if I may offer an "Idiot of the Season" award

Ho-ho-ho, Santa's got a big bag of shhh for a bozo.

Here you go, Tim Wildmon:

That's not good enough for American Family Association President Tim Wildmon, who wants to see "Merry Christmas" signs displayed prominently "if they expect Christians to come in and buy products during this so-called season."

And he isn't worried if they offend people who aren't Christian.

"They can walk right by the sign," Wildmon said. "It's a federal holiday. If someone is upset by that, well, they should know that they are living in a predominantly Christian nation."

Where's Wildmon shopping next weekend? "Wal-Mart," he said.

That chain was briefly the target of a boycott called by the Catholic Rights League after an employee described Christmas in an unflattering way in a company e-mail. The employee has since left and the boycott is off, though the Catholic Rights League still criticizes Wal-Mart for tellings its employees to say, "Happy holidays."

Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman said the "Happy holidays" greeting is "more inclusive. With 130 million customers walking through the door and 1.3 million employees, it's safe to say there are a lot of different faiths out there."

That's right: the guy who's advocating a boycott of Target, which doesn't have an official "only 'Happy Holidays!'" policy, is going to shop at Wal-Mart, which does.


First Runner Up: Jerry Falwell, who advocates bullying tactics to counter "bullying tactics of the ACLU."

Second Runner Up: Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel. "'We'll try to educate... [b]ut if we can't, we'll litigate.'"



[Link thanks to Obscure Store. Apologies to Ed Brayton.]