Michael Jackson: House Pauses To Remember Dead Singer

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives paused for a moment of silence Friday to mark entertainer Michael Jackson's death.

Lawmakers briefly interrupted a debate on a global warming bill to stand in silence and honor the "King of Pop."

Rep. Diane Watson of California rose during the debate to suggest the House "pay tribute to the culture that he has left behind, his legacy."

Watson said the lawmakers send their condolences to Jackson's family, friends and his fans worldwide.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois said the singer changed the world and he wants to "thank God for letting all of us live in his generation and in his era."

The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday after being stricken at his rented home in Los Angeles.

Comments

[naschkatze]

Congress should take a moment every day and honor the names of those who were killed in service to their country.

[ObamAtomic]

I agree with you because Cheney!

[slipthalo]

Absolutely! This should be a 'must do' every day.

[PoliticalRockChick]

His music was everybody's soundtrack to their lives.

[naschkatze]

Not mine.

[ObamAtomic]

haha! You do not count.
Out of my lawn!

[sweetwhine]

So. Who cares? I certainly don't. LOL! Goofy.

[Itsmyland2]

Sorry but no. Not the soundtrack of my life at all.

[RachelMc]

su/cks for u!

[sweetwhine]

You are one of the very few indeed.

[PoliticalRockChick]

Elvis was remembered, John Lennon was remembered. Michael Jackson deserve that respect as well.

[harriscrl3]

Even Diana's death who is English got more coverage. Sorry but I'm starting to think that race is a factor here.

Michael Jackson is one of the most well known world figure there is.

[Disuberence]

UHHHH. Have you turned on the TV today...?

[Danyelle79]

As much as I don't want to, unfortunately, I have to agree. A lot of people are upset that Farrah Fawcett R.I.P isn't getting this much attention. But she wasn't an Icon, she was famous but not an Icon. Okay, she was an Icon of the 70's. But MJ was an Icon of our life time, of the world.

I truely believe that the only reason people are even still talking about Farrah's death is because of MJ's death. If MJ han't died yesterday, Farrahs death would have wen't away with the morning news. Please don't get me wrong i feel terrible about Farrahs death, but i can't see comparing the two.

[rain33]

AMEN! i keep thinking that!

[ClevelandTom]

I'm sorry but I just don't get it.

Sure, MJ was once a very popular performer and sold a ton of records. But other than being better than most everyone else at doing music videos in their infancy, he just has not had that much of an influence on music, the entertainment industry or society as whole to rate this amount of attention. Especially when you factor in the darker aspects of his life.

Think about all the other performers who died before their time who had really did have enormous impact. Not even Elvis' death drew this much attention.

[harriscrl3]

You are right about one thing you just dont get it. Michael Jackson wasnt just an entertainer. He did MUCH humanitarian work in fact so much that he was given an award by Ronald Reagan. He wasnt just a pop Icon he was a humaitarian that did a lot of good particularly in Africa.

[reno1190]

GET A CLUE

[Shellly]

if you watch any successful pop artist today, they are totally influenced by michael jackson. he was the one who opened MTV doors to other black artists, when they only wanted to play just his videos. he told his record company that they would have to include other black artists and not just him. he set the standard and he was a pioneer in the early days of video making.

Michael Jackson's videos were a ratings bonanza whenever they premiered.

We should also remember that we know met and knew him through his music. We all have personal demons and negative aspects. May god bless his soul.

[rain33]

yeah but it wasn't proven.hel­l, elvis slept with his family members and why did anybody say something about it-oh they wanted money too.michae­l never hurted anyone but mistrusts folks who weren't his friends.i rather trust his parents over other business folks who were looking out for themselves­.mjj was too easy and kind with people.he should have been more careful when it came to his money.elvi­s wasn't no saint either but every year folks celebrate his life so we should accept the same with it comes to mjj.mjj is a man who wanted to be loved and respected in the world.GOB BLESS HIM! my heart goes out to the family and his kids.so sad to see this day of mourning of a wonderful artist that we all grew up with!

[slipthalo]

Michael Jackson wasn't only an icon because of his musical and dancing talents but because he was a forward thinking innovator of promoting those skills.
MTV didn't showcase the talents of his race until the video Thriller was made and they broadcast it every hour to enormous audiences. That video made MTV and those connected with MTV have stated that during these past couple of days.
We Are The World was made to raise monies for starving children and it raised huge sums for them.
As for Elvis and the attention his death drew, you can't compare apples to oranges. When Elvis died we didn't have the influence of the internet or cable tv channels yet he was memorialized highly in the mediums we did have and it is still happening up to this very day. Today you have the internet, cable channels, blogs, twitter which means the media presence is bigger than back when Elvis tragedically died. MJ was a huge talent and that talent has contributed greatly to what the music world offers today so your comment doesn't equate to reality nor what people in and out of the industry know he accomplished and contributed.

[JMBrodie]

Agreed. I don't see the harm in taking a moment to honor Jackson.

[Disuberence]

Come on. This is just ridiculous. Our congress is already beyond slow.

STOP PAUSING! WORK!

It's what we pay you for! Working! Not pausing!

[ObamAtomic]

You sound like an ignorant Neocon.

[sweetwhine]

He is. And I see he's brought several friends with him.

[marignymitch]

I think a pause is in order for the thousands of dead in Iraq and Afhanistan­/Pakistan, seeing as how these deaths were authorized by this august body.

[Disuberence]

Agree.

What about Farrah? Or Ed? Or Americans that die every year?

[Danyelle79]

It is sad about there lost but I think MJ was more of a shock because it was so unexpected. Beside, they didn't touch nearly as many lives as MJ did. No one has.

