President Obama, in a rare presidential letter set for auction this week, pushed back at a citizen-critic on Obamacare, calling it important for the nation but not a “smart political thing!”
On two cards, and written by hand in black ink, Obama also challenged “Mr. Ritter” on charges that he targeted and made fun of Tea Party members and organizations.
“I do have to challenge you, though, on the notion that any citizen that disagrees with me has been ‘targeted and ridiculed’, or that I have ‘made fun’ of tea-baggers. I think a fair reading is that I have gone out of my way to listen to legitimate criticism, and defend strongly the right of everyone to speak their mind — including those who routinely call me ‘socialist’ or worse,” the president wrote in the unusually long note.
It is not dated, but the auction firm, Nate D. Sanders of Los Angeles, said it was written in 2013.
The online auction ends Thursday and the bidding begins at $11,000. Auctioneers of Americana said that few Obama letters of significance have come into the market, helping to push the prices high.
From the auction site:
Sanders said that the letter includes a matching White House envelope.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
