Best,
Laura A. King, Ph.D.
Columbia, MO
February 1, 2010
Pres. Barack Obama
1600 Pensylvania Avenue NW
Washington D.C. 20500
Mr. President:
I operate a small weekly newspaper in Espanola, NM. You visited here in September 2008 when campaigning.
The Rio Grande Sun was started by my parents in 1956. I don’t need to tell you the state of newspapers today. It’s hard out there for an editor.
My largest expense is payroll. The next is printing. The third is health care.
I have cut other expenses or not replaced employees who have left on their own to avoid layoffs. I will go into reserves to avoid layoffs. Not many newspapers have that luxury.
I have cut pages and “tightened” the newspaper to lower printing costs.
Health care I can do nothing about. I pay all of the premium for my 13 full-time employees. I also pay their deductible and share in their costs to meet the maximum out-of-pocket expenses.
There are two employees on thyroid medication. They both require quarterly blood tests. Insurance doesn’t cover the tests. I pay for them. Last year I paid $204 per month, per person. With minimal small insurance claims and no major claims, my rates went up 35 percent this year.
Instead of paying the ransom, I dropped to a plan with a higher deductible, which I will again pay. The employees will have the same coverage. My gamble is that no one will have a catastrophic event and force me to pay the $4,000 deductible. This is how I deal with health insurance.
I did some calculations regarding my old health plan of 1995 when I received my renewal notice last month. In 1995 I paid $112 per person for a great plan: low copay, no deductible, $15 prescription card. That plan today would cost me over $600 per person.
Mr. President, please keep fighting the lobbyists and business-owned right that does not want real reform in this country. Little people like me need you advocating for common sense. Health care reform must happen if we’re to move forward as a country.
Sincerely;
Robert B. Trapp
Managing Editor
E-Mail Viewer
Dear Mr. President
I wrote you and email a few months ago about the health care bill and how I support of what you are doing and ask if congress could please act faster on this bill. I wrote this letter on behalf of my girlfriend Jana Smith On March 18 2010 Jana passed away. Jana had some medical problem. She could not afford to go to the doctors and was waiting to see what would happen with the health care bill. She knew Mr. President that you were working on this so all American could receive this much needed health care. I Know that this cannot help My Jana now but I just wanted you to know that We support everything you were doing. Thank you Mr. President. I am Retired from the Military and I help Jana through what she was going through. We were going to get married I am very lost right now but I just wanted you to know from me that I want you to keep the great work that you are doing for all American.
Thank you for listen to me
SSGT Robert J Doran
U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Gilbertsville
Kentucky
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Robert—
Thank you for your letter. My heart goes out to you for the loss of Jana; but because of the support of people like her, we passed health care reform and can hopefully prevent such hardship for others.
Also, thanks for your service to our country.
God Bless,
Barack Obama
Mr. Robert Doran
Berkley Michigan
1/3/2010 6:14:28 PM
Desert Hot Springs, California
The unemployment rate in Riverside County, CA, the county in which I live, is over 30%. There are no jobs in sight. Are you going to keep even one campaign promise upon which you built your presidency? I worked for you, I contributed to you and what do I get in return: I’m out of work, I get no cost of living increase on Social Security, and you are going to pay for the new health insurance plan by cutting my Medicare.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully,
Eileen M. Garrish
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Eileen—
I got your note and wanted to respond.
The day I walked into office, I inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And after a very tough year, we have begun to turn the corner, with the economy growing again.
That may be little consolation to you and others that are out of work, and I won’t be satisfied until jobs are being created in Riverside and across the country.
Having said that, I do want to challenge the notion that I haven’t kept my campaign promises, or that I have weakened Social Security or Medicare. The existing Social Security formula didn’t provide a cost of living increase because prices/inflation went down this year. Nevertheless, I ordered a $250 stimulus check to seniors that made up for it. And contrary to what the Republicans have said, health care reform does not cut Medicare benefits!
Best wishes,
Barack Obama
January 8th, 2010
Dear Barack Obama,
Hi my name is Rebecca —. I am 16 years old, I will be 17 in March, I live in Florida.
I am also in DCF care, which is Foster care. I have been in Foster care ever since I was 2 years old. I have 3 sisters too. The 2 younger ones names and ages are, B—, she is 15 and J—, she will be 13 on January 10th 2010. My older sister ____ is 23 years old.
