Chuck Schumer Receives 'Lump Of Coal' From Joe Manchin In 'Secret Santa' Exchange

During a recent Senate "Secret Santa" exchange, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) received a gift typically reserved for those with bad behavior: a lump of coal.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) presented Schumer with two pieces of coal carved into the shapes of a donkey and an elephant. A riddle accompanied the gift that acknowledged Congress' low approval rating, saying "what we deserve is a lump of coal... we should be working in a bipartisan way," Fox News reports.

Schumer said the "handcrafted, beautiful" gifts were "much better than a lump of coal."

Manchin himself received several lumps of coal from Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who also gifted a six-pack of Colorado "Snow Day" beer and hiking socks.

This is the first year the U.S. Senate has taken part in a "Secret Santa" gift exchange, according to MSNBC. The effort was launched by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who thought the effort might "create some unlikely friendships" in a highly partisan Senate.

Comments

[rawresolve]

02:33 PM on 12/13/2011

There will NEVER be bi-partisanship until the all the tea is squeezed out of the GOP.

[larueskee]

02:33 PM on 12/13/2011

Just like congress to make jokes about the fact that they have almost zero job approval. Get rid of all of them.

[idisVA]

02:31 PM on 12/13/2011

The WV Senator should switch to the Republican Party. He's no Democrat.

[adeilmns]

02:08 PM on 12/13/2011

Being from New York and one of Schumer's constituents, I take delight in it being him, specifically who received a lump of coal. He deserves worse for being such a two-faced criminal.

[edwcorey]

01:46 PM on 12/13/2011

Mr. Wall Street certainly deserves that coal.

[hang319]

01:40 PM on 12/13/2011

Joe Manchin. I saw that dumb-effin blue dog on Morning Joe the other day. Nearly lost my breakfast.

[a2plusb2equalc2]

10:25 PM on 12/13/2011

Too bad. Among other things, a little bulimia can work wonders for a waistline.

[nothingchanges]

01:38 PM on 12/13/2011

IMPO. the 112th Congress will NEVER get what they "deserve".

It's still illegal in the US, but they're workin on it....................

[Ben Winslow]

01:34 PM on 12/13/2011

I hope they didn't have to tear down another MOUNTAIN to get a good piece of carving coal. :-(

[opmik75]

01:31 PM on 12/13/2011

Ahh, we could all use a little holiday levity in these serious times.

[rjciraulo]

05:10 PM on 12/13/2011

Yeah, it almost makes them human.

[dmbraddy]

01:22 PM on 12/13/2011

I presume it was "clean" coal, an oxymoron just like congressional bipartisanship.

[Prankster]

01:21 PM on 12/13/2011

They are ALL lumps of something, and they ALL deserved to be flushed!!!

[mollynova]

01:16 PM on 12/13/2011

One lump or 2? How about a whole bag?

[blueyesinbhead]

01:13 PM on 12/13/2011

They don't even deserve that. What they deserve is a lump of$hit

[mollynova]

01:16 PM on 12/13/2011

In a paper bag. On their doorstep. On fire...

[Kalzakath]

01:08 PM on 12/13/2011

So, we care that the congress is gifting eachother, when they cannot get anything of substance done?? Hmm, I feel better already

[DestinyKid]

01:01 PM on 12/13/2011

The republicans would not be so disappointed if they got coal - But what they would really prefer is some crude oil.

[mollynova]

01:18 PM on 12/13/2011

Come on down to Louisiana. We have lots of crude oil on our shores. They can have all the crude and dead birds they want.

[DestinyKid]

11:31 AM on 12/16/2011

What is amazing is that when there was the BP oil spill - republicans in Louisiana were all up in arms about govt not having enough restrictions - and now look at them, al they want is fewer regulations!!!. What Bigotry