President Obama got the Chanukah party started early this year, giving a brief address at the White House where he and Michelle greeted several hundred guests, including leaders of the Jewish community.
The food was even kosher.

With a menorah all aglow, here is some of what the President said:

"This year, we have to recognize the miracles in our own lives. Let's honor the sacrifices our ancestors made so that we might be here today. Let's think about those who are spending this holiday far away from home, including members of our military who guard our freedom around the world. Let's extend a hand to those who are in need, and allow the value of tikkun olam to guide our work this holiday season.
This is also a time to be grateful for our friendships, both with each other and between our nations. And that includes, of course, our unshakeable support and commitment to the security of the nation of Israel."

Yasher koach, more power to you, Mr. President. Coming from our national leader, in the midst of the run up to Christmas, these are comforting words of support and inclusion; especially about recognizing the miracles in our lives. Amidst the Christmas season's green and red onslaught of fa-la-la-la-la-ing, bell ringing, and unfamiliar eggnog cheer, it's a miracle if I can make it through a single December day without hearing, "Up on a Rooftop," or a Lexus commercial.

Democrats of course do not have a lock on Chanukah meet and greets. The first official White House Chanukah party was hosted by President George W. Bush.

Kol hakavod, job well done, Republicans. You too have seen that a Chanukah event can be viewed as a gesture of inclusiveness during a season when many Jews feel on the outs with American culture.
To keep the party going, I wondered how some of the current field of presidential candidates might handle a White House Chanukah event.

Based on their campaign ads, debate statements, and gaffes, I wondered what they might do when it came time to light the menorah and dance the hora.

Would the incendiary Newt Gingrich use the moment to light up more than the menorah, by ranting that the Palestinians are an "invented people"? I hope he wouldn't hash over the Hasmoneans.

And how about Mitt Romney at the Chanukah party? Might he, like at the Iowa debate, offer up a bet? Maybe wagering instead of ten grand, a pile or two of Chanukah gelt; making a bad bet that elderly Jews will switch to favoring a repeal of the national health care plan?

Might Rick Perry, wanting to send a mixed holiday greeting, use the Chanukah ceremony to unveil a new commercial or two? I imagined one spot with Perry; a Santa like sack slung over his shoulder, ho-hoing as he tells Jewish Americans about the miracle of the oil, especially in Texas, and in a sly aside, warn against exchanging Chanukah gifts with gays in the military.

And Michele Bachmann, who apparently thinks that the Revolutionary War began in New Hampshire and not in Massachusetts, what might she do with the geography of the Maccabean revolt? I'm thinking since we sing, "Rock of Ages," might she give the globe a dreidel spin and think Chanukah began in Rockville, Illinois?

Edmon J. Rodman has written about making his own matzah for JTA, Jewish love music for the Jerusalem Post, yiddisheh legerdemain for the Los Angeles Jewish Journal, a Bernie Madoff Halloween mask for the Forward, and what really gets stuck in the La Brea Tar Pits for the Los Angeles Times. He has edited several Jewish population studies, and is one of the founders of the Movable Minyan, an over twenty-year-old chavura-size, independent congregation. He once designed a pop-up seder plate. In 2011 Rodman received a First Place Simon Rockower Award for "Excellence in Feature Writing" from the American Jewish Press Association."