Obama's 'Kennedy' note

Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009 1:45 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Barack Obama

From NBC's John Yang

There was just a cute moment in President Obama's town hall meeting in Green Bay.

A man stood to ask a question and said he had his 10-year-old daughter with him and she was skipping her last day at school to be there.

"I hope she doesn't get in trouble," the man said.

"Does she need me to write a note?" the president asked. "No, I'm serious."

The president asked the girl's name -- Kennedy.

"That's a cool name," the president said, then wrote a note on the lectern, stepped down into the audience and delivered the note to the girl.

*** UPDATE *** Here's the text of the note the president wrote: "To Kennedy's teacher: Please excuse Kennedy's absence... She's with me." (signed Barack Obama)

EMAIL THIS

Comments

There's no other like President Obama. One of a kind stand up guy.

Louis J (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 1:51 PM)

From NBC's John Yang
There was just a cute moment in President Obama's town hall meeting in Green Bay.

The president asked the girl's name -- Kennedy.

"That's a cool name," the president said, then wrote a note on the lectern, stepped down into the audience and delivered the note to the girl.

-------------------------------------------
Cool....:-)

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 1:54 PM)

I saw that. Quite a keepsake for her, the President of the US writing an excuse to the teacher.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 1:55 PM)

Awwwwww, the messiah touched a pupil.

Cicero (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 1:55 PM)

How can anyone not like this President? You may not agree with his policies but as a man.... Classy, funny and wicked smart(said with a boston accent)

greg chicago (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:01 PM)

Will she be able to bring the telepromptor to her teacher for proof?

I sure BoBo has hundreds of them to spare!

BoBo the Prez (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:02 PM)

And this is news worthy because of why?

MB, Valpo (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:05 PM)

Awwwwwww - definite Kodak moment! For me it's nice to have a Pres out among the people. I always got the feeling Shrub didn't know how to talk to people. Or do lots of other human things!

cindy, las vegas,nv (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:06 PM)

Awesome! A note from the president for school! I need one for work too! (But I wasn't there).

Jealous Adult, USA (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:07 PM)

I'm so thankful we have a president that cares about children, unlike that evil GWB/Cheney who detested them and probably ate them for breakfast. What will be really funny is if Dave Letterman makes a joke tonight about Obama knocking her up.

N. Pelosi, Wash.DC (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:09 PM)

What can be said,the guy at the front of the class,is a class act.I'm sure the little girl will never forget the time she got to see Obama.Heres one for the fr staff.C.L.A.S.S. Caring,Likable,Assuring,Serious,Sensible.

jesse St Paul MN (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:10 PM)

I am sorry, I am a (mostly) liberal kinda guy, but this just reeks of photo op to me. Sorry. I hope I am wrong, but man.....

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:15 PM)

Did Obie use a crayon to write the note and if so, what color?

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:18 PM)

Oh please......I wonder how long it took David Axlerod to come up with that one.

J. Merle Stanley Westchester, NY (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:20 PM)

Oh, priceless!! I get teary-eyed whenever the President goes out of his way to get involved with mainstream America!! I believe that was one of the reasons we all voted for him and the "Change" he brings to this country.

As for as the 10-year old, she has a keepsake for life!

Andrea Tezino, Yorba LInda, CA (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:20 PM)

Now, I really see why there will not be civil discourse in this country. If this small note or conversation turns into Messiah -vs- Evil G.W., you people deserve to eat each other alive. Have at it...have fun! Too bad the loud mouths will always have the upper hand because the middle is being manipulated. We could've had such a peaceful country with all the different races, cultures, opinions, and etc.. It's SO sad when the middle majority is being led by loons on both sides.

Doles, Miami, FL (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:20 PM)

What a nice memory for the child.

The President has class!

As for you whining wing nuts, see if Rush will write you a note to get you out of being a citizen.

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:28 PM)

Doles from Miami--you are exactly right. When I read this I was predicting the comments from both sides and they fell pretty much in line. But if you read over the comments above, for the most part the Obama supporters leave Bush out of it and the detractors say the predictable--like the teleprompter, etc.

Why can't we just enjoy a nice moment that a little girl will always remember?

