President Obama says he prays for humility in Washington

By Josh Lederman

Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Feb. 7 2013 3:12 p.m. MST

President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at the House Democratic Issues Conference in Lansdowne, Va., Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

Charles Dharapak, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge photo»

Summary

President Barack Obama is telling leaders at the annual National Prayer Breakfast he hopes they maintain the morning's bipartisan spirit a little longer.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is telling leaders at the annual National Prayer Breakfast he hopes they maintain the morning's bipartisan spirit a little longer.

The president says he often returns from the gathering and turns on cable news, only to find that prayers for unity have already faded away. He jokes that, quote, he'd "like to think that the shelf life wasn't so short."

Obama says this time, he hopes the gathered leaders retain their humility, not just for the annual hour-long meeting, but for every hour of the day. He says, quote, "Those of us with the most power and influence must be the most humble."

Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, host of this year's breakfast, responded by thanking Obama for being his president.

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dave31

Salt Lake City, UT

Humility is the characteristic most absent in our President. His arrogance turns me off even more than his misguided economic policies.

4:09 p.m. Feb. 7, 2013
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Mountanman

Hayden, ID

Be careful what you pray for Mr. President! Humility is usually obtained by adversity, not displays of arrogance!

7:16 a.m. Feb. 8, 2013
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Tolstoy

salt lake, UT

@dave
So he acknowledges the need for him to be humble and your response is to call him arrogant and misguided. I am thinking the problem you have is not really external.

4:54 p.m. Feb. 7, 2013
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