Dan Sullivan Seeks 'Christmas' Ban Explanation, But Edmondson Says No Such Ban In Place

UPDATED ~ State Rep. Dan Sullivan has asked the president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University to explain a "ban" on use of the word "Christmas," but late today Attorney General Drew Edmondson said Internet allegations he had issued a directive to that effect are in error.

A statement from the attorney general's office reads, "Attorney General Drew Edmondson didn’t give a second thought to a caller from Texas who called his office this morning to wish him a merry Christmas. His executive assistant returned the man’s well wishes and hung up the phone. In fact, no one in the attorney general’s office thought it at all strange to receive Christmas greetings until the calls started pouring in – by the dozens. The problem seemingly started after a group calling themselves the 'Liberty Counsel' issued a press release stating that an administrator had ordered employees at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford to refrain from using the word Christmas in oral or written form. According to the press release, the action was taken after the university received legal advice to that effect from Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

“Some of the callers were quite upset,” Edmondson said. “The idea that a state official would ban Christmas just days before such a holy day obviously struck a chord with a number of people.”

The release continues, "The problem, however, is that no such advice has been issued. The callers were getting their information off of Internet blogs, and they were taking it to heart."

“That advice was never given. The attorney general’s office doesn’t even advise SWOSU,” Edmondson said. “The first we heard of this so-called ‘advice’ came from someone who read it on the Internet. “Once the false information is out there, it seems to be immortal,” Edmondson said. “What gets reported as fact on one blog gets repeated as such on others. A few of the bloggers did call this afternoon to try to ‘verify’ the story and they did retract their original version of events, but the damage was already done.

"When it comes to the Internet, credibility is not required – nor is truth.”

Edmondson today had two messages for Oklahomans. “It seems like stating the obvious, but I would like people to remember that there is no accuracy filter on the Internet,” Edmondson said. “My second message – merry Christmas.” The attorney general also had a message for the original circulators of the grinchly tale.

“The folks at the Liberty Counsel will find lumps of coal in their stockings on Christmas morning,” Edmondson said. “That’s what Santa leaves for bad kids who tell lies.”

Tulsa blogger Michael Bates has the best rundown on this incident.

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