Stumping for his jobs bill today, President Obama invoked a unique source of support: God.

Obama's theological appeal came while protesting that House Republicans have ignored his $447 billion American Jobs Act, even while approving legislation re-affirming "In God We Trust" as the national motto.

"That's not putting people back to work," Obama said during a jobs speech at a bridge in Washington, D.C. "I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work."

"There's work to be done, there are workers ready to do it," Obama added, also criticizing House Republicans for debating a memorial coin to celebrate baseball.

House Republican aides said the baseball and the "In God We Trust" items were procedural matters that took less than 20 minutes -- and that the GOP-run House has also passed some 20 pieces that would promote job creation through reduced regulations and tax changes.

"At this point, the White House will create any sideshow they can to distract from the fact the House has sent jobs bill after jobs bill over to the Democrat-run Senate, only to see them collect dust," said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

When a reporter asked White House spokesman Jay Carney about the president's reference to God, Carney cited the admonition that "the Lord helps those who help themselves;" he also said Obama was referring to more to the idea of Congress acting on mottoes rather that jobs.

"We have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people," Carney said.