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07.03.2008 4:52 pm

UPDATED: Obama to speak here this weekend at African Methodist Episcopal conference

Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign has confirmed that the senator will be making an appearance at the African Methodist Episcopal church conference in Saturday.

Obama will make an afternoon address to the AME conference at the America’s Center. The speech is NOT open to the public.

Both Obama and Sen. John McCain were invited by the church to speak at the national gathering of AME leaders and laypeople. The AME is a predominantly black church, but it does have small groups of white and Hispanic members, as well as some members in India.

Obama’s presence is particularly interesting given the controversy during the primary season over his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Wright, though not an AME minister, is a leader in black theology circles.

Obama drew criticism from Wright and some others when he distanced himself from his long-time church after clips of a few inflammatory remarks made a national news splash. Obama said that some of Wright’s remarks, which criticized the U.S. over various issues, didn’t conform to Obama’s own faith and view of his country.

Again, Obama’s speech is not open to the public, but downtown activities this weekend ought to be drawing a lot of traffic (the Cards-Cubs game starts at 2:55 p.m.) so keep that in mind.

UPDATE FROM JO MANNIES:

Here’s more details, provided at a Thursday night press conference held by church leaders:

Close to 30,000 leaders of the historically black denomination are attending its 48th quadrennial session of the General Conference, which begins today at the America’s Center.

Obama will first meet privately with church bishops before addressing the convention, said Bishop Philip R. Cousin Sr., head of the church’s 4th District, which includes Chicago, Obama’s hometown.

Cousin and other church leaders said that they had issued a similar invitation to John McCain, the Republican presumptive presidential nominee, to address the convention. McCain’s campaign did not respond, said the conference chairperson, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie.

14 comments

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I dont care what any ignorant people say about obama, he is going to make a difference in our country and is making a difference right now as we speak. Now to those who said he reminds you of bush you all have to be out of your mind like seriously what are you thinking bush has driven this country into the depths of hell and obama will bring back to the gates of heaven. Also just to let you all know obama tore the house down at the conference and I support him 200%.

— kevin
1:18 am July 6th, 2008

D Walker…and others…why do you keep making vile comments about a good man? You already have had almost eight years of incompetence from those who fan, and agree, with your prejudices. I was raised in the United Church Of Christ, although not comfirmed in ANY religion. That church does a lot of good works, and believe me, you would be dealing with those who have the least in an entirely different way if not for the good done by that church. Do a search on the truth about trinity and read Moyer’s interview with Rev Wright. It will educate you about many religions and what he was trying to say.

We DO know Obama, as much as we know any candidate. I prefer a candidate who has a history of good public works instead of getting a wealthy father-in-law to get him into politics. We always have those who say they want change, then when they have a chance of getting it, prefer to get caught up in carefully orchestrated sound bites designed to fool their sorry butts yet again. You deserve what you get some of you!

Adam, even you seem to be stirring that sorry old Rev Wright pot again by the way you worded this blurb today. The media has gone all out in theis election to fan the flames of ignorance and fear. You are reporting stories half-assed before you even get the facts like the Entertainment Tonight folks do. Shame on ya!

Go on Obama’s site and read his foreign policy plans and economic plans, etc. If your prejudices won’t let you vote for him, at least use his ideas to push your white, wealthy male candidates to do better for you. I don’t see how you can look your kids and grandkids in the eyes if you don’t. It is beyond me why anyone can defend the party that took this country down even further lately at YOUR expense, and with increased profits for THEM. Wise up…

— Slugger
10:36 am July 6th, 2008

Leave it to the conservative ones who don’t want change to harp on their agendas while not noticing the many smart NEEDED TO BE SAID things Obama said. Useless fighting fools who let young women do their fighting for them!

— Pia
11:45 am July 6th, 2008

Slugger,

I was not making vile remarks about Rev. Wright. I was saying that these types think these things, not I, but particularily types such as Adam Jadhav.

— D. Walker
2:00 am July 8th, 2008

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