In DC: Senator Santorum will use the season to bring attention to global persecuation of Christians. Senator Kennedy will use it to argue for raising the minimum wage:

At a press conference this morning in front of the Capitol Christmas tree, Mr. Kennedy, joined by Democratic members of Congress, will kick off a campaign to frame Republican budget cuts as antithetical to the spirit of Christmas that will continue through the rest of the congressional session, a spokeswoman for the senator, Laura Capps, said.

In response to a request for further comment on Mr. Kennedy’s campaign, Ms. Capps directed the Sun to statements made by Mr. Kennedy on the floor of the Senate Monday.

After criticizing proposed reductions in a variety of welfare programs including Medicaid, food stamps, and Head Start, Mr. Kennedy denounced Republicans by saying: "Are these actions consistent with the spirit of this holiday season?"

"Rather than debate whether the word ‘Christmas’ should appear in our stores and on our greeting cards," Mr. Kennedy said, "shouldn’t we be living out the hope that came from the first Christmas and do more for our fellow citizens than greater tax breaks for the rich and greater hardship for the poor and everyone else?"

According to Mr. Kennedy’s speech, the senator’s Christmas gifts to America would include redistributing banks’ profits to college students to pay for their education, providing federal assistance for home-heating costs, and raising the minimum wage