Obama lauds governors for helping 'right the ship'

[February 22, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is thanking governors for "helping to right the ship" during the economic crisis that hammered the United States over the last couple of years.

The state leaders are gathering at the White House for their annual Governors' Ball following weekend meetings of the National Governors Association.

Obama praised them for their "ability to work across state lines and party lines." He said Washington politicians could learn from them.

The president said governors couldn't afford to be overly ideological because "the rubber hits the road with you."

Governors saw firsthand how "brutal" the economic crisis was, Obama said, and deserve "extraordinary credit" for leading their states through it.

[Associated Press]

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