Obama's Former Pastor's Invitation Reportedly Dampens Award for Maryland Man

A Maryland businessman set to receive an award from a local NAACP chapter is reportedly receiving negative feedback about the ceremony's guest speaker, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, President Obama's controversial former pastor.

Perry Ealim, 57, who owns Merge Business Development Systems, which trains minority and women business owners, will receive the award from the Anne Arundel County NAACP at the Freedom Fund Dinner next month, The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday. In advance of the Nov. 20 event, Ealim sent a mass e-mail to friends and associates asking them to attend.

Many, however, including local Republican officials and chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, won't join Ealim, the Sun reported.

"I am happy for your honor, however I cannot support an organization that would have a racist/bigot such as Mr. Wright as [its] speaker," Maryland Republican Party Chair James Pelura wrote to his friend, the newspaper reported.

"I am disappointed that you are not reprimanding the NAACP," another reportedly wrote.
Ealim, who is African-American and a lifelong Republican, told The Baltimore Sun that refusing to attend Wright's speech is "more divisive than anything he could say."

Ealim told the paper he does not agree with some of Wright's comments and does not support all of the NAACP's positions.

Click here for more on this story from The Baltimore Sun.