Obama Attends Funeral For Friend's Relative In Chicago

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama on Friday attended a funeral for a friend's relative.

The service was for a family member of Eric Whitaker, Illinois' former public health director. Obama's press aides declined to say whose funeral he attended.

Dressed in dark attire, Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived Friday morning at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago. They were inside for almost two hours.

Reporters were not allowed into the service.

Last year Whitaker returned to his alma mater, the University of Chicago, to work on its Urban Health Initiative. Michelle Obama helped to create the program. She has been on leave from her job as a high-level administrator at the University of Chicago Medical Center to help with her husband's presidential campaign.

Barack Obama had no public events scheduled for Friday.

Comments

[Territc]

We don't need to know his every move especially when it is personal - and a funeral at that. There is other news out there.

[BillMelater]

LOL - I cannot believe this reporter could not find out who died. A simple phone call to the church or maybe browsing through the past week's obituaries...

Oh well.

http://billmel8er.wordpress.com

[harriettubman]

Look, the U.S doesn't need to know this man's every move. If he attended Mose's funeral doesn't mean we need to know abou it.

[Fongenie]

Okay, Harriett Tubman. Hehe.

[ESerafina42]

And he wore dark clothes - who woulda thunk it! I agree, and I'm not criticizing him - I'm criticizing the media outlets who feel this NEED to report every move he makes. Get out and report on Dubya's dismantling of the federal government in his last days.

[FORLOMC]

I think it is just so unusual to see the USA have a president that actually gives a damn about supporting a friend that it is news. We have had nothing but presidents that care only about themselves and everyone else be damned. We now actually have a President-Elect that cares about peoples feelings and supporting others. NOW THAT IS NEWS.

[KathyinCT]

For those of you who are taking swipes at Obama (who clearly didn't ask for this coverage), flip the story.

How about our current president, whose 83-year old MOTHER had major surgery in Texas -- and he couldn't be bothered to leave Camp David and go to her bedside. She's 83 and surgical procedures can go bad or elderly patients can not wake up after the anesthesia. But that goofball sits out in the woods.

So instead of nasty comments about why didn't Obama go or not go to a funeral (or what about his grandmother's memorial service), where's the more justifiable wondering about a son who'd let his elderly Mom have surgery and not even bother to take his private plane to Texas.

What a self-centered clod he is.

[harriettubman]

Especially a perforated ulcer. You're right, any surgical procedure can go really wrong.

[steve12]

Frankly, I doubt it would have helped his mother to be visited by her son and the 100+ entourage that would have to accompany him. The woman needed rest, not an appearance by the President.

Bush's side has lost. Attack him for real issues, not the fact that he didn't visit his mommie.

[Damaven]

It's your President-Elect and they're going to report anything they can. But, this sure as hell is better than hearing Rosie's debut tanked - that was a given and who cares.

[CUL8R]

This is not news.

[TheGuide]

What about this makes this news? I'm just askin'.

[cgoodie]

Anything a personality of his stature does is news. I'd much rather see this than shots of Britney Spears appearing in public without underwear....

[Bluebell123]

Whatever happened to his grandmother's funeral. Did he attend? Obama's mother and grandmother shaped who he ultimately became, and there is no mention of his going to his grandmother's service.

[sheikwil4]

Bluebelle123, they had a memorial service for his grandmother for the general public already. They will have a private service for Tutu (his grandmother) in December over the Christmas Holiday and that's when President Elect Obama will attend. Her wishes were to be cremated, which has occurred. So in a couple of weeks, the Obama's will go to Hawaii for the services for his grandmother.

[Matt7]

You KNOW that that was not really a request for information, but rather, an attempt at a dig, right?

[Sylmason]

And, maybe you can find some of your own family business to keep youself occupied.

[tossytosser]

Wow, classy much? You not him

Him we know is - you, not so much. Mind your own business.

[ymuttley]

there is a memorial service in Dec for Obama's grams,No service when she passed away,alot of people don't want services anymore,most have memorial services.later on.

[bogues]

At the time of Mr. Obama's grandmother's passing, he stated that she had said she did not want a service. She was to be cremated in a private manner and for all we know that may already have taken place. Mr. Obama wanted it to remain private as it should.

[wrenny]

I tried to post earlier that the "funeral" people have heard about was just a memorial service for friends and co-workers, and it was planned by Obama and his sister, who also planned on having a private family service for her later. Why my post didn't go through is a mystery to me, unless links to news articles aren't allowed. If anyone can tell me what it is that blocks posts, I'd sure appreciate it - I'm happy to abide by any and all rules, but it's pretty frustrating to go to the trouble of writing a post that just disappears.

[wrenny]

Thinking about it some more, I didn't even link to an article - I may have simply quoted a line or a phrase. Do quotation marks set off a block to a post?

[concernvoter]

That was nice of the Obama's to take out the time to be with a friend relative during their time of sympathy. It is good to know that there is still kind people in the world.

