In a wordy, form letter, with no mention of Amazon, President Obama replied to Steve Fischer, executive director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association, last weekend. He, or more likely a staffer, used the letter to highlight Obama's commitment to job creation and particularly to helping small businesses, hit hard by the economic recession, grow. In closing, he noted, “I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure America remains the best place on Earth to turn a great idea into a successful business.”

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