Obama Mocks Congress For 'In God We Trust' Motto Vote, Ignoring Jobs Bill

President Barack Obama urged lawmakers to move on the transportation funding portion of his jobs bill Wednesday, while simultaneously mocking them for spending time on supposedly less-important undertakings, such as a recent measure to reaffirm "In God We Trust" as the national motto.

In a speech from beneath the D.C. area's Key Bridge, Obama told spectators that Congress had time to bring up votes on aspects of the American Jobs Act, but were instead dealing with more frivolous legislation.

"And if Congress tells you they don't have time, they've got time to do it," Obama said.

"In the House of Representatives, what have you guys been doing, John?" Obama continued, calling out Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). "You've been debating a commemorative coin for baseball. You've had legislation reaffirming that 'In God We Trust' is our motto. That's not putting people back to work. I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work."

On Wednesday, the House voted 396-9 on a bill that reaffirmed the motto and encouraged its display in all public schools and government buildings.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) had argued that some people, including Obama, needed to be reminded of the motto.

"Almost a year ago, the president in making a speech across the world said that our national motto was 'E pluribus unum,'" Forbes said. "When the [U.S. Capitol] Visitor Center was opened ... they did not have the national motto in there. In fact, they inscribed in the stones that our national motto was 'E pluribus unum.'"

In a speech in Jakarta last year, Obama remarked that the American "motto is E pluribus unum -- out of many, one." Officially, this wasn't correct. Minnesota congresswoman and now-GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and other members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus piled on weeks later, penning a letter to Obama chastising him for his alleged failure to the use the word "God" and "Creator" more in his public speeches, especially abroad.

Comments

[pixeloid]

12:41 AM on 11/09/2011

Was the motto actually changed? The seal of the United States still says "E Pluribus Unum". I thought "in God we trust" was only added to currency to scare the godless communists, or to make people hate atheists, or some such nonsense.

[Patt Reid]

11:19 AM on 11/07/2011

Of course, our motto is "In God We Trust", where GOD = $$$$
This is similar to the concept, CORPORATIONS = PEOPLE

[joe0147]

01:12 PM on 11/06/2011

I like the way Democrats always give their proposals nice sounding names when they are really just the opposite. Like the Jobs bill should really be called the tax bill. That doesn't have the same ring to it though.

[Patt Reid]

11:23 AM on 11/07/2011

Right, thats like calling the R's tax-cuts-for-billionaires" bill a "jobs" bill.
Or the naming their "don't get sick, or die quickly" bill a "Health care" bill.
Or, how about calling a routine vote to raise the debt ceiling a "Debt Crisis" vote?

[RyansBeard]

10:44 AM on 11/08/2011

I like the way the Rs ran on a jobs, jobs, jobs campaign to get elected in Congress and haven't proposed a plan yet.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

03:48 PM on 11/04/2011

the sad thing about the "in god we trust" vote is that democrats follow sheepishly the religious agenda of the right wing kooks.

[indawindigoes]

01:03 PM on 11/04/2011

"E. Pluribus Unum" was our motto for more than 174 years. Politics and form of government are more important than God in our current motto, "In God We Trust".
In God We Trust is an anti socialistic motto, where as "From Many, One" is communistic.

[WarrenPease]

03:39 PM on 11/04/2011

Yes, the ancient Illuminatti were proto-communists.

[blizno]

08:40 PM on 11/05/2011

"From Many, One" is communistic?

It is communist to recognize that USA was built by the peoples of many nations, many religions, many races? That is communist?

Friend, I think that you do not understand what the word "communist" means.

[jhsinius]

12:29 PM on 11/04/2011

Congress works for corporate America. There is almost to zero taxes being paid from "CORPORATE AMERICA". "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?" HOW COME CONGRESS IS NOT MAKING SURE THEY'RE BEING TAXED?" AND WE WONDER WHERE OUR MONEY'S AT, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE CLOWNS AS CONGRESS GIVING THEMSELVES RAISES AND LETTING CORPORATE AMERICA WRITE THEIR OWN RULES!!!!

[joe0147]

01:07 PM on 11/06/2011

What is "corporate America"? Is it corporations that are in America? Aren't corporations made up of a number of people that actually work? Do corporations provide jobs for millions of Americans? Do corporations research and develop the products that we like to have? Do corporations bring in lots of taxes to the government from it's millions of employees? Why do you think corporations should be punished for that?

[Patt Reid]

11:36 AM on 11/07/2011

Corporate America is American by their corporate charters only, other than that, they are largely employers in 3rd world countries who do not pay taxes on off-shore earnings, who have no loyalty to the country they call home, who are NOT hiring Americans, but rather they are maligning us, pushing us ever further down so they can amass a greater % of the wealth for themselves. The corporations are not paying OUR income taxes, that comes out of our salaries if we are lucky enough to have a job. There was a day when corporations understood that workers enhanced their wealth (of course, it took unions to show them the way). Now, they view us as a burden to be tolerated, never rewarded proportionate to our contribution, not worthy of insuring or protecting. The American worker's earnings have been flat for 30 years, while the wealth of the owners has increased to 300x the average workers earnings. Corporations do R&D to find ways to make people part with more money to benefit themselves, not because they are so concerned about our needs or wishes. Corporations are not being "punished" when asked to give back to the country they call home, the very country that made their wealth possible by favorable legislation. It is the workers who are being punished, forcing them to pay more so corps get a free pass. This is "ransom" for our jobs. If we don't like it, they'll take their business elsewhere.

