Obama's Letter Was Answer To A Little Boy's Request (CT)

[davepc]

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-flatobama1030.artoct30,0,7881722.story

WEST HARTFORD — - When Amy Mondschein dashed into Solomon Schechter Day School last Thursday, the head of the school and her son's teacher were waiting. The Enfield resident, whose son is a second-grader at the Jewish day school, was running late that day. Was she in trouble? Far from it.

An envelope addressed to her son, Aron, 7, had been delivered to the school that morning. It was from Barack Obama, senator from Illinois and Democratic presidential candidate.

"They were all excited," Mondschein said. "The whole school was abuzz. They took a picture of . He was like a little celebrity."

A little more than a month earlier, teacher Joyce Ben-KiKi had Aron and his classmates each send letters to a famous person as part of a language arts lesson. Ben-KiKi wrapped the exercise around well-known children's book character "Flat Stanley," so along with the letters, the children each tucked a Flat Stanley figure they had made into each envelope.

"I told them not to expect a letter back," Ben-KiKi said. "I told them these people are very busy and most likely will not write back."

The list of recipients was impressive: Yankee third basemen Alex Rodriguez; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz; Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Obama was the only one to write back. Two other boys, Avshalom Drescher and Zachary Goldberg, both 8, also wrote to him, but Aron was the first to get a reply.

...

[Bicoastal]

1. Obama wrote the kid a THREE PAGE LETTER?!

HOW THE FUCK DOES HE DO IT?! :bounce:

[targetpractice]

3. I love this part...

"Sometimes I get a little nervous before talking in front of a crowd, but Flat Stanley helped me practice the speech," Obama wrote. "He made me recite it in front of him and then even gave me some advice so the speech would go smoothly. Flat Stanley is really a great coach."

[uppityperson]

4. did you read the letter in the article? Very cute. What a good person.

[AZBlue]

7. That was my first thought - does he even sleep??

Then my next thought was: Oh my God, this man is fantastic!

[Bicoastal]

9. I'm pretty sure he didn't write it personally, but still...

...his staff is amazing. And no, I'm sure they don't sleep--at least not all at the same time. :)

[AZBlue]

14. I'm sure he didn't, but he may have seen it or even added his own thoughts.

Among the many letters that he receives, this one would stand out and probably be brought to his attention because it would be a nice change of pace.

[vaberella]

34. You never know. He might have.

I think we've reached a point that we believe that Staff does everything for the candidate and the candidate does Photo-Ops and speeches that are written for him. But let's be serious, Obama is like the one in our generation that wrote his OWN speeches. That's fundamental. I mean, this I felt might say we don't know if he didn't write it, he might have.

[roguevalley]

24. because he is a good man and he knows the power of the moment

will last forever for this sweet little kid. god bless and keep him, our Barack.

[badgerpup]

36. One of Obama's job descriptions is "Daddy"...

...and I wouldn't be surprised if "Flat Stanley" was a favorite story for at least one of his daughters.

I remember that story...it's been around for a very long time...

[vaberella]

33. He's, The Messiah, after all. Nah, he just cares enough.

I hope the other two get letters soon.

[uppityperson]

2. It is exciting for kids to get letters back from famous people, or people they respect.

3rd grader Jr wrote Louis Sacher a letter saying how much liked his books and got a handwritten note back. It was the highlight of the school yr ("he wrote me back! he wrote me back!")

Good for Obama to write back. He is a good man.

[justiceischeap]

13. In my early 20's I sent a wedding invitation to the Clinton's

and was excited when I got their congrats letter back declining my invite. The letter lasted longer than my marriage but it was a two women getting hitched and the fact I got a positive response was exciting.

[sharp_stick]

5. In the middle of an election campaign

he spent the time to write back to a kid in very blue blue State? Barack Obama just amazes me more and more every day.

I've gotten so used to having a President that can't tie his fucking shoelaces without help that it's hard to imagine what it's going to be like to be able to walk in front of the White House next year and not have the urge to spit on the wall.

If Barack Obama pulls this off next week, and I'm becoming quite confident that he will, he is going to make one hell of a President. I can't wait.

[asdjrocky]

6. That is really cool.

Not only did Barack do the right thing, he made himself a Dem for life there. Smart, smart man.

