GOP: 'In God We Trust' bill needed to remind President Obama

[witness23]

GOP: 'In God We Trust' bill needed to remind President Obama
By Pete Kasperowicz - 11/01/11 05:41 PM ET

Link: GOP: 'In God We Trust' bill needed to remind President Obama - The Hill's Floor Action


It is official, the GOP have lost their collective minds. Seriously, you bring up a bill to remind Mr. Obama of our nations motto? And before everyone in the soapbox starts whining about how God is being forced out of everyday life, this is not the time to be fooling around with legislation that does nothing to get our nation back to work. Where are the jobs that our (9% approval rating) Congress promised if they were elected? Save this kind of legislature for later when you've actually done something! Our national motto was, In God We Trust before this bill, and it will still be our national motto with the passing of this bill, so what's the point? Oh...... because our President said E Pluribus Unum is our national motto in his speech in Jakarta, Indonesia? Where he said this:

But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia should give us hope. It is a story written into our national mottos. In the United States, our motto is E pluribus unum — out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — unity in diversity. (Applause.) We are two nations, which have traveled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag. And we are now building on that shared humanity — through young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to greater prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations.​

The part of his speech when he was talking about peace among a diverse group of people, cultures and religions? That part? I guess when he was comparing Jakarta's motto, Unity in diversity, he should've used In God We Trust, yeah.....that would've made sense. E Pluribus Unum is relevant in this context since it was adopted by an act of Congress in 1782 and has been on our coins and paper currency since 1795.

I guess we should've reminded these Presidents and brought forward a bill when they used the phrase E Pluribus Unum as well:

Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamation President Bush 2002.

Our country's citizens come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, which has enabled us to realize the vision embodied in our first national motto: "E Pluribus Unum," meaning "Out of many, one."​

National American Indian Heritage Month proclamation
President Bush 2001:

Since our Nation's birth, pluralism and diversity have been hallmarks of the American experience and success. In 1782, the Founding Fathers chose as our national motto "E Pluribus Unum," which means "out of many, one."​

Remarks at the National Forum on Excellence in Education in Indianapolis, Indiana
President Reagan 1983:

In the decades that followed, our rich network of public, church, and private schools performed a miracle. With the tide after tide of immigrants thronging to our shores, our schools taught the children of those new Americans skills to earn their livings, a new language, and a new way of life -- democracy.

The motto of the United States is ``E Pluribus Unum,'' from many, one. Well, more than any other institution, our schools built that one from the many.​

Here's the story:

The Republican sponsor of a resolution reaffirming that "In God We Trust" is the national motto of the U.S. said his legislation is needed because President Obama and other public officials often forget that designation.

"Unfortunately, there are a number of public officials who forget what the national motto is, whether intentionally or unintentionally," Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) said in late Tuesday afternoon debate in the House. "There are those who become confused as to whether or not it can still be placed on our buildings, whether it can be placed in our school classrooms.

"Almost a year ago, the president in making a speech across the world said that our national motto was 'E pluribus unum,' " Forbes added. "When the 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.' "

The resolution passed easily Tuesday evening in a 396-9 roll-call vote. Only one Republican voted against it, along with eight Democrats.

Voting against the bill were Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Justin Amash (R-Mich.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Mike Honda (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Pete Stark (D-Calif.). Stark is the House's only open atheist.

Two Democrats voted "present" — Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), and Mel Watt (D-N.C.).

Nadler was the only Democrat to speak; he said Republicans were turning to the resolution in order to dodge more important issues such as job creation.

"Why have my Republican friends returned to an irrelevant agenda?" he asked, noting that voters want Congress to focus on jobs. "And yet here we are, back to irrelevant issue debates, the kind of thing people do when they have run out of ideas, when they have run out of excuses, when they have nothing to offer a middle class that is hurting and that has run out of patience."

Nadler stressed that the national motto is not under attack, and said the resolution appears to be an attempt by Republicans to look more religious than others.

"This is simply an exercise in saying, 'We're more religious than the other people, we're more godly than the other people, and by the way, let's waste time and divert people's attention from the real issues that we're not dealing with,' like unemployment," he said.

Forbes argued back that by dismissing the importance of the resolution, he was dismissing several past U.S. presidents who cited God in various speeches throughout history. "They are far more than words, they are the very fabric that has built and sustained the greatest country the world has ever known," he said.

But Nadler rejected that take.

"Nobody said the national motto ... is just words," Nadler said. "What I said is that this resolution is just words, because nobody is threatening the national motto. It's there. It's on our currency, it's on our walls, it's there. It's our national motto. No one denies that fact. Nothing will change when we pass this resolution. It was our national motto yesterday, it's our national motto today, and it'll be our national motto tomorrow."

