Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Obama signs note for girl who played hooky to see him

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-12 10:42

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin  – A visit to see the president of the United States is probably the best excuse in the world to skip school, especially if he then personally writes your teacher a note.

US President Barack Obama hands out a hand written excuse to a school girl for her teacher during a town hall meeting at the Southwest High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The girl's father said she was missing class at school to attend the meeting and Obama obliged by writing a note of absence. [Agencies]

US President Barack Obama, who has two girls, swiftly sought to help a fellow dad out of a dilemma when he discovered John Corpus had brought his daughter to see him at a public meeting in Wisconsin, instead of taking her to school.

"I am fortunate enough to be here with my 10-year-old daughter, who is missing her last day of school for this. I hope she doesn't get in trouble," Corpus told the president.

"Oh, no," replied Obama, all ears.

"Yes," came the reply.

"Do you need me to write a note?" asked the president.

"I'll take you up on that, actually, Mr. President."

"All right. Go ahead. I'll start writing it now," replied Obama. "What's her name?"

"John Corpus," replied the startled father. "No, her," Obama corrected him.

Corpus then tried to pose his question at the town hall meeting in Green Bay, when Obama interrupted him, saying "No, no, I'm serious. What's your daughter's name?"

"Her name is Kennedy," the bemused Corpus said. "Kennedy. All right. That's a cool name," replied Obama.

A few minutes later Kennedy made her way through the crowd to receive her note from Obama written as the president was listening to her father's question about healthcare reform.