Bush, Obama struck the same note in their Christmas radio addresses

Washington, Dec 26 (ANI): President Bush and President-elect Barack Obama may differ markedly on policies, but both struck the same note in their Christmas weekend radio addresses -- right down to using the same image of General George Washington.

Bush called Washington's raid on Hessian troops in Trenton, N.J., a miracle of the nation's birth, The Washington Times reported.

"Two hundred and thirty-two years have passed since George Washington crossed the Delaware. But on this Christmas, his legacy lives on in the men and women of the United States military," Bush said.

Both Bush and Obama told Americans to remember troops stationed overseas, with the president-elect remarking on "servicemen and women [who] can only wonder at the look on their child's face as they open a gift back home."

It's striking that both men chose the 1776 image -- Bush, despite making military families the focus of six of the eight Christmas week radio addresses he's delivered, has never used it before, the Times reported.

Emanuel Leutze, a German-born artist, painted the iconic vision of the crossing in his "Washington Crossing the Delaware," a copy of which hangs in the White House. New Jersey chose the image to grace its entry in the 50 State Quarters Program.

Here's how Obama described the crossing: "Two hundred thirty-two years ago, when America was newly born as a nation, George Washington and his Army faced impossible odds as they struggled to free themselves from the grip of an empire.

"It was Christmas Day -- December 25th, 1776 -- that they fought through ice and cold to make an improbable crossing of the Delaware River. They caught the enemy off guard, won victories in Trenton and Princeton, and gave new momentum to the beleaguered Army and new hope to the cause of Independence."

Bush took a more dramatic view, arguing the crossing was make or break for the young nation, celebrating its first Christmas.

The addresses will be aired on Saturday, but Bush released his remarks Tuesday, and Obama released his Wednesday, the paper reported.

Overall, Obama struck a more political note than Bush, calling on Americans to get on board with his campaign's message of change. (ANI)