Legal Commentary

Obama sends his praise for efforts on behalf of health care reform

By Jim Lindgren

This afternoon my conversation with a law student friend of my daughter?s was interrupted by a robocall to his cell phone pushing Obama?s health care bill.

Then, after reading Ann Althouse, I noticed that, like Ann, I had received an email of praise ? directly from President Barack Obama himself ? thanking me for my efforts on behalf of health reform.

James ?

I wanted to take a moment to thank you directly for the outstanding work you?ve been doing as part of Organizing for America?s Final March for Reform. I can tell you that your voice is heard in Washington every day. I see how your efforts are moving us toward victory.

But I also know that with just days remaining, the final vote is shaping up to be extremely close. Everything we?ve worked for is on the line, and your voice is needed now more than ever before. . . .

So please take a moment to remember those who inspire you ? those who give you the strength to march on.

There?s very little time left, and still much to do. But I believe to my core in the power of Americans to change history when we put our mind to it. And if you?ll stay with us in these final days, I know we can do it again:

http://my.barackobama.com/speakout

Thank you for making it possible,

President Barack Obama

For many reasons, I was kind of surprised. And (except for Obama?s response to some of my criticisms of his service programs at Columbia in Sept. 2008) I didn?t know that he or his staff read my posts on the Volokh Conspiracy.

I guess getting this email is a little like a young George Bailey being proud of being a member of the National Geographic Society.

I must say that I find the phrase ?Final March? a bit ominous, sort of a combination of the more common phrases ?Death March? and ?Final Solution.?

You might want to read Ann?s cheerful take on her missive from her good friend Barack.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on March 18, 2010 (boomark / email).