From a Story in the New York Times

“The White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said Mr. Obama 'believes it’s easy in Washington to forget there are real people with real challenges being affected by the debate.' Mr. Emanuel added that he had seen the president turn to policy advisers in meetings and say, 'No, no, no. I want to read you a letter that I got. I want you to understand.'”

President Obama has a staff member, Mike Kelleher, select 10 letters from the public each morning to help him better understand the concerns, the frustrations and the pains of the American people.

“We pick messages that are compelling, things people say that, when you read it, you get a chill,” said Mr. Kelleher, 47. “I send him letters that are uncomfortable messages.”