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Obama To Pardon Turkeys Today

by Tom Kludt

11.27.13 | 2:01 am

President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha and Malia, pardons Liberty, a 19-week old, 45-pound turkey, on the occasion of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, on the North Portico of the White House in Washingto... President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha and Malia, pardons Liberty, a 19-week old, 45-pound turkey, on the occasion of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, on the North Portico of the White House in Washington. At left is National Turkey Federation Chairman Richard Huisinga. MORE LESS

President Barack Obama will spare the lives of two turkeys on Wednesday as part of the White House’s annual (and somewhat morbid) Thanksgiving tradition.

Obama will “pardon” the turkeys, Caramel and Popcorn, but only one will be crowned the National Thanksgiving Turkey. Americans have been encouraged to vote online for one of the birds, brothers who were born on July 8.

The event is scheduled to take place at 1:20 p.m. ET.

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Tom Kludt Tom Kludt is a reporter for Talking Points Memo based in New York City, covering media and national affairs. Originally from South Dakota, Tom joined TPM as an intern in late-2011 and became a staff member during the 2012 election. He can be reached at tom@talkingpointsmemo.com.

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