When I turned 6 years old I found a family that wanted to adopt me and my three sisters, so when I turned 7 years old we all was adopted by the —. It was a ladie named J— and a man named D—. Let me tell you a little about them, well I wanted to start a new life so I thought D— and J— could be the one’s that would help me start that new life but, I guess I thought wrong, because D— ended up physically and sexually abusing me, and J— had physically abused me. J— also new about what D— did to me and she would tell him not to take it too far or don’t get caught. I also told D— and J— parents and they told me that they would never do anything like that. I wouldn’t tell my little sisters what was going on because they were too young at the time. they wouldn’t understand. So I wen’t to my older sister and told her what was going on, so that night she called the police and the police came to the house that night and took me away and interviewed me, then I was thrown into Foster care. My little sisters were bribed by the T— to stay, so they did. Then D— was arrested over night, then released the next day, and nothing happened to J—. So I wen’t on through life with every one thinking that im a liar. When I left the — house they wouldn’t allow me to talk or see my sisters, so I ended up getting locked up, smoking weed, and drinking liqour, and running away. Then the last time I was locked up which was when I was 16 years old, I told my caseworker that I need help and that I can’t keep living this life, so she recommended ——— @ ——. My second day at — I ended up attempting to runaway with another camper. We ended up getting caught, so they brought us back to — ever sense that day I was a whole new person.
Now it is my 6th month here and I am a whole new person. I am a role model/leader now. During my 3 month here I found out that the samething that happened to me happened to them. They was then put in Foster home with a nice older lady. I have visits and weekley phone calls with them. D— is locked up in prison. We don’t know how much time he has yet, but I do know that J—has 2 years of probation. So now I am back in contact with my sisters and I am trying to get in contact with my biological parents, but the only problem is that my biological parents droped there right towards us, so now they
are struggeling getting visitations with me.
I am so happy with myself I never new I could be who I am today. Thanks to — when I finish Highschool I want to go to college for social services to be a case worker to work with other foster kids.
I am so happy to have a president like you. you have already changed alot. I had wrote a letter to George Bush when I was younger, but I think one of the people that works for him wrote me back. I hope that didn’t happen. So can you please write me back and please send pictures to me.
Thanks alot
Sincerely, Rebecca
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Rebecca—
Thanks for the moving letter. I am inspired by your courage, and am sure you will succeed if you keep at it.
Best of luck!
Barack Obama
Miss Rebecca
November 18, 2012
Dear President Obama—
My name is Chana Sangkagalo. I came to the United States of America from Northeastern Thailand in November of 1988. I remember it being Thanksgiving.
The reason I came to America is because it is a land of opportunity. The United States is known as a country where one can begin with nothing and build it into whatever he wishes and can afford. One’s destiny is not pre-determined in the United States—you have the right to become whatever and whoever you wish. You work hard for opportunities for a better life. Hard work and determination can get you much farther in this country than anywhere else in the world—as long as you are working hard enough to do so. I began my work here at Burger King in Rhode Island. Through the years and with education I was able to develop my creativity and open my very own hair salon. I am a successful small business owner in this great country. I am a United States citizen. I have much to be thankful for.
The reason that the United States needs a constant flow of immigrants is because we are the people that have the dream—the desire—the fire inside to do something to better our financial situation. We do not feel entitled to a job or education. We believe in personal responsibility and accountability.
We need new producers in the United States. It’s about new blood—new life—new givers—not takers. If you look back through history you will see how new blood has produced and grown our economy.
Immigrants have one thing in common—we work like crazy. We save our money. We open stores and many other businesses. We do not sit around and complain about this-that and the other thing. We do not feel entitled. We are not takers but producers. We need producers and immigrants like myself that provide production. The reasons that so many immigrants came to America are the same reasons that each and every one of us should feel grateful for—freedom—freedom of religion—to escape poverty and oppression—a better future for our families. In short—opportunity.
So Mr. Obama—I believe that you are a real person with real beliefs. You have patched many of the holes left by your predecessor and you continue to do so. I applaud your re-election. I believe in you and am excited to see what you can accomplish over the next four years.
God bless you Mr. President.
Respectfully—
Chana Sangkagalo
Thailand
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
Dear Mr. President and First Lady,
I want to Thank you for this milestone in my Daughter’s life. Signing the bill and repealing DADT on Sept 20, 2011 changed her life and that of many of her shipmates.
As a parent I know that there isn’t Anything that would stop you from encouraging your daughters to reach for their dreams. Caitlin went to I-Day, not under the Radar and I often feared what would happen to her.
You know what she did? She and 5 others started the Navy Spectrum Club at the Naval Academy! Nowhere near flying under the Radar. They started the club Because of you!! They only had 5 attend but now it’s 2nd largest club at the Academy. She’s my hero and now leaves a legacy at the Naval Academy. She’s off to become a pilot after that.
I just wanted to thank you again on behalf of my daughter, the entire Navy Spectrum Club and parents around this great nation of children who are gay. Thank you for standing up for them.
