in 1844 and said the official name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), practiced Pentecostalism and had other close relationships to the Holy Spirit and the growing nation known as the United States.

Kenneth Larson

Los Angeles