As Oprah delivers award to Tutu in Chicago, Sweet blog recalls how Obama “blushed” when Tutu talked him up for president.

SHARE As Oprah delivers award to Tutu in Chicago, Sweet blog recalls how Obama “blushed” when Tutu talked him up for president.

Sweet blog reprise: Desmond Tutu Touts Obama for President

I wrote this blog item on Aug. 21, 2006 after Sen. Barack Obama, in South Africa, flinched when former Archbishop Desmond Tutu talked him up for president of the United States during a visit to his office near Cape Town.

–Lynn Sweet

original headline Tutu: Touts Obama for president

Former Archbishop Desmond Tutu just met with Sen. Barack Obama at his office in a drab office mall outside of Cape Town.

He volunteered that Obama would make a good president.

Obama’s camp has given up dousing talk of a White House run.

Tutu bringing up Obama’s future was extremely off message.

“You are going to be a very credible presidential candidate,” the impish Tutu cackled.

Obama flinched. “Oh no, don’t do that.”

“Fortunately, because he has my complexion, we can’t see that he is blushing,” Tutu said.

As the two headed to a private meeting, Tutu was asked why he was high on Obama’s prospects.

“People are looking for leaders of whom they could be proud.”

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