Still, Republicans said the increasing attacks against recognition of the motto warrant passage of the resolution. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) said a lawsuit in his district challenging the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance went all the way to the Supreme Court, and that there are still active lawsuits related to the use of "God" in public settings.

"This is an important message to reaffirm, it is in fact under attack, we are not wasting time," Lungren.

Lungren and other Republicans agreed that reaffirming the motto is important because the U.S. was built on the understanding that God gives its citizens certain rights, which cannot be taken away by the government.

 

[Turtle]

I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to use "d!cking" in the forums, especially when using "God" in the same sentence. You can use "penising", tho, despite it being not as aesthetically pleasing.

 

[witness23]

I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to use "d!cking" in the forums, especially when using "God" in the same sentence. You can use "penising", tho, despite it being not as aesthetically pleasing.

Besides the critique of my use of adjectives, and recommendations of other uses for the word; do you have an opionion, thought, do you like the bill, don't like the bill, do you think this is a waste of Congress' time? Anything relevant to the article written or my thoughts on the article? Anything?

 

[layoutshooter]

How about this. Use a more appropriate word. Like "fooling around" or "messing" around. Clean it up. I am more direct.

 

[witness23]

How about this. Use a more appropriate word. Like "fooling around" or "messing" around. Clean it up. I am more direct.

How 'bout this? Send me a Private Message asking me to clean it up.

How 'bout you? What do you think of the article?

 

[Turtle]

Besides the critique of my use of adjectives, and recommendations of other uses for the word; do you have an opionion, thought, do you like the bill, don't like the bill, do you think this is a waste of Congress' time? Anything relevant to the article written or my thoughts on the article? Anything?

Yes, I do.

 

[layoutshooter]

How 'bout this? Send me a Private Message asking me to clean it up.

How 'bout you? What do you think of the article?

I did not feel the need to send a PM since you were, more or less, asked nicely to clean it up and choose to make a public issue out of it.

The article? Same old, same old. Congress does it's best work when out on recess. Obama does his when on vacation.

Kinda thought that article was about as useful as the bill.

 

[witness23]

I did not feel the need to send a PM since you were, more or less, asked nicely to clean it up and choose to make a public issue out of it.

If you felt that you didn't need to send a PM, then you should've had that same feeling and not brought it up in the thread. By the way, I wasn't asked to do anything, being "pretty sure" about something doesn't say a whole lot one way or the other. If you felt the need to be more direct, there is that Private Message feature you can and should utilize. As for making it a public issue, point your finger at yourself and your counterpart.

The article? Same old, same old. Congress does it's best work when out on recess. Obama does his when on vacation.

Riveting.

Kinda thought that article was about as useful as the bill.

Glad you liked it.

 

[layoutshooter]

I don't believe I said that I liked the article. I said I thought it was about as useful as congress is. Since I find congress to be more or less, useless, I believe that the article is also, more or less, useless.

 

[witness23]

You're not having a good day are you?

 

[layoutshooter]

You're not having a good day are you?

I am having a GREAT day! My run was only 33 miles in length and paid just shy of $600! Very high profit. (neo-liberals HATE profit, makes me enjoy it even more! )

That has NO bearing on my views of a mostly useless congress, president and that more or less, useless article.

 

[greg334]

Well as far as I can see, this is one reason why republicans can lose elections.

As far as the PM, I'm with witness - if you don't like what I say, don't be disrespectful and edit it but tell me about it and I will edit it.

 

[witness23]

Well as far as I can see, this is one reason why republicans can lose elections.

Yep.

As far as the PM, I'm with witness - if you don't like what I say, don't be disrespectful and edit it but tell me about it and I will edit it.

Exactly. A simple PM would suffice, unless of course you are intentionally being disrespectful.

 

[Turtle]

Exactly. A simple PM would suffice, unless of course you are intentionally being disrespectful.

Except that in some cases a simple PM proves to be wholly ineffective. There was one recent incident where I PMed someone to ask them to tone down what they were doing online, and instead of addressing it maturely, they immediately ratcheted it up in disrespectful defiance with more posts of the same, thereby effectively eliminating any chance of simple PMs in the future.

People know what the rules are, and when they break them they are being disrespectful. At that point they really don't have much of a leg to stand on in demanding respect in exchange for disrespect.

