President-elect Obama’s former Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright said he is proud of Barack Obama for having risen to the highest office of the land. He said that Obama was in his ministry for 20 years, adding that his is the only black church in the country to produce a president.
It may be recalled that Rev. Wright had a ‘cooling-off’ with the President-elect during the presidential campaign after a fierce fight with the media on issues about politics and religion.
ABC News: ‘In a sermon today, at Howard University’s chapel in Washington, Wright used Obama’s life as an example to show how despite challenges, as a nation, the country can build a better future.
He was able to do what nobody of African decent was ever able to do in 211-year history… The Lord stepped into his story and gave him a new attitude’, he said
It was a completely different scene from Wright’s defiant appearance at the National Press Club in April. Gone was any hint of anger directed at Obama for denouncing his more controversial sermons and statements, which became fodder for Obama’s critics during the presidential campaign.
During his head-on confrontation with the media last year particularly his ‘word war’ with a popular newspaper, he said, referring to the media at that time, ‘They were arrogant, they were evil, they were devious and I responded in kind. Wright said. ‘I just talked to you about the 500-year tradition but you don’t ask me one question about that because that’s not your interest, your interest is to taint Barack Obama. So no, I am not going to be conservative, I am not going to kiss any body’s behind and I’m standing up straight you can’t ride on my back’.
During the presidential campaign, Rev. Wright refrained from throwing in his support for Obama. In his recent statements though, it appeared that he is saying good things about Obama himself and his struggle to serve the people with his presidency. In his latest sermon before the mostly black congregation, he told them that they could draw strength from Obama’s story to change their own lives adding that Obama had overcome great obstacles in his rise to presidency.
In his recent sermon, he was well received and given standing ovation by the congregation particularly when he jokingly said ‘Michelle Obama will be the first black woman to sleep in the White House legally’
Rev. Wright appeared to be popular as ever as hundreds of people rushed to him after his emotional sermon, wanting to shake his hand with more wanting to be photographed with him.