The letter explains that "In God We Trust" has been foundational throughout the history of the United States, from presidential proclamations to engravings in both House and Senate chambers. In 1956, Congress passed and President Eisenhower signed into law establishing "In God We Trust" as the official national motto of the United States.
White House text of Obama stating national motto is "E pluribus unum" |
"'E pluribus unum' is not our national motto," the letter, dated yesterday, said. "As members of the Congressional Prayer Cuacus, a bipartisan group of members of the United States House of Representatives, we are dedicated to preserving America's religious heritage and protecting our religious liberty."
Signing the document were Reps. J. Randy Forbes of Virginia, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Paul Broun of Georgia, Steve King of Iowa, John Shadegg of Arizona, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Donald Manzullo of Illinois, John Boozman of Arkansas, Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania, David Reichert of Washington, Gregg Harper of Mississippi, Jason Chaffetz of Utah, Robert Aderholt of Alabama, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, Steve Austria of Ohio, Jeff Miller of Florida, Mike Pence of Indiana, Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Doug Lamborn of Colorado, John Kline of Minnesota, Phil Roe of Tennessee, Peter Roskam of Illinois, John Carter of Texas, K. Michael Conaway of Texas, W. Todd Akin of Missouri, Zach Wamp of Tennessee, Randy Neugebauer of Texas, Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, Robert Wittman of Virginia, Vernon Ehlers of Michigan, Tom Price of Georgia, Spencer Bachus of Alabama, Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, Mike Rogers of Alabama, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, Trent Franks of Arizona, Phil Gingrey of Georgia and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota,
The letter also noted that on Oct. 18 during a fundraiser Obama omitted the "Creator" from a reference to the Declaration of Independence.
"Once may be a mistake. But twice is a pattern. These omissions and inaccuracies are a part of a larger pattern we are seeing with the president where he is inaccurately reflecting America and undercutting important parts of our nation's history," said Forbes. "Trust in God is embedded in the fabric of society and history in the United States.
"If we allow these threads to be pulled, we will begin to unravel the very freedoms that birthed America," he said.
It was martial arts champion, actor and WND columnist Chuck Norris who noted Obama actually has omitted "Creator" seven times in just the past few months:
His research lists the following:
- On Oct. 21, 2010, at a rally for Sen. Murray in Seattle, Wash.:
"None of us would be here if it weren't for that extraordinary leap of faith that had been taken. Thirteen colonies deciding to start a revolution based on an idea that had never been tried before – a government of and by and for the people. A government based on the simple proposition that all men are created equal. That we're endowed with certain inalienable rights."
- On Oct. 18, 2010, at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dinner in Rockville, Md.:
"It has to do with this idea that was started by 13 colonies that decided to throw off the yoke of an empire, and said, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that each of us are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'"
- On Oct. 17, 2010 at a reception for Gov. Ted Strickland in Chagrin Fall, Ohio.:
"The idea of America has never been easy. The notion of 13 colonies coming together and overthrowing the greatest empire in the world, and then drafting a document that says, we find these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights – that's hard."
- On Sept. 22, 2010, at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dinner in New York, N.Y.:
"And what was sustaining us was that sense that – that North Star, that sense that, you know what, if we stay true to our values, if we believe that all people are created equal and everybody is endowed with certain inalienable rights and we're going to make those words live, and we're going to give everybody opportunity, everybody a ladder into the middle class,…"
- On Sept. 15, 2010, at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's 33rd annual awards gala in Washington, D.C.:
"But over the centuries, what eventually bound us together – what made us all Americans – was not a matter of blood, it wasn't a matter of birth. It was faith and fidelity to the shared values that we all hold so dear. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights: life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
- On Sept. 11, 2010, at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Va.:
"For our cause is just. Our spirit is strong. Our resolve is unwavering. Like generations before us, let us come together today and all days to affirm certain inalienable rights, to affirm life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
- On Sept. 10, 2010, at the president's press conference at the White House:
"With respect to the mosque in New York, I think I've been pretty clear on my position here, and that is, is that this country stands for the proposition that all men and women are created equal; that they have certain inalienable rights – one of those inalienable rights is to practice their religion freely."
When WND's correspondent at the White House, Les Kinsolving, raised the question about the omissions, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "I haven't seen the comments, Lester, but I can assure you the president believes in the Declaration of Independence."
In a second commentary on the subject, Chuck Norris continued, "The truth is, if you want an accurate religious history of America, you're no longer going to get it from our president, our progressive society or secular schools, at least not without unbiased trained teachers or the induction of a religious curriculum that hasn't tampered and twisted history."
At the time the declaration was adopted, however, the concept of all being created "equal" was a rare idea.
The Declaration states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Original wording from Declaration of Independence |
One of the incidents is on tape, with the reference appearring shortly past the 22-minute mark:
As 
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