Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Saturday night, Barack Obama was at a fundraiser in Chicago, but earlier during an appearance in Indiana he talked about the controversial statements made by a Chicago pastor.

CBS 2 was not allowed inside Saturday's fundraising reception at Gallery 1028, about a half mile west of Chicago's Cabrini-Green public housing complex, but was told it was a packed house inside; those attending the event say Barack Obama was energetic, and did respond to reports about some of Jeremiah Wright's sermons.

We're told Obama reiterated he does not agree with the statements that have come up in news reports over the last couple of days.

Hundreds of people braced themselves against the bitterly cold winds Saturday to attend the $200-a-head event, waiting to hear from presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

After talking about the challenges facing the country -- a war that has lasted "longer than World War II," "an economy (that) is in shambles," the senator talked about what will face him and the country, after the election.

"This was never going to be easy. We are fighting the status quo in Washington, D.C., and that includes the Democratic Party," he said.

Fighting against that, he continued, is "good practice" for what the Republicans will hit him with in the fall campaign.

Obama segued from that to racial conflict, using as the connector the
line that "our politics has been organized fear." He said Geraldine Ferraro "represents a history. She was speaking from a perspective of how things were in the 50s and 60s."

Similarly, he said his retired pastor, Jeremiah Wright, Jr., "remembers" the struggles of the past."We're going to be wrestling with those demons," Obama said.

The public has heard strong comments made by Obama's pastor on race, America and the September 11th attacks. And some are speaking out on their views:

"I don't think that Senator Obama should be held accountable for what Jeremiah Wright says," said Alicia Wicks, an Obama supporter. "Reverend Wright has been an African-American outspoken minister for years and years and years."

"I've been to Jeremiah's church many times, I'm Catholic myself, but I've been to his church many times," Obama supporter Pat White, said "He's a very outspoken person. He has sound, strong opinions, but they're his opinions. And he says what's on his mind. And I'm hopeful, in the government we are going to have, people who say what they think."

Earlier Saturday, Obama addressed his pastor's words for thousands in the gym at a high school in Plainfield, Ind., saying Americans must move beyond a sense of mistrust.

"Most recently, you've heard some statements from my former pastor that were incendiary and that I completely reject," Obama said. "If all I knew was those statements on television, I would be shocked. And it reminds me that we've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country. We've got a lot of pent up anger and bitterness and misunderstanding."

Locals seem to agree. But they expect Obama to be able to move beyond what they call negative press.

"I suppose some people will listen to it, and I think the candidates have to be tested in some way and this is just part of rough and tumble politics," said Obama supporter Frank Kulle.

Part of that rough and tumble situation includes questions over Obama's dealings with indicted developer Tony Rezko. Obama has told the Sun-Time he still considers Rezko a friend, bu that he'll be disappointed if allegations against him are true.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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