GOP Senator: Not Enough God In Capitol Visitors Center

Protests by conservative lawmakers led architects to promise to add "In God We Trust" as the national motto and to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance in the new $621 million Capitol Visitor Center.

Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, had threatened to delay Tuesday's opening of the marble-and-stone center that took seven years to build at triple the original cost.

The estimated 3 million people who tour the U.S. Capitol each year will now assemble in a grand monument-like building likely to become a tourist stop on its own.

After taking a tour of the visitor center in September with Steven Ayers, the architect of the Capitol who oversaw its completion, DeMint correctly noted that it had erroneously described "E. Pluribus Unum" - Latin for "from many, one" - as the national motto rather than "In God We Trust."

"The current Capitol Visitor Center displays are left-leaning and in some cases distort our true history," DeMint said. The center's "most prominent display proclaims faith not in God, but in government."

Despite winning a months-long battle to highlight the importance of religion in American life, DeMint said the center still misrepresents American history by downplaying the faith of the founding fathers and other prominent figures.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Aesthete]

As a Christian believer, I say it's time to end the abuse of God's name for political gain, which amounts to hypocrisy and outright blasphemy. These GOPers are fooling no one. The U.S. Constitution's statement that the government shall make no law concerning an establishment of a religion is crystal clear. What part of that don't they get?

[ContraEgoiste]

The motto E Pluribus Unum ("from many, one") was approved for use on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782.

It still appears on coins and currency, and was widely considered the national motto de facto.

However, by 1956 it had not been established so by legislation as the official "national motto". The Congressional Record of 1956 reads: "At the present time the United States has no national motto. The committee deems it most appropriate that 'In God we trust' be so designated as U.S. national motto."[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In keeping in synch with the Constitution of the separation between church and state and as our founders intended it, I agree with the use the original motto "E Pluribus Unum" which had been used far longer and adopted by the founders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Great Seal of the United States is the symbol of our sovereignty as a nation. .

The committee members"Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams"prepared a very complicated design that was promptly tabled by Congress. However, one prominent feature of their design appeared in the design that was originally adopted"the motto E Pluribus Unum, "Out of Many, One."

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/print_friendly.php?flash=false&page=&doc=5&title=Original+Design+of+the+Great+Seal+of+the+United+States+(1782)

[leeman79]

Still trying to remedy a blown headgasket with an oil change.

[Mikeeee]

Are these people incapable of opening their mouths without lies and deceit pouring out?

[EuroHuffPoFan]

It is difficult to understand . . .
how some say America is a modern educated and free country. . .

Whereas a part of America's leaders imagine themselves still in the middle ages. . .
and act accordingly
. . .

[pokemon]

In GOD we trust has only been around on documents for a few decades.

Maybe as the last post suggested we start with bathroom stalls at the airport and on the tee shirts of those high class call girls. That way the GOP sees them more.

[SouthPrairie]

How about more God in the GOP Senators.

[bannorhill]

How about more God in Democrat Senators.

[research]

I have just the quote:

"It is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle."

[atomic]

The religious fanatics are also the same ones who scrubbed the historical welcoming videos that showed some of the protests held on the capital mall over the years. They edited out the gay marches for equality and about AIDS. There is nothing about their behavior that has anything to do with God ... their actions are all about lies and deceit. I am so sick of these small mined people ruining it for the rest of us.

[lgrf4evr]

Senator Demint is running for reelection in 2010 in South Carolina, he is the junior senator and the more conservative one in comparisons to his senior senator, Lindsey Graham.

Senator Lindsey Graham rarely campaign in his home state this year for reelection since he spend all his time campaigning for John McCain yet he won 55% of the vote or something like that.

JIm Demint is just trying to play up his home base by this publicity stunt but than again, I don't know why he feel he need to do this given that south carolina voters would had voted for a sock so long as it had a R next to the name.

If you notice lately, Governor Mark Sanford (R - SC), Lindsey Graham (R - SC) and Jim Demint (R - SC) had been on several cable news media.

[lgrf4evr]

Senator Demint is running for reelection in 2010 in South Carolina, he is the junior senator and the more conservative one in comparisons to his senior senator, Lindsey Graham.

Senator Lindsey Graham rarely campaign in his home state this year for reelection since he spend all his time campaigning for John McCain yet he won 55% of the vote or something like that.

JIm Demint is just trying to play up his home base by this publicity stunt but than again, I don't know why he feel he need to do this given that south carolina voters would had voted for a sock so long as it had a R next to the name.

If you notice lately, Governor Mark Sanford (R - SC), Lindsey Graham (R - SC) and Jim Demint (R - SC) had been on several cable news media.

[johnfoirdfw]

Why do republicans hate America?

[Rog49Thomas]

The only hate the fake America and fake Americans.

[kjstjohn]

In God we Trust? That's historic. The Pledge of Allegiance? Not so much. I love my country and pledge my allegiance to my country but I have no real allegiance to a flag. It is beautiful and makes me happy but I do not equate a symbol of my country with my country.

[Rog49Thomas]

Assuming Brother DeMint's sincerity, I think he could make a very powerful contribution to bringing God into public life.

As a good Christian, I trust he's familiar with the Sermon on the Mount.

And then there's another good passage - Matthew 7:1-6 which might be read in conjunction with John 8: 2-11.

As he begins to implement the teachings found therein in his daily life and his political positions, I'm confident that many people will be similarly inspired.

Brother Jim, be a light to this nation and all nations.

[falcon84]

First of all, the millions spent on this stupid center was a total waste. Secondly, doesn't Demint have any better things to worry about? What an absurd waste of tax dollars to worry about this garbage.

[Ramirez]

If a phrase is to be labeled our "national motto" it should be the right one. DeMint only pointed out the mistake.