Those who would like to see a little more fighting spirit from Democratic leaders should find ample encouragement from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has just made it quite clear that he’s not in a mood to take any unnecessary guff from Republicans.
Reid had raised the possibility of calling the Senate back for a short session after Christmas to deal with START and other unfinished business. Here’s Reid, via Talking Points Memo, responding to comments from Sen John Kyl (R-AZ), who accused Reid of “disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians.” and Jim DeMint (R-SC), who whined that it would be “sacrilegious” for the Senate to vote on the START treaty so close to Christmas:

As a Christian, no one has to remind me of the importance of Christmas for all of the Christian faith, for all their families, all across America,” he said. “I don’t need to hear the sanctimonious lectures of Sen. Kyl and [Sen. Jim] DeMint to remind me of what Christmas means.

Reid notes that their concerns about the timing are somewhat inconsistent, asking “Where were their concerns about Christmas [when they were posing] filibuster after filibuster of every piece of legislation during this entire Congress?”
Reid didn’t need any help to make his point. But if he did, quite a few readers had barbed zingers to add to the fray in the comments following the post, like this from ‘Spider Pig’:

So if the Senate can’t work before or after Christmas, can I call in lazy, too? And my wife, the Federal employee, what about her? Is it too holy for her to work next week, too? When’s the freaking cut-off for when it’s appropriate to work before or after Christmas? What about the 13 Jewish Senators currently serving? How about they hold court while everyone else goes home for Christmas? Oh, wait, they’re ALL Dems. PERFECT!

…And this from IndyLinda:

Yes, and it’s sacrilegious to expect anyone to work for several days before and after Christmas. Horrors! Just ask all the cops, teachers, firemen, nurses, doctors, and anyone else with a real job who isn’t guaranteed two weeks off at Christmas time…

…And this gem from mJJ:

While I would not has said it exactly that way, the gist of what you said is absolutely correct. I am LDS and I do not appreciate Kyl acting like Harry Reid knows nothing about Christian behavior. But alas, my party held up legislation so often during this last session of the Senate that it serves them right for their unpatriotic stalling. Last I heard, Democrats still have the majority in the Senate and that is why Reid has the right to schedule as he pleases. But Kyl’s whine is so disgusting. Thousands of people work even on Christmas. I am a retired RN and for years until I became a Nursing Supervisor, I often had to work during the Christmas holiday. Obviously Kyl, even after our party obstructed all they could, is now whining about working AFTER the Christmas holiday and before New Years. We will think twice before re-electing this dolt who cares less for common folks and the horrible Christmas they will have.

This is not just a feel-good lashing out against Republicans. It’s important, make that essential, not to let any form of disparagement of religious commitment of Dems pass unchallenged. If the situation was reversed the Republicans would be screaming for blood. Reid responded perfectly.