In God We Trust: Why a Resolution Now?

In God We Trust was officially reaffirmed as the official national motto of the United States on Wednesday by the House of Representatives. Why did the Republicans bring this vote up now, and was it a good idea?

Many analysts and pundits seem to be saying no.

Is there something going on that spurred this resolution? asked Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Is In God We Trust under attack in the courts? Is someone trying to remove it from the money?

Criticism of the measure also came from President Barack Obama, who ripped Congress, especially Republicans, for voting on this measure while his jobs act was still languishing.

That's not putting people back to work, he said at a speech, according to CBS News. I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work.

Obama himself was cited by Rep. Randy J. Forbes (R-Va.), who introduced the resolution. According to CBS, Forbes pointed out that in a foreign speech last year, Obama said the national motto was E pluribus unum, Latin for Out of one, many. E pluribus unum is the saying on the Seal of the United States, but In God We Trust has been the national motto since 1956. It had already been printed on coins since the Civil War.

The impact of the resolution could go in any direction. Obviously, support from Conservative Christian voters is important to the Republicans in next year's elections, and this could help firm up that support.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, though, pointed out that moderate voters could be turned off by the idea that in a time of high unemployment, the Republican Party still seems focused on cultural issues like religion.

Obama, meanwhile, at his address in DC, focused on pointing this out, even when he wasn't directly discussing the resolution.

When 72 percent of the American people support the ideas in this bill -- 72 percent of Americans agree with this -- Republicans, Democrats and independents -- there's no excuse for 100 percent of Washington Republicans to say no, he said, according to CBS. That's means that the Republicans in Washington are out of touch with Republican voters.