Obama's man of faith has dual roles
By CHRISTI PARSONS
- Tribune Washington BureauWASHINGTON — The young minister's alarm goes off at 6 a.m., time for his own devotional and the one he will send to the president of the United States.
This particular morning, Joshua DuBois meditates on the disciple Peter's first letter to the early church. The text he prays over and e-mails to Barack Obama half an hour later is about something else.
It's a private start to the day for the president and the pastor, a spiritual BlackBerry session they guard carefully.
Hours later, they meet in a public setting, when the president arrives to give a speech at a community center.
DuBois is wearing an ear bud and carrying a clipboard, standard equipment for a mid-level White House staffer. Obama climbs from his car and greets DuBois and another aide with a casual, "Hey, guys."
A sheen of perspiration glistens at DuBois' hairline as the group heads toward the stage area. He keeps a deferential step behind Obama.
Colleagues say DuBois is entitled to a spot on the platform, as director of the White House Office
Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2010/07/25/2112493/obamas-man-of-faith-has-dual-roles.html#ixzz0uhbbUof5