[grantcart]

8. While Barack's letter back is sweet and a wise gesture

I am much more impressed by the fact that he got the student's letter in the first place. This means that he has the rigth people and the right systems in place so that great opportunities like this are not lost.

[rvablue]

12. Totally agree with your sentiment, the examples of this just pile up

Like when he called the lady that got attacked canvassing.

Or called the widow of the man who died while canvassing.

He and his camp have left me in a awe of what a candidate and a campaign can be like.

[roguevalley]

25. This is what presidents are supposed to do and be. its been a

long time for some of you younger whippersnappers but this is really fairly common back in the old days when Presidents were humane and decent people.

[Rainbowreflect]

10. Ooohhhhhh!!!

[Triana]

11. What a COOL letter! Obama realizes the importance of taking time with kids...

...he must be a fantastic father!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. This is probably going to cost us the election.

Barack Obama has more important things to do than write letters to boys who can't even vote. It's like Dukakis all over again.

[wildflower]

21. LOL! n/t

[Abacus]

16. that's awsome

Obama's three-page letter to Aron described Flat Stanley's visit with him and his staff in Washington, D.C. It chronicled their busy day together, which included coffee with constituents, a Senate committee meeting and a trip to the gym. It also had historical facts about the U.S. Capitol, details of Obama's job and a confession from Obama.

"Sometimes I get a little nervous before talking in front of a crowd, but Flat Stanley helped me practice the speech," Obama wrote. "He made me recite it in front of him and then even gave me some advice so the speech would go smoothly. Flat Stanley is really a great coach."

[HeraldSquare212]

17. "Enclosure: Flat Stanley" that's hilarious.

[Window]

18. What a guy! That man is amazing!

What a truly nice thing to do.

:thumbsup:

[Pisces]

19. He is the real deal.

[ogneopasno]

20. When he was about 9, my BIL wrote to Reagan asking him why the U.S. was supporting the contras.

He got a letter saying "Thanks for asking about Ronald Reagan!" and got a kindergarten-level book about Reagan's life.

This...just kicks ass.

[AspenRose]

22. That is very cool

And shame on the others for not responding....if OBAMA, as busy as he is, can respond....shame on you guys.

[FrenchieCat]

23. that letter was soooo cute!

He put him in his pocket and went on the floor of the Senate. :rofl:

[ulysses]

26. freeper response: why is Obama talking to Flat Stanley? what's the relationship?

;-)

[Jennicut]

27. Wow, in my home state too. Enfield is way up at the Mass border. Lucky kid.

He must feel really special now.:)

[stillcool]

28. that is so cute...

"Mommy when I am 18 I get to vote!"

[chalky]

29. That letter is just adorable!

http://blogs.courant.com/itowns_hfd/ObamaLetter.pdf

"Flat Stanley and I went running and then we lifted some weights. Flat Stanley had some trouble with the weights; he accidentally dropped one on his foot. But, don't worry--it rolled right off and Flat Stanley was fine."

:D

[Lugnut]

30. Barack Obama is an exceptional human being.

Children remember the important events in their lives and Sen Obama understands what's important.

[Clio the Leo]

31. While it's possible that a staffer wrote that .....

how many times have we heard Barack say, "really great." I mean that's a straight up Obama-ism.

"Flat Stanley is really a great coach."

And you all do realize that "Stanley" was Barack's father's name, right? ;)

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

37. Actually, it was his mother's name

His father had an African name which escapes me at the moment. But his mother was Stanley Anne Dunham.

But you have a good point. He did have a close connection to another Stanley

[Heathen57]

32. Obama just made an admirer for life.

I would bet that this young man will treasure that letter for the rest of his life.

That such a busy person as Senator Obama is, that he even had the time to sign such a small request for a young boy's classwork is amazing and speaks so much of his character.

That kind of attention to even the smallest of things just shows what a great president he will be.

Good Job Aron, and Senator Obama too!:yourock:

[boppers]

35. Do his staffers go to 'Obama's voice' boot camp?

I'm curious if this is a one-off anomaly, or if his team has managed to create one of the holy grails of personal service... mass produced/directed "personal touch".

Anybody know?

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

38. What a wonderful story

What a wonderful man.