DETROIT (AP)- The outspoken former pastor of Barack Obama says
despite what his critics say, he is descriptive, not divisive, when
he speaks about racial injustices.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright told an NAACP dinner gathering in Detroit that he describes "the conditions in this country.'' Saying he's "not a politician,'' Wright told listeners he's "not running for the Oval Office.'' He went on to say, "I've been running for Jesus a long, long time, and I'm not tired yet.''

Wright received a long, loud standing ovation at the Sunday evening event.

He became an issue in the presidential race in March after the
circulation of videos of old sermons in which he accused the U.S.
government of racism and accused it of flooding black neighborhoods
with drugs.

The videos, circulated widely on television and the Internet, knocked Obama's presidential campaign off stride. The Illinois Senator distanced himself from the comments of Wright, whom he has known for 20 years.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)