Michael Jackson Resolution Faces GOP Opposition

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has joined the opposition in rejecting a resolution honoring Michael Jackson.

"It's not necessary," said Pelosi, who thinks bringing the measure to a vote would "open up contentious views" that the House doesn't need to deal with "at this time."

In sotto voce, she acknowledged Jackson as a "great entertainer" -- but scoffed when a reporter asked about the resolution.

"We're into the popular culture questions," she said.

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WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee may have trouble keeping the promise she made at Michael Jackson's public memorial for a House resolution that "forever" honors the late pop star.

Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, took the stage Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and hoisted a framed copy of the resolution, embossed with a gold seal. The measure will be debated on the House floor, she said.

For that framed, embossed resolution to be completely legit, it must first get past some opposition.

Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who called Jackson a "pervert, child molester, pedophile" in a video he posted on YouTube this week, vowed Tuesday to do "whatever I have to do" to oppose honoring Jackson.

Without mentioning King by name, Jackson Lee noted at the memorial that Michael Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. She blasted critics who "don't understand the hearts of entertainers" and "don't know how they heal the world on behalf of America."

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"We understand the Constitution. We understand laws and we know people are innocent until proven otherwise. That is what the Constitution stands for," Jackson Lee said, clutching the framed resolution in front of her shiny white suit.

Her legislation, House Resolution 600, lists several charitable acts by Michael Jackson over his long career and proclaims him as an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian. He is, Jackson Lee said, "someone who will be honored forever and forever and forever and forever and forever."

In the House, non-controversial resolutions honoring a person who has died or carried out a noteworthy accomplishment normally move quickly from committee to the House floor and then pass on a voice vote. The Michael Jackson resolution, introduced June 26, is awaiting action in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, of which Jackson Lee is a member and King is not.

An opponent could ask for a recorded vote, which then requires a two-thirds majority for passage. So far, Jackson Lee's resolution has just one co-sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif.

Jackson Lee hosted a 2004 meeting in her Capitol Hill office that brought Michael Jackson together with ambassadors to the U.S. from African countries. At the time, Jackson was considering a tour to raise money to fight AIDS. However, he was also facing child molestation charges and was unable to leave the country without court permission.

Even so, Jackson was greeted by screams, applause and flashing cameras.

Jackson also visited Iraq veterans at Walter Reed Hospital while in Washington.

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Comments

[MobilizerJ]

All you guys need to realize that the congress is not honoring Michael because he was an entertainer, and a singer! They are honoring him because of his humanitarian work! He is a world humanitarian! He gave more money than any entertainer ever so far! They have facts and they are honoring him because of his service to the poor of our country and world! This is consistent with Obama's platform of service! There are other ways to serve our country than in the military! www.serve.gov

[Logistics]

What's next, Angelina Jolie? Madonna?

This is not the MTV Awards, this is the US congress!!

[MobilizerJ]

So What! US Congress represents the PEOPLE! When people serve each other, it should be highlighted and honored. In your eyes, who deserves a congressional honor?

[clsmithj]

Angelina Jolie and Madonna are small potatoes in the realm of world impact, and relief effort Michael Jackson contributed.

[Halfwit]

I don't think it will move out of committee right now. Maybe later, when calmer heads can prevail, it will pass.

[widdles]

Well, let me see. The House passed resolutions to honor the following:

Ernest Gallo (of Gallo Wineries)
Florida's Boating Community
Paul Newman
The real reason behind Christmas (yup - that is for real!!)
Brett Favre
the Corvette (the car)

Shall I go on?

The point being, all this brew-ha-ha about how wrong it is to honor Michael Jackson - there are many honors passed through the House that are absolutely inane and you guys have your undies in a bunch over Michael Jackson?

[kart125]

Those "honors" you cite demostrate what a sham it is. I know were not talking about bestowing a Nobel prize, but Congressional honor should count for something. And with honors such as these, it has reduced such an honor to such a level as illustrated in Seth Meyers' SNL sketch on ASU denying a honorary degree to Obama. We really need to put some signifgance back into Congressional honors and it doesn't start with MJ.

