Stateline.org / By Eric Kelderman

Your Governor Wishes You a (Fill In Blank)

The annual greeting cards sent by the nation's governors reflect the recent row over what to call the, er, holiday.

December 21, 2005 |

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Forget Red state vs. Blue state. For governors, the split that's in vogue this season is between those offering "Christmas" wishes and those sending "holiday" tidings in their annual greeting cards.

A Stateline.org survey found that 36 of the 50 state leaders -- 18 Democrats and 18 Republicans -- are sending wishes for a happy -- nameless -- holiday. Ten governors -- two Democrats and eight Republicans-- are explicit in wishing the joy of "Christmas."

In the "bah, humbug" category are the governors of Minnesota, Nevada and New Mexico; they aren't sending official cards at all. And because of disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) hasn't decided when or whether to send greetings of the season.

Overall, the most prolific card sender is Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R). He's dropping 40,000 greetings in the post box -- 12,500 more than second-place Gov. Ed Rendell (D) in Pennsylvania -- though several thousand double as invitations to an Ehrlich open house. The shortest mailing list belongs to Gov. John Hoeven (R) of North Dakota. The only people getting official cards from him are 287 members of the North Dakota National Guard on active duty in Iraq and Germany or headed to Afghanistan.

The distinction between Christmas and holiday cards came to the fore this year when President Bush's card -- featuring a snow-draped White House with no holiday bunting -- was drubbed by conservative activists who claimed the president gave in to political correctness by failing to mention "Christmas." While the majority of governors' cards also use all-inclusive holiday language, their messages can't be categorized as neatly as Santa's naughty and nice list.

At least a dozen governors -- including eight with generic holiday greetings -- mix in a dose of religion. The card from Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) of Georgia -- fronted by a seasonally insignificant modern-art portrait of him and the first lady -- takes the prize for the most deeply religious inscription that still fails to mention Christmas.

Only one -- Gov. Bob Riley (R) of Alabama -- names "the risen Christ," whose birth is celebrated on Dec. 25. But Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), a former Baptist minister, pictures the baby Jesus in a creche -- on the back of a tear-off card with Mrs. Huckabee's brisket recipe -- and trumps everyone by mentioning Christmas four times, as well as "our Savior's birth," and the "Messiah."

While secular, other cards don't ignore the traditional symbols of Christmas. California's card steers clear of saying "Merry Christmas" but features a colorful, decorated fir tree hand-painted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Likewise, Pennsylvania's Rendell (D), who is Jewish, goes with a safe "Season's Greetings" but pictures a decorated tree and "stockings ... hung by the chimney with care." His photo on the back, though, is dated Christmas 2005.

The cost of greeting cards and mailing generally is covered by a governor's campaign or other privately raised funds. Governors or their spouses often choose the card's design and message and personalize it in a number of ways. Some highlights:

Family photos are the most popular feature, but at least eight governors include a photo of pet dogs. Kentucky's Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) include "paw prints" from the first pooch.

"God Bless Mississippi," Gov. Haley Barbour (R) declares inside a card featuring a photo of him and the first lady viewing Hurricane Katrina destruction. He adds an eerily appropriate quote from Jeremiah in the Old Testament: "There is hope for your future, says the Lord. Your children will come again to their own land." He never says Merry Christmas, though the card is dated "Christmas 2005."

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