President Barack Obama noted in speech today that the House ignored his jobs bill but passed legislation yesterday affirming that "In God We Trust" is the U.S. national motto.

"That's not putting people back to work," the president said in Virginia today. "I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work."

As a follow-up to his speech, press secretary Jay Carney was asked by a reporter, "Isn't it a bit much to bring God into the jobs debate?"

"Well, I believe the phrase from the Bible is, 'The Lord helps those who help themselves,'" Carney said at the White House daily news briefing. "And I think the point the President is making is that we should — we have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people."

The White House noted later in the transcript "The Lord helps those who help themselves" is a "common phrase" and ...

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