It all started with a resolution (H.CON.RES.13) that passed in the House on Tuesday. The roll call was 396-9 in favor of reaffirming the motto “In God We Trust”. I am not sure why the House decided that this was the time to put forth this resolution, but the President was quick to jump on it.

“I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work.”

White House spokesman Jay Carney tried to clarify that remark:

Carney said Obama was trying to make the point that “we have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people.”

“I believe the phrase from the Bible is, ‘The Lord helps those who help themselves,'” Carney said.

The White House later clarified that the phrase – “‘the Lord helps those who help themselves” – is not in the Bible.

Perhaps Obama and his team should have watched the Colbert Report. Last year  in his “Jesus is a liberal Democrat” rant, Colbert chastised Bill O’Reilly for writing that “God helps those who help themselves” in response to Congressman Jim McDermott.  McDermott at the time was pushing for passage of the latest bill to help the unemployed.

In the span of  one year we have Obama using the phrase to justify passage of a bill enacting federal help for those in need and O’Reilly using it to validate the opposite point of view. O’Reilly was emphasizing individuals taking responsibility for helping themselves. Obama was emphasizing the nation taking responsibility for helping itself.

So who is right? Continue reading →