Go Penguins

Steeler Fan Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:37 PM)

Wow - this ten year old girl will be able to save this note and show it to her grandchilden.

She can tell them, "This is the guy who destroyed the greatest country in the world"
"This is the guy that made America a Socialist Country"

What a proud moment that would be.

Or, she can sell it on Ebay!!!

BoBo the Prez (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:37 PM)

It appears this post has been highjacked.

Funny how that always seems to happen ONLY on the POSITIVE PRESIDENT POSTS.

Linda, Montgomery, AL (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:39 PM)

This just sends chills up my leg

What a guy our Prez is.

We dont need healthcare - All we have to do is touch the sleeve of his shirt - Or maybe touch Michelle's $500 shoes/

BoBo the Prez (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:39 PM)

So nice to have humor back in the Presidency. In the past years 8 years, it was always at someone's expense.

BrianC, Longmeadow MA (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:50 PM)

This was obviously pre-planned, a photo-op. O just happened to have pen and paper at the lectern....oh, give me a break. This man is no dummy, he knows how to play a crowd/audience.

Lelia (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:51 PM)

I wondered when this was happening if Bush and McCain could write the excuse note, listen to the question and answer it back in detail all at the same time. I don't think either McCain or Bush could even walk and chew gum at the same time.

sonya, atlanta, ga (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:54 PM)

I wonder:

To those of you who would posit that the impromptu moment was "calculated," or that the girl might consider the note as "a keepsake from the man who ruined America," I would like to know the comparable value of such a note from Cantor, or Boehner - on Ebay, or otherwise.

Please.

gregb, Nampa, ID (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:00 PM)

You have those hating on the President as if this stunt was a ploy... Please!!! Obama has always been about the people. You're talking about the head of Harvard Law Review. Graduating with flying colors... Able to get any corporate law job in America, but chose rather to be a community organizer, working for about $16,000 per year.

C'mon now... This at the time having no idea he'd shoot to prominence, and definitely with no idea he'd become president.

This was most certainly a sincere, authentic moment...

Droppin' Science, Miami, Fl (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:09 PM)

Priceless moment! In the midst of all the mess the world is confronting, sweet moments like that just make me smile. Bless you, Mr. President. Love to all!

JJ Young, Cary, NC (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:19 PM)

I must say that I am disappointed msnbc does not cover these town hall meetings live. cnn does!so
proud of our president, taking questions from real
people and we get to hear what he thinks , instead
of these stupid sound bites

sophie, columbus ne (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:27 PM)

The kid and her father would have been screened out of attendance if GWB was still around. President Obama is a good guy in addition to his many other positives.

Reno Will (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:28 PM)

What a wonderful thing to do for that little girl. This President is so personable.

I wonder if his predecessor would have done that? Oops I forgot, he would have to learn to write more than just his name. I wonder which color crayon li'l Georgie would have used. Oh well, too late, we'll never know.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:29 PM)

I would loved to have gotten a note from my president. Pres. Obama is a genuine man who does care about the people of this country.

Kathy, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:34 PM)

Did anyone here notice the main point? I don't think so.

It was not simply being very kind and personal in writing an impromptu excuse note for a 10-year girl.

He completely absorbed the entire extensive question from the questioner and prepared a full answer in his head while simultaneously writing the not-so-short note. This man is a multi-task wizard.

DrToketee (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:34 PM)

gregb, Nampa, ID (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:00 PM)

I can't resist . . . I note from Cantor or Boehner that said something other than NO or didn't bash President Obama would be priceless! It might even be considered miracle by some.

Chris - IL (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 4:00 PM)

Hopefully her teacher isn't a rush listener! That girl could find herself being expelled from school for being a socialist.

Chris - IL (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 4:04 PM)

Funny, classy, and way cool!

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 4:05 PM)

The press is enough to make you throw up. When will they begin taking their self proclaimed role as critical and suspicious of government and stop being part of his team? Obama spent 20 years learning from Rev Wright how to BS dummies and now he has become a modern day Elmer Gantry. These puff pieces are unbelievable!

Paul (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 4:07 PM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1961835