[UPDATE]:
Now we know where The Hill’s Alicia M. Cohn gets her tips: a right-wing talking point factory known as The Heritage Foundation. Figures.
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A tale of two stories about a 15-cent Christmas tree tax.
First, from The Hill:
Obama administration proposes 15-cent Christmas tree tax
By Alicia M. Cohn – 11/09/11 10:17 AM ET
The Obama administration is proposing a new tax on Christmas trees to fund a board promoting the holiday trees.
The Christmas Tree Promotion Board would be funded by a new 15 cent per tree tax on large-scale producers of Christmas trees. A group of Christmas tree producers and importers worried about the skyrocketing use of artificial trees proposed the new board.
Wow, that evil Mooslim Obama really does hate Christians! I knew it!
Hmm, but if you read the story at The Chicago Tribune you get a much different slant:
Christmas tree tax to promote the real thing
Agriculture Department approves 15-cent-per-tree fee on growers to fund industry programWASHINGTON—— The Christmas tree ad wars are about to heat up, albeit in a rather jolly way.
Following an extended debate that pit one region against another, the Agriculture Department on Tuesday gave the green light to a new industry-funded Christmas tree promotion program.
By taxing themselves, growers will raise $2 million a year for ads promoting the merits of real, live trees. Or, at least, trees that once were living, as opposed to the artificial kind that have seized an increasing share of the holiday market.
So wait a minute … this is an industry-funded tax and the Dept. of Agriculture just gave it the green light? Because they have oversight over these kinds of taxes? It wasn’t something the Obama Administration cooked up because they’re so gol-durned concerned about what Christmas tree Americans choose each year? I’m so confused. Which one is it?
This is the kind of shit that makes me nuts. Cue Bill O’Reilly getting foamy mouthed about another salvo in the “war on Christmas.” Or don’t bother, just look at the first comment on The Hill story:
Now Obama wants to tax christians… nice
BY COREY on 11/09/2011 at 09:43
Nice framing over at The Hill, no doubt destined to launch a million crazy e-mails from Patriot Depot’s servers straight to your mother-in-law’s computer.
Love the liberal media.
Here are the screen shots. As always, click to enlarge:
Southern Beale 
Yeah, those great philosophers at FAUX News, led by the dipstick O’Really are at it. The GOP/TEAs have NOTHING, NADA, ZERO, Ziltch to offer this country. So they LOOK for stuff to throw out, like: “God says gays are to blame for hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes (Falwell, Robertson, et al). “Women are to blame for men’s sexual perversions…blah, blah,” Sounds like O’Reilly found another non-issues, grew it into a potential “scandal” to lay on our President….hell, we can take him down…look where Glenn Beck is today!
I knew it was a crap charge. Any proper liberal conspiracy would siphon off Xmas tree money for Chanakwanzasolsticanaiia decorations.
Well, hell. There goes my super secret holiday decorating theme idea.
On the other hand, what this does underscore is the fact that big industry is in bed with big government and the American people are perpetually screwed. As if I cared about having a live Christmas tree.
I have an artificial tree, and I have come to dislike it, but the newly down-sized me doesn’t want to throw it out, only to start spending money on something to replace it.
I hear ya. I get a fresh one every year just because I love the smell. But honestly, Christmas is such a craptacular waste of money all around, I’d be happy just to string some lights on a coat rack, if the husband would let me get away with it.
Which he wouldn’t.