Millions of Americans received them. Lots of them. Those overly familiar emails signed “Barack” or “Joe” asking for just $3 or $5. Many were inspired to donate to the Obama campaign.
But one student at the University of Pennsylvania was inspired in another way. He wrote back. Love letters.
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When Dylan Hansen-Fliedner received an email signed by “Barack” asking for help with the great challenges that lay ahead, the 20-year-old sought to reassure the president of his support: “writing this letter makes me run out of words..i love you so much that i dont know how to express it anymore..”
In response to a missive signed by first lady Michelle Obama, he wrote: “Dear Michelle, You existing makes me want to crawl under a rock. Your beauty undoes everything else—the sun dims and my childhood memories become less idyllic.”
And when Vice President Joe Biden – or “Joe” — emailed after his debate with Paul Ryan, Hansen-Fliedner wrote back: “I felt your pale eyes were telling something to me beyond words. My brain says it is just a delusion where you meant to convey nothing. My heart says there is definitely something in your heart which is not letting go of me.”
The collected writings – more than a hundred letters – are reminiscent of the viral “Texts from Hillary” meme, but in prose.
