Obama reassures ministers he's still on their side

July 25, 2006

BY MARY MITCHELL SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Sen. Barack Obama's private breakfast meeting with a group of local ministers on Monday morning showed why a lot of people are hoping the freshman senator will seek a higher office sooner rather than later. His ability to feel comfortable in any setting, and to put others at ease while wading through the muck of partisan politics, has made Obama an attractive candidate to a broad base of voters.

Yet, Obama knows it's important to assure his base that they haven't been left behind -- that his broad appeal won't rob them of an advocate in Washington.

He also senses that this is the right time to preach his style of black empowerment.

Powerful clergymen crossed denominational as well as geographical boundaries to hear Obama's comments. Among them were the Revs. Clay Evans, Leon Finney, Mildred Harris, Willie Barrow, Tyrone Crider, Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright, Al Sampson, Michael Pfleger and Bishops Larry Trotter and Claude Porter, founder of the Proviso-Leyden for Community Action Inc.

Behind a partially drawn curtain, a catering crew -- stopping their work temporarily -- leaned on a wall and focused their attention on Obama, despite only being able to see his back.

More than hollow call for unity

The Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, which hosted the breakfast, is located in the heart of the development taking place along Washington Avenue. And while elected officials were absent, Obama -- who lost his first try for national office when he was trounced by U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush in the 2000 primary -- knows firsthand that while ugly rhetoric ceases almost immediately after a tough election, it takes a lot longer for the wounds to heal.

His appearance will probably do more to bring the West Side and South Side leaders back together than hollow calls for unity, since some elected officials are still reeling from the controversial selection process used to replace Cook County Board President John H. Stroger on the November ballot.

"I'm firmly convinced we cannot accomplish the goals that we hear about in the newspaper every day if the church and organizations aren't mobilizing around that agenda," Obama said. "If parents inside the pews don't feel invested in their child's education, those children will not be educated."

Although rumors are running rampant in Washington he is planning to run for the White House in 2008, his presence in the basement of a West Side church assured this crowd that while such rumors are "flattering," he still has a lot of work to do.

Sticking to a political ideology that puts him a lot closer to the center than some liberals would like, Obama touched upon the issues that black churches are uniquely equipped to tackle. For instance, he suggested that the alliance of ministers could approach companies like FedEx and offer to sponsor ex-felons for employment.

"Sponsor them and train them," he said. "Maybe we could get some government money to the churches to help with the training system."

Focus on economics

While holding government accountable for its role in the dynamics that created stressed urban cores like Chicago's West and South sides, Obama is clear that African Americans must organize around the issues that impact their communities the most.

"In 14 years of marriage, my wife and I have never argued over two gay men," Obama said, sharing how he reconciled his position on the proposed anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment (he doesn't support it) with his religious beliefs.

The church's focus has to be economic development, Obama said, acknowledging that he may have stepped on a few toes when he pointed out that more and more churches are raising money to build bigger churches.

"All the assets of all the churches represented in this room is about $100 million," he said. "I know most of the money gets spent on big churches and that is all good. But I also was thinking that if we just put one-tenth, a tithe, into a fund -- you wouldn't have to touch the capital -- you'd have a revolving fund to help finance businesses within your own church.

"Sometimes I hear people complaining about, 'Why are these people opening up stores in our community?' It's because they pool their resources to buy the equipment. But we've got more assets in this room and we don't use it. That doesn't make much sense," Obama said.

An honest report card

With a schedule that keeps him in constant motion (he's planning to visit five African countries next month), he let the ministers know his organizing days were over.

"That's a young man's job," He said. "What we can do is respond to ideas and initiatives. I can help make it happen."

That's how it ought to be, some said.

"If every elected official would do what this man did today -- be honest -- and come back and give the neighborhood a report card," said Trotter, pastor of Sweet Holy Church, "I think we could rebuild the village."