The president will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation, where President Obama will wish American families a warm, safe, and healthy holiday as well as pardon a turkey. Or in this year’s case, two turkeys.
The presidential turkey pardon is an annual tradition that takes place at the White House on the eve of Thanksgiving dating back to John F. Kennedy who officially pardoned the first thanksgiving day turkey in 1963.
This year it is Team Cobbler vs Team Gobbler
Both turkeys will ultimately receive presidential pardons. Like everything else this election season, social media is playing a key role in deciding which turkey will become the official 2012 National Thanksgiving Turkey. On the White House’s Facebook and Twitter pages they are encouraging followers to vote on which turkey the president should pardon today. From the graphics they have created for Team Cobbler and Team Gobbler describing each of these turkeys this, presidential pardon has certainly gone to a new social media dimension.
Gobbler and Cobbler are both 19-week old, 40-pound turkeys. They were named by elementary school students in Rockingham County, Virginia. Prior to coming to the White House for their presidential pardon, Gobbler and Cobbler have been staying at the posh W Hotel in Washington D.C. and after today’s events they will be retired to Mount Vernon where they will be able to frolic freely and enjoy life without the fear of becoming someone’s dinner.
While the presidential pardon will happen at 2 p.m. today be sure to tune in at 3 p.m. to see the results live on The Cycle and find out what our Cyclists are thankful for come this Thanksgiving. Also, don’t forget to tweet us what you are thankful for using #whyimthankful. It may even appear on air during the show.
Abby Borovitz