With much love and gratitude from one parent of an amazing daughter to another parent of two Awesome Daughters I thank you.
Regina Bryant
Gold Star Wife
and mom
to an incredible Daughter!
Go Navy!
I’ve made Caitlin a recipe box as part of her graduation gifts. Enclosed you will find a recipe card. If you have an easy, non-fail vegetable or no-meat recipe, please fill it out and we’ll include it in her surprise. Bring it to graduation or you can mail it to the address below and I’ll add it to her box. You may also email it to — and I will print it out and put it in her box
I know this will be something that she will treasure for years to come.
Caitlin Bryant
c/o R. H. Bryant
Pensacola, Florida.
September 23, 2011
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC. 20500
RE: LETTER BY FEDERAL INMATE JASON HERNANDEZ #07031–078 IN SUPPORT OF HIS PETITION FOR COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE
Dear Mr. President:
Greetings. My name is Jason Hernandez. I am sure you have no idea who I am, and probably wondering why on God’s earth am I writing to you. Well, to summarize it as best as I can I am a 34 year old federal inmate who has served over 14 years on a sentence of life without parole, which I was given for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and other controlled substances. As a result therof, I have filed a Petition for Commutation of Sentence with the Pardon Attorney in hopes you determine there is sufficient cause to grant my request.
As you are aware there has been major support to completely eliminate the disparity between powder cocaine and crack cocaine. But that is not what the substance of this letter is about. I’m not going to sit here and try to downplay the effects crack cocaine or any other drugs have on our nation. I know first hand the distruction drugs cause on people, families, and communities.
Nor will I attest that because I didn’t kill anyone, commit rape, or a crime against a child, that I shouldn’t be in prison for an excessive amount of time. Because the simple truth Mr. President is that I was a drug dealer. And what I didn’t know then that I’ve learned over the years is that it would not be an overstatement to view my crime as equivalent, if not more detrimental, than those just stated. I realize this because I was selling drugs in the community I was born and raised in. I was selling drugs to people I grew up with, most of whom were either friends or family. Everybody I came into contact with I was destroying in one way or another. From the addicts and the families of those addicts, and the individuals I encouraged to sell drugs that ended up losing years of their lives in prison; resulting in parents being without a son, wives without a husband or kids without a father. Now I can see the cycle of destruction that drugs have caused on my neighborhood and those across the United States.
I acknowledge that I deserve to be in prison. For how long? I am in no position to say. I’m sure there are people who could argue either for or against my current sentence of life without parole. What I can say for certain Mr. President is that I am a changed man from that boy who ran those streets over 15–20 years ago. And if I were given a second at life I would not let you, my family, or society down. I would do everything I could to right what I have wronged and try to prevent kids from making the same mistakes I did when I was young.
If you review my Petition for Commutation you will see I have dreams Mr. President, big dreams. And not just dreams of being free, but dreams of becoming someone who is going to make a difference in this world. But to speak of m
y goals as dreams doesn’t do them justice, for I can see everything I want to accomplish and how I am going to accomplish it as clear as day. All I need now is for you to give me a chance to turn those dreams into reality.
I thank you for your time Mr. President, and I hope that after you read my Petition for Commutation you come to the conclusion that I was not a bad person growing up, but a person who made bad decisions.
Sincerly,
Jason Hernandez #07031–078
Federal Correctional Institution
Post Office Box 1500
El Reno, Oklahoma. 73036
Sandy Swanson
Merion Station, PA
August 8, 2012
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20500
Dear President Obama,
I’m writing to tell you about the $15 my family just donated to your 2012 campaign.
It was $15.
That’s really all we could give. My husband is currently a student at Temple University, in the final year of his PhD. Since starting his degree, three years ago, we’ve been living at several hundred percent below the poverty level (I keep forgetting which percent…does it matter?)
But we aren’t complaining. Two healthy daughters—dusty, well-travelled backpacked in the basement—a house full of memories—a future full of hope. We’re the lucky ones.
So—we’re currently “poor on money—rich in life” (as we like to say). It hasn’t always been like this. My husband spent most of his life doing what he loved—playing or coaching basketball. Born in SE Iowa, he was an Academic All-American and once-upon-two-good-knees-ago, the local town hero of his small town—after bringing home the State Championship during his junior year of high school, followed by NJCAA National Championship years later as a coach. Then came a coaching stint in Europe (UK), before returning to the States to coach another small town Division I team. Basketball has been his heart-n-soul; his bread-n-butter for decades. And now, a student again. He hopes to teach one day—to pass on all he’s learned coaching here&abroad. His research focus is on leadership—what makes a leader and that sort of thing. He’s a big fan of yours by the way…as a player, father and president…not necessary in that order.
To Obama Page 9