[harriscrl3]

Sorry but MJ was more of an icon internationally than the other two.

[ObamAtomic]

You sound like an ignorant Neocon.

[PiscesPrincess]

My husband called me at work to tell me this momentous moment in Congress this PM.
I almost th.rew up. gag. spat.

[FGW]

Why don't you go over to foxnation's website and vent.

[naschkatze]

Not being a pop music fan, I mostly remember Michael Jackson as dangling a baby out of a window several floors up and also of being accused of pedophilia. I am sickened that this country is so celebrity driven it feels it has to honor someone like this. BTW, I voted for Obama and I never watch FOX.

[marignymitch]

Yes. Mass hysteria/insanity is a scary thing to witness.

[reno1190]

YOU SHOULD HAVE CHOKED T D

[naschkatze]

What a nice lady you are.

[ObamAtomic]

We wish you gag for ever!

[naschkatze]

And you are nothing but a nihilist.

[rharris513]

I heard from a White House correspondent in the daily press briefing with Robert Gibbs, the President REFUSES to issue a written statement regarding Jackson's death. Mandella and Schwarzenegger have. Obama's probably too afraid of the issue the right will make of it. I really didn't think I'd get a Presdident who appears to operate out of fear. What's the fricken big deal of releasing a written statement if he's already released a verbal one?

[FGW]

Give it a rest.

[PiscesPrincess]

hear hear.

[JMBrodie]

Has he issued statements on any of the dead stars? I don't know the answer. Just curious.

[AreWeHavingFunYet]

JMB... that's a really good question. As far as I know he hasn't. I love Michaels music but it's not important to me that the President make a statement.

[PiscesPrincess]

save your angst for something worth the bile.

[PiscesPrincess]

save your angst for something worth while.

[listentome]

What you haven't learned in six months is that President Obama speaks when he is ready to speak not when others think he should. That would be called a leader and not a follower.

[DrJohnS]

No disrespect to Jackson but if the House had taken a moment each for everyone else who died yesterday then the rest of us could delight in the fact that they were not sticking it to us once again.

[JMBrodie]

He wasn't exactly like everybody else.

I mean, I can sing a little, but my record sales are way lower than his..... for example...­..

[PiscesPrincess]

No, he wasn't. but why does his differentness merit a moment of silence. sheesh.

[mollyjackson]

Young children are once again safe!

[ObamAtomic]

NO! Young children are not safe yet,there is danger when they became young adults
the Republicans send them to an unjust war!

[listentome]

Your snipe should be directed toward parents who prostitute their children if anything.

[AreWeHavingFunYet]

I don't believe that molly. I always thought that Michael was a target for those that wanted to get rich off of his fame. I will say that he made it easy for them with all of his shenanigans, but I never believed he would hurt a child.

[eshaneua]

Lovely---MJ's once again bringing the hearts and minds of the collective together--the good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent! LOVE IT!!!

[WinterParkMom]

"Lawmakers briefly interrupted a debate on a global warming bill to stand in silence and honor the "King of Pop"

This is why we can't get anything of substance done by our idiot lawmakers. Michael Jackson over a global warming bill. That says it all.

[ObamAtomic]

Are you hurting that you never will be worthy? Of nothing!

[WinterParkMom]

Get over yourself. He wasn't all that. When was the last time he was relevant? If it weren't for him dying, no one gave him a second thought. We do have more important things for our lawmakers to do.

[psychmaj323]

lol, I hardly think a silent pause will majorly interrupt the flow

[Death to Crusaders]

If I remember correctly, MJ was acquitted of molestation charges. That's good enough for me since I believe in the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and our system of laws. Sure, Like most, I was disturbed by many of his eccentricities but I judge more harshly the people who put themselves or their children into situations that may present problems yet allow their common sense to be overridden based upon their desire to be within the aura of celebrity. I met MJ many years ago when I lived in LA and we were both young kids. It was brief and friendly. Yet I have always remembered his eyes: years later I realized that what struck me was what I feel was an inherent sadness deep within his soul. Musically he was a supremely gifted singer, songwriter and sublime performer. Not my style of music, but respected nonetheless. We are all headed where he has gone. RIP MJ.

[PiscesPrincess]

very well put Sir. and I stand with you in stating R.I.P. Michael. You went out in a blaze of glory trying for a comeback. God Bless his family now in their grief.

[naschkatze]

So do you also believe that O.J. Simpson was innocent?

[slipthalo]

OJ is a different scenario as he was found basically guilty in a civil case - didn't happen in the case of MJ.

[MsMandy]

Un-freakin­g-believab­le! He was a "suspected" pedo!! Why in the world...we actually voted for these people?!

[Ms Fu]

You said it: "suspected". I do recall a person is innocent until proven guilty.

[NotStarvingArtist]

Innocent or guilty of the pedophile charges, he was decidely freaky. He admitted in a televised interview on the BBC that he liked to take young boys into his bed and saw nothing wrong with showing them his love in that way. This was when he was in his mid-40's. If that is not weird, I don't know what is. Do you know any 40-something men, who are not pedophiles, who like to sleep with young boys? Regardless of that, Michael Jackson does not deserve the wall-to-wall coverage he is getting, and I, for one, do not want my tax money paying the salaries of those in Congress who wasted that minute on Michael when they should have been conducting the country's important business.

[eden4barack08]

"suspected" and ACQUITTED you dumb@ss! America is the land of INNOCENT till proven guilty and he NEVER was guilty. Get over it!

[eden4barack08]

"suspected" and ACQUITTED you du.mb@ss! America is the land of INNOCENT till proven guilty and he NEVER was guilty. Get over it!

[scorpioleidy]

Ditto! Especially the du.mb@$$ part!!!