WASHINGTON — A good-natured President Barack Obama on Wednesday spared the lives of two turkeys that played their own parts perfectly.
In what has become a Thanksgiving-eve ritual, Obama offered a presidential pardon to Apple and its pal, Cider. The turkeys remained calm and statesmanlike as the president blessed them with a pointed reminder of his own recent political woes.
“Let me say,” Obama said, “that it feels pretty good to stop at least one shellacking this November.”
Officially, Apple is the National Thanksgiving Turkey and Cider is the feathered understudy.
Both of the 21-week-old birds were raised on Foster Farms’ Wellsford Ranch, outside of Modesto, Calif. Both will now live out their remaining days at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home. The turkeys will be part of a special holiday display through Jan. 6 and then live with the estate’s other animals. McClatchy Newspapers
