Obama, in Annual Tradition, Pardons Thanksgiving Turkey

President Barack Obama "pardoned" two turkeys Wednesday ahead of the annual Thanksgiving holiday during which Americans will consume millions of their feathery compatriots.

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SHOTLIST: WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 21, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV SOUNDBITE 1 Barack Obama (man), President of the United States (English, 9 sec): ''They say that life is all about second chances and this November, I could not agree more." SOUNDBITE 2 Barack Obama (man), President of the United States (English, 18 sec): "I have one more gift to give and it goes to a pair of turkeys named Cobbler and Gobbler. The American people have spoken and these birds are moving forward [LAUGHS] Love this bird!" - VAR of Obama pardoning the turkey - VAR of three PETA protesters dressed as turkeys in front of the White House --------------------- AFP TEXT STORY US-Obama-Thanksgiving-animal-turkey,lead Obama, in annual tradition, pardons Thanksgiving turkey WASHINGTON, Nov 21, 2012 (AFP) - President Barack Obama "pardoned" two turkeys Wednesday ahead of the annual Thanksgiving holiday during which Americans will consume millions of their feathery compatriots. "They say that life is all about second chances," Obama told reporters gathered at the White House Rose Garden for the yearly ceremony. "This November I could not agree more." The symbolic reprieve means the lucky birds -- Cobbler and understudy Gobbler -- won't end up on the dinner table but will instead live out their days in a custom-made enclosure on George Washington's estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia, the White House said. Both are 19 weeks old and weigh 40 pounds (18 kilos). Their names were chosen from submissions by elementary schools and, for the first time this year, the US public was able to pick which of the two would become the "2012 National Thanksgiving Turkey" by casting a vote on the White House Facebook page. "The American people have spoken and these birds are moving forward," Obama, just back from a tour of Asia, said in a nod both to the social media poll and his re-election campaign slogan. In a further reference to his recent White House win on November 6, Obama joked that Nate Silver of the New York Times -- who in astounding detail had correctly predicted his victory against Republican rival Mitt Romney -- had also foretold which turkeys would be pardoned. "I joke but for the first time in our history, the winners of the White House turkey pardon were chosen through a highly competitive online vote," he said. "And once again, Nate Silver completely nailed it. This guy's amazing. He predicted that these guys would win." The annual tradition dates back to former president John F. Kennedy. While his daughters Sasha and Malia looked on, Obama performed the pardon in an almost pontifical manner with a sign of the cross. While Sasha gave Cobbler a quick pet on the back feathers, Malia shook her head and refused. Thanksgiving was first celebrated by pilgrims who fled religious persecution in England. For many Americans, it has become a family-oriented day marked with an extensive meal that centers around a turkey, pies and a slew of side dishes. Wednesday's pardon takes place amid criticism from animal rights group PETA, which urged Obama not to maintain the tradition. "It makes light of the mass slaughter of some 46 million gentle, intelligent birds and portrays the United States' president as being in some sort of business partnership with the turkey-killing industry," it said in a letter. "Turkeys do not need to be 'pardoned.' They are not guilty of anything other than being born into a world of prejudice." Shortly before the turkey pardoning ceremony, PETA demonstrators dressed up as turkeys staged a protest outside the White House holding signs that read "Gobble veggies, not turkeys" and "Pardon all the turkeys." As in years past since 2009, the president and his family will do some community service on Wednesday afternoon before celebrating the holiday on Thursday.