Obama Writes Note For Fourth Grader Playing Hooky To Attend Town Hall

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Ten-year-old Kennedy Corpus has a rock-solid excuse for missing the last day of school: a personal note to her teacher from President Barack Obama.

Her father, John Corpus of Green Bay, stood to ask Obama about health care during the president's town hall-style meeting at Southwest High School on Thursday. He told Obama that his daughter was missing school to attend the event and that he hoped she didn't get in trouble.

"Do you need me to write a note?" Obama asked. The crowd laughed, but the president was serious.

On a piece of paper, he wrote: "To Kennedy's teacher: Please excuse Kennedy's absence. She's with me. Barack Obama." He stepped off the stage to hand-deliver the note _ to Kennedy's surprise.

"I thought he was joking until he started walking down," Kennedy said after the event, showing off the note in front of a bank of television cameras. "It was like the best thing ever."

The fourth-grader at Aldo Leopold elementary in Green Bay already knew what she was going to do with the note: frame it along with her ticket to the event. She said she'd make a copy for her teacher.

Kennedy said she had never seen Obama before. "He's really nice," she said.

Comments

[Raiseup151z]

Where is the video?!?!

[tisfilm]

Go check on Youtube.com

[Raiseup151z]

yea thanks for all your help buddy. I am new to the Internets.

[tisfilm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7loZNL4U6c

[Raiseup151z]

Thanks I appreciate it.

[dollyfedup]

I love the comment he made about people on the other side viewing him as the boogeyman. As a black woman, I knew exactly what he was talking about. You see white people view black people (black men in particular) as scary and someone to be afraid of. I was shocked and happy to hear him say that. These people treat him like we should all be scared and afraid of what this black man is going to do to our country. I can imagine the private conversations he and his wife have, given all the crap they have to go through. I couldn't believe that there were some white women on Hannity blaming Obama for not defending palin and Cindy McCain for how they were treated during the campaign. No one paid any attention to Cindy and Palin brought her problems on herself and she was the one doing the attacking and inciting violence against Obama. I was appalled by this sense of white female priviledge and entitlement that these women displayed on Hannity tonight.

[Michigan-Woman]

Please don't lump all white people in a group.

I'm white and don't think or feel what you have stated.

If all white folks felt the way you think they do, Sen. Obama would not have been elected as our wonderful President.

All skin colors voted for this man because they trusted and believed in him.

I know I made the right choice!

[dontpanic1]

Its good to hear this. Black folks dont assume all white folks act that way, its just that we get looks and reactions from some on a pretty regular basis.

If I could say one thing to white people it would be, WE ARE JUST LIKE YOU. We have dreams and aspirations. We hate stupidity, and wish people wouldnt litter. We want our children to do well in school. We take pride in what we work hard to get. We live in suburbs, buy organic food, graduate from college, etc., etc., etc.... We have knucklehead relatives just like you do. Our Ghetto cousins are the same as your Trailerpark cousins. All it takes is to get to know someone to break down all the bad feelings you may have.

I often see that fear-flash when my husband sits down beside a white woman on the train. I'm more surprised when they dont pay him any attention. Now, THATS PROGRESS! : )

[yasmeen]

notice he signed it BO not prez BO......MO­DEST

[dollyfedup]

We have the most adorable, charming President! That was so funny when he did that.

[Zenith1959]

What a nice humanistic touch. I also see that girl as a 65 year old lady having that note appraised on Antiques Roadshow. There was also that other lady who asked him to autograph the picture of him holding her baby on the campaign trail.

[yasmeen]

he said he remembered her baby.

[globalcitizenlinda]

i definitely admire President Obama's humanity - these small gestures mean a lot and reveal alot about the character of a person

[Poyda]

Spot on. We can all do things like this, and they cost nothing! The President is 'just like me' WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW I WOULD LIKE TO BE.

[Chicago48]

He knows his autograph is a down payment toward a college education.

[lmvd3]

That is so cool. Way to go, Mr. President.

[fiorastar]

All that stuff from the Rightie tighties about Obama being a "celebrity" and "elitist" during the campaign..­.President Obama is so unaffected by celebrity--he's the REAL "Joe American".

[bunny6269]

I know this will sound silly, but that made me tear up. I am so grateful we, for once, have a HUMAN president.

[Poyda]

me too. moral beauty makes me weep like a baby.

[hedgewytch]

Ain't it great to have a President with class?

[Soapfan]

Hella Kewl!

[klondiker]

What a great story!!!

[Notapathetic]

How cool is it to have a President with a personality? His love for life is so obvious. How the right wing "base" (actually only a loud 10% of the electorate) can despise him is mind-boggling.

[grata2ude]

That young lady will remember this all her life.

[philistine]

So will I.

I like our new President, especially in light of his predecessor.

[jazzybo]

Ya gotta love O! What a caring man.This little girl will never forget this! Makes your day to read something like this! :)

[wintoday]

.President Obama is the single most impressive man I have witnessed in my adult lifetime. President Obama brings a calm that helps people to banish fear and give them strength for the journey

[KayDGee]

Well said. And AGREED! He's the right man in the right time for a tough job .

[Matt Taylor]

Right on wintoday! I never thought in my life I would experience the kind of affection for a public leader like I've only ever read about. I thought it was too late. That era had passed. I was wrong. Thank God.

[yasmeen]

you meant to say "for the first time, in my adult life, i am impressed by a man" lol