[obamaluv]

Where was was Sara Palin.

[daisydukes]

Don't care about the haters, but I love getting information and pictures about the Obamas. It is good to see them doing ordinary things, one gets sick and tired of all the politics anyway. Keep e'm coming, just fine by me.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

I only find other people are making money on every step the PE Obama and his family make on the same level of Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.

Did they do that with any of the Bushes, Clintons, Reagons, Carters, Nixons or other white males before they stepped into the oval office.

this reporting reminds me of michael jackson and the jackson family. When they started, they had a great product to sell to the people and a lot of people made money building them up. They also made money destroying them. We American show the world all the time how we can destroy each other. why should they trust us to really care about them?

[Matt7]

Good point. I know it would take ME a while to be convinced.

[cgoodie]

I think it is quite refreshing to have the media paying attention to a positive role model rather than the Hiltons, Spears, Lohans of the world. Bring it on!

[zigzag1]

And they also were black, right?

[ProgressDon]

This guy is the exact opposite of everything George W. Bush. He actually walks without giving the camera that arrogant smirk like "you want some of this".
Instead of a cowboy swagger, Obama walks like a college professor in the hallway on his way to a lecture. The differences are just too obvious.

[LeftLeanWing]

Breaking News !

Obama ate Cap'n Crunch in a bowl with some milk. Sources say that he actually used a Spoon. Cap'n Crunch did not return any of our calls.

[NewRiver]

I heard he also got up this morning and put his pants on, one leg (gasp) at a time! can you believe it?

[kid5rivers2]

"Can we believe it?"...Yes we can!...That's why we made him #44, duh!

[sws3030]

You don't expect me to believe he actually has the capability to dress himself, do you?

[Jamchinadian]

Very funny. How about this: President Bush had an unusually busy day. First he gave a broad ranging press conference - he smirked and waved at the reporters. Then he personally selected one out of 100 other turkeys and pardoned it. He then turned in for the night at 6 PM. He will be spending the weekend, like he spends most weekends, at Crawford. Then he will spend the week, like he spends most weeks, hiding in the WH and taking no calls.

[rockyb26]

lol

[mky267]

LOL

[LittleRedHenSez]

You forgot the "press conference" Bush did with Paulson looking on:
BUSH: Secretary Paulson invited me over for a cup of coffee. We've had the coffee. The coffee is gone now. I just came out to say to the American people that things will get better. THE END
(Not an exact quote but very, very close.)

[SMSTOV56]

I LIKE OTHERS FIND THE OBAMAS TO BE THE REAL DEAL . AMERICA HAS HIT GOLD WITH PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA AS PRESIDENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO JAN 20 ,2009 MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER'S 30th BIRTHDAY . IT WILL BE A GLORIOUS DAY AND BEAUITFUL FOR ME AND OTHERS THAT VOTED FOR THIS MAN AND TRUST HIM TO BE AMERICA PRESIDENT.

[kid5rivers2]

Not gold, diamond...maybe even platinum!

[jlab]

I LIKE OTHERS AM EXCITED TO SHARE THIS DISCOVERY WITH YOU: IF YOU DEPRESS THE CAPS LOCK KEY YOU CAN ACTUALLY TYPE lowercase letters! WOW, I mean "wow", right?

[vraptor]

I also have a difficult time with the "screaming" aspect of all upper-case, but just in case you could take a walk in someone else's Skechers, some people do have vision or manual dexterity issues that make it very difficult to either type or see mixed-case text. I have a very good friend who is in this category and have learned that it is not just outrageous stupidity that causes people to type this way. You might try giving it a thought.

[Dobie1]

New campaign slogan: Obama: Bringin' back the 90s!

[NewRiver]

Isn't the campaign over? just checking...

[springsm]

Pslin has not heard the news, though...she is still campaigning.

[ProgressDon]

Palin: Bringing back the stupid

[MadeinAmericaProud]

All written history has lessons that should be reminded and also can be used if what we continue to work for the greatest good for the largest amount of people to benefit.

We still design buildings the Romans and Greeks did thousands of years ago.

Bush Jr. had a great slogan too. No child left behind. He just didn't follow-up with the federal funded money. Therefore, reading some of the comments on the internet, it is clear, children now adults were left behind.

PE Obama cannot bring back time. We are in 2008, soon to be 2009. If I am to guess what is missing, the people being selected were working in the Clinton's time in office.

Let's think this way. When people become unemployed in America because the company moved to china, do we upgrade our skills to be ready for another job opportunity, or do you state stay in a time warp never to learn something new?. I think the people who were hired in the 1990's, have upgraded and are ready for the 21st century.

[LittleRedHenSez]

I work for a temp agency and routinely see people with advanced skills and no jobs available. The people out of work are not just the unskilled, semi-skilled or manufacturing folks. They may be a majority but there are plenty of people ready for 21st century jobs but how many of those jobs are there?