[Hassan Hamza]

03:02 PM on 11/06/2011

The only class warfare in the US is the warfare against the middle class by Congress and corporate America

[Terry64]

11:40 AM on 11/04/2011

Anyone who is following BHO Jobs bill (aka stimulus II) knows its the democratic Senate which is holding back all the legislation... Look up liar in the dictionary, guess who you see.. this political hack.... (Less than a year left!!)

[mad lib]

10:19 AM on 11/05/2011

How many republican senators are voting for it? Ahhh- I see- it's a few Democrats fault.
Less than a year left? Do you actually think one of the right-wing kooks up there is going to win?

[Terry64]

01:51 PM on 11/05/2011

I know math is troublesome to Liberals; a Majority means one side has more members than another. In the Senate, there are more Democrats than Republicans, meaning they have the majority. When bills fail to pass, and the Leader, Prince Harry Reid, tells them the bill stinks – yes it’s the majority that calls the shots. BTW Harry Reid would not even bring BHO’s Jobs bill up for a vote. It’s very clear the Dems have a political agenda to demonize the Republicans. That tactic and name calling (Kooks) is pretty much all they got going for 2012 election.

[B Wood]

11:28 AM on 11/04/2011

So I assume that all of you who thought reaffirming this motto that did not need to be reaffrimed was such a good idea have no problem with having a mosque built in your community or a community center in lower Manhattan?

If you really want to be inclusive, our motto should read:

In God(s) We Trust*
*that is if you believe in God(s).

[DianaLynn1967]

01:57 AM on 11/20/2011

I like "E Pluribus Unim" myself.

[kcdrew]

11:51 PM on 11/03/2011

"The fear that unless 'In God We Trust' is displayed throughout the government, Americans will somehow lose their faith in God, is a dim view of the profound religious convictions many citizens have. The faith that inspired many of the Founders of this country—the faith I practice—is stronger than that. Trying to score political points with unnecessary resolutions should not be Congress's priority. I voted no." - Rep. Justin Amash, the only Republican to vote against yesterday's bill, which passed 396-9.

Thank you, Rep. Amash. At least there's one thinking person in the group.

Mo Rage, the blog (http://moravings.blogspot.com)

[Patt Reid]

11:48 AM on 11/07/2011

This idiotic vote, based on the need to reaffirm Americans that there is still some belief in God, is like the idiotic Defense of Marriage Act that reassures them there are still heterosexuals who want to live together.

[riobravo30]

10:52 PM on 11/03/2011

Congress should mock Obama, for spending the hell out of money,and when the dust settled still no jobs.I only have one thing to say, I wish this was Dec 2012 coming up.

[Abena in Africa]

06:26 AM on 11/04/2011

You know he'll be re-elected, again. Stop kidding yourself.

[DianaLynn1967]

01:59 AM on 11/20/2011

Quit wishing your life away.

[FDRinhell]

09:52 PM on 11/03/2011

Obama would prefer Alhamdulillah

[landskroon]

02:31 AM on 11/04/2011

I think he just wanted a congres that was working for America instead of just obstructing every initiative to get the stuff running again. America means 1% = 99%. Congres now only works for the benefit of the 1%. Congres is not working for the people, it works for Corporate America. Take a day in weekend to find out what they have done for America last two years. I mean the 100%

[Abena in Africa]

06:27 AM on 11/04/2011

I usually don't resort to insults, but you're such an _idiot.

[lindakayw]

09:03 PM on 11/03/2011

the posts I read are as dumb as the fact that Congress is wasting time AS USUAL!

[mysto99]

10:58 PM on 11/03/2011

Announced by NBC today.....congress has scheduled much less time in Washington next year 2012,,because they will be out trying to get elected, or their close friends back in office. ...Will they get less pay because they will be spending less time at work for all of us...? Any other job they would all be fired tomorrow!

[ExAFCrewDog]

08:32 PM on 11/03/2011

At least they were working on something that had a chance of passing!

[cvermeulen9]

07:51 PM on 11/03/2011

Oh! 2012 cant get here fast enough for me! I make no bones about it I will not be voting for Obama!

[jhsinius]

12:32 PM on 11/04/2011

Well, I won't be voting for any GOP. They made it clear when Obama took office he was going to be a "ONE TIME PRESIDENT", Mitch McConnell was going to make sure nothing got passed, now that's a damn shame, because who suffers? WE THE PEOPLE SUFFER NOT MITCH MCCONNELL, HE GOES HOME WITH A PAY CHECK AND A DAMN GOOD ONE AND THEY GIVE THEMSELVES RAISES WHEN THEY WANT, AND WE PAY FOR IT! SO WHOSE THE DAMN FOOLS?

[cvermeulen9]

09:52 PM on 11/04/2011

Well it just so happens I agree with you about most of what you stated. WE are the fools for allowing our governement to to big for it's " britches". WE have given OUR power to those elected to represent us BUT instead they represent thier parties and themselves. THEY make themselves important and forget who They WORK for, with is US the PEOPLE. That is why I am considering Ron Paul.

[ginas13]

12:49 PM on 11/04/2011

So who will do a better job? I am not saying Obama is the second coming but he is a hell of alot better than the other Bozos looking to run. (no offense to our clown Americans).

[cvermeulen9]

09:53 PM on 11/04/2011

I am considering Ron Paul.

[sf bee]

06:33 PM on 11/03/2011

Dear God,

Please save me from your followers.

Amen