Less than a week after announcing controversial executive actions on immigration, President Barack Obama pardoned two Thanksgiving turkeys Wednesday, and drew some parallels.
“I am here to announce what I’m sure will be the most talked-about executive action this month,” Obama said to laughter at the White House event, knowing the immigration action issued last week will continue to be talked about.
President Barack Obama, right, pardons "Cheese," the turkey at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, during the annual Thanksgiving ceremony. Cole Cooper, far left, and his father Gary Cooper, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, helped hold "Cheese" during the event. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Last week, when explaining his immigration actions, Obama said he was acting within the authority that was given him by the constitution, that past Republican and Democratic presidents have acted without Congress on immigration and denied that shielding about 5 million illegal immigrants from deportations was tantamount to amnesty.
He said some of the same things about pardoning the turkeys.
“Today I’m taking an action fully within my legal authority,” Obama said. “It’s the same kind of action taken by Democratic and Republican presidents before me, to spare the lives of two turkeys, Mac and Cheese from a terrible and delicious fate.”
He later added, “I know some will call this amnesty. But don’t worry. There is plenty of turkey to go around.”
Accompanied by his daughters Sasha and Malia, the president said he and the first family would take two turkeys that did not get pardoned to a Washington, D.C., food pantry.
Cheese won the online poll to be the National Thanksgiving Turkey and Mac was a runner up. Both 20-week old turkeys weighed about 48 pounds, according to the White House. The public decided which of the two turkeys – Mac or Cheese – would become the 2014 National Thanksgiving Turkey by casting a vote for #TeamMac or #TeamCheese on Twitter.