 

[tbubster]

GOP: 'In God We Trust' bill needed to remind President Obama
By Pete Kasperowicz - 11/01/11 05:41 PM ET

Link: GOP: 'In God We Trust' bill needed to remind President Obama - The Hill's Floor Action


It is official, the GOP have lost their collective minds. Seriously, you bring up a bill to remind Mr. Obama of our nations motto? And before everyone in the soapbox starts whining about how God is being forced out of everyday life, this is not the time to be fooling around with legislation that does nothing to get our nation back to work. Where are the jobs that our (9% approval rating) Congress promised if they were elected? Save this kind of legislature for later when you've actually done something! Our national motto was, In God We Trust before this bill, and it will still be our national motto with the passing of this bill, so what's the point? Oh...... because our President said E Pluribus Unum is our national motto in his speech in Jakarta, Indonesia? Where he said this:

But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia should give us hope. It is a story written into our national mottos. In the United States, our motto is E pluribus unum — out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — unity in diversity. (Applause.) We are two nations, which have traveled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag. And we are now building on that shared humanity — through young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to greater prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations.​

The part of his speech when he was talking about peace among a diverse group of people, cultures and religions? That part? I guess when he was comparing Jakarta's motto, Unity in diversity, he should've used In God We Trust, yeah.....that would've made sense. E Pluribus Unum is relevant in this context since it was adopted by an act of Congress in 1782 and has been on our coins and paper currency since 1795.

I guess we should've reminded these Presidents and brought forward a bill when they used the phrase E Pluribus Unum as well:

Irish-American Heritage Month Proclamation President Bush 2002.

Our country's citizens come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, which has enabled us to realize the vision embodied in our first national motto: "E Pluribus Unum," meaning "Out of many, one."​

National American Indian Heritage Month proclamation
President Bush 2001:

Since our Nation's birth, pluralism and diversity have been hallmarks of the American experience and success. In 1782, the Founding Fathers chose as our national motto "E Pluribus Unum," which means "out of many, one."​

Remarks at the National Forum on Excellence in Education in Indianapolis, Indiana
President Reagan 1983:

In the decades that followed, our rich network of public, church, and private schools performed a miracle. With the tide after tide of immigrants thronging to our shores, our schools taught the children of those new Americans skills to earn their livings, a new language, and a new way of life -- democracy.

The motto of the United States is ``E Pluribus Unum,'' from many, one. Well, more than any other institution, our schools built that one from the many.​

Here's the story:

Well as far as I can see, this is one reason why republicans can lose elections.

As far as the PM, I'm with witness - if you don't like what I say, don't be disrespectful and edit it but tell me about it and I will edit it.

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington

 

[greg334]

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington

That is right, but it does not mean as a country we have to be constantly reminded of it through a political vehicle of any sort and for a skewed political reason.

The issue at hand is the problem that this congress has, seeing that the republicans have their head up their a** as the same as the democrats, we have had for the past year a mess of things and this is the best that our congress can do for us is to remind us we trust God?

The country isn't void of religion or God or anything thing of the sort, but we are suffering because of a lack of jobs, a lack of fortitude in government and a serious lack of leadership on all sides. Many just don't get the idea that government isn't supposed to talk about God, they are not supposed to base their reasoning on some premise that we have to have God involved with our pledges or what ever but we should be using his guidance to find better ways to move forward, which we haven't yet. We still don't get history, the Soviets under Stalin tried to wipe out God but who won? It surely wasn't Stalin.

Until we either crash and burn or we learn to fight those who we elect by not electing them, the best we are going to get is a debate on things that do not matter.

Pretty sad state of affairs we have here in this country.

 

[cheri1122]

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington

So far, it's been impossible to govern this nation [rightly or otherwise] without a penis, too - so what's your point?

With all the problems facing the US, our fearless leaders have once again demonstrated their priorities: embarrass the President, screw everyone else, because THIS is waaaay more important than everything else they're paid to do.

 

[greg334]

Cheri,
Just wait. Greece is going to bring the EU down and in doing so our great leadership invested so much into the EU to hedge against the Dollar, the EU will bring us down.

When this happens, we will be asking ourselves "what happened to the recovery?"

 

[tbubster]

So far, it's been impossible to govern this nation [rightly or otherwise] without a penis, too - so what's your point?

With all the problems facing the US, our fearless leaders have once again demonstrated their priorities: embarrass the President, screw everyone else, because THIS is waaaay more important than everything else they're paid to do.

Just how does the god bill embarrass the clown in the white house?Some of them are doing the job they are paid to do they are killing the bills that Obama wants passed that will put this country further in debt.

 

[cheri1122]

Just how does the god bill embarrass the clown in the white house?

It doesn't. It was an attempt to embarrass the President by a bunch of alleged adults [like the kind who can't refrain from calling names] who have serious challenges to work through.
They don't have time for this kind of petty game playing - in case they haven't noticed, there are a few really important issues waiting for some effort: unemployment, the debt, protesters everywhere, failing schools, shortages of cancer meds, - just a few of the life threatening problems they're ignoring.....

Some of them are doing the job they are paid to do they are killing the bills that Obama wants passed that will put this country further in debt.

And too many of them are killing the bills Obama wants passed simply because Obama wants them passed, and that is NOT what they're paid to do.