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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

President Obama pardons turkeys Mac, Cheese

President Barack Obama with daughters Sasha, second from right, and Malia pardons Cheese in the Grand Foyer of the White House on Wednesday. (Associated Press)

President Barack Obama has issued an executive action that some of his Republican opponents may be hard-pressed to disagree with – sparing Thanksgiving turkeys from the dinner table.

In the spirit of the holiday, Obama on Wednesday took “action fully within my legal authority, the same kind of action taken by Democrats and Republican presidents before me,” to pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey, a 49-pound bird named Cheese. He also spared an alternate turkey, a 47-pounder named Mac. Both came from Cooper Farms in Oakwood, Ohio.

“If you’re a turkey, and you’re named after a side dish, your chances of escaping Thanksgiving dinner are pretty low,” Obama said at the annual event. He was accompanied by his daughters, Malia and Sasha, who declined his invitation to pet the birds. “No,” Malia said.

The ceremony was moved indoors because of cold, wet weather that blanketed Washington.

“So these guys are well ahead of the curve. They really beat the odds,” he said of Mac and Cheese.

Later Wednesday, Obama took his family to a neighborhood food pantry to donate a pair of turkeys “that didn’t make the cut.”

While there, Obama and his family handed out canned and fresh vegetables and bread to clients of Bread for the City, a center in southeast Washington that provides food, clothing and other services to the poor.

Hanks, Wilson to host tree lighting

Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, will host this year’s National Christmas Tree lighting in President’s Park near the White House.

The National Park Service announced Wednesday that Hanks and Wilson will host the ceremony Dec. 4. By tradition, President Barack Obama and his family also will help light the tree.

Musicians at this year’s event will include Ne-Yo, Steve Miller, country star Chely Wright and Patti Labelle.

The birthday bunch

Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”) is 63. TV host Bill Nye (“Bill Nye, the Science Guy”) is 59. Caroline Kennedy is 57. Actress Robin Givens is 50. Actor Michael Vartan is 46. Rapper Twista is 42. Actor Jaleel White is 38. Actress Alison Pill is 29.