[MobilizerJ]

Why not MJ? What white person would you call "significance" to begin congressional honors!

[Gallas]

Who cares?

The world knows Michael and not these buffoons.

[EmeraldWorld]

Exactly. People rate getting an "honor" from Congress a little too highly in my opinion.

[thebigbike]

I agree with Speaker Pelosi LOUD and Clear.

[JeffinIllinois]

Here here.. In fact, I think someone should sponsor a resolution that ends honoring anyone by our congress. Enough already. Get to work doing something else besides this garbage.

[Logistics]

AGREED!

[EmeraldWorld]

I say Congress should move on. Michael Jackson was indeed a world class artist/entertainer and did a VAST amount of humanitarian work (for those of you on this board who try to diminish him for whatever hateful reasons you have).

However, getting recognition from Congress of all institutions isn't exactly noteworthy in my book. I understand some people think it will be unfair and hypocritical of Congress to not give MJ recognition when others who have done less than him have, but I think these people need to stop doing these kinds of resolutions in general and start doing the work they were actually elected for. I don't need these people to validate the artistic and humanitarian impact he has had on the world.

Congressmen should get back to work for once on health care instead of carrying on the usual histrionics (especially those dear old GOPers.)

[dillydawg]

Spot on!

[heyjoe]

Nancy should be ashamed of herself. The people are speaking loud and clear. "WE WANT THE ROSOLUTION PASSED"

[Michael Vardo]

No we don't!

[eleanorhawking]

No, we do not!

[TruthfullyYours]

absolutely not!

[happygilmore08]

No we don't.

[Lucille]

Some of you are the same bullies that have blood on your hands for refusing to accept the jury verdict of Not Guilty regarding Michael Jackson, yet you demand that Black people accept not guilty jury verdicts for White police officers who kill unarmed Black people, and eventually, we always do.

People who don't accept Michael's not guilty verdict are hypocrites and a total waste of skin. I'm sick of all of you. You are all so mean and unfair but we will persevere.

The Black Caucus won't let us down, they will fight for Michael Jackson.

[middleofeverywhere]

I hope the Black Caucus has more on their minds than that. Keep Obama in 2012, demand help for kids being sucked into gangs, scream until more help is given to those suffering from AIDS in Africa. Just how important is this in the grand scheme of things?

[clsmithj]

co-signed in agreement.

[AurigaRa]

grandstanding

Record sales, the renovation of Neverland, his fans all will honor him.
For WAHT does he need congressional honors?

[clsmithj]

I'm disappointed in Pelosi.

Also why am I not surprised that Republicants are in full in agreement with her on this resolution, just look at the comments from Faux http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/09/pelosi-calls-resolution-honor-michael-jackson-unnecessary/

hipocrites

[eleanorhawking]

Don't you mean "hypocrites"?

[clsmithj]

no I did that purposely to avoid the moderation : |

[TheZug]

Stupid.

[SKonnery]

Like all people and especially some child stars they have problems. Besides being an entertainment icon he was also in the Guiness Book of Records for being the celebrity who supported the most charities. With all the philanders and wide stance clowns they have in congress I say he should be afforded the honor.

[JHCowboy]

Michael Jackson was wonderful and great but he's not that great. If people wish to honor him they need to honor him in a different way. Our tabloidesque nation has put entertainers on a pedestal. It's time to just let Michael rest in peace. There are many ways to honor him but not waste Congress's time with this obsessive drama.

[TruthfullyYours]

Amen.

[Lucille]

Michael Jackson is not a waste of anyone's time.

[ShawnHanks]

As a WWII Marine Aviator, Ed McMahon did more for the world than this Jacko guy.

[AurigaRa]

amen

[MH32U]

I agree that MJ probably doesn't need Congressional honors; his BILLIONS of fans WORLD-WIDE will do that for him. But I do have to ask, what exeactly did Ed McMahon do for the world? If his stint on the Tonight Show was his greatest accomplishment (for the world) then either I'm missing something, or you don't have a clue. Get a grip ShawnHanks. One guy sold millions of albums worldwide that made people worldwide feel good. The other was an aviator for 1 country, who went on to become (probably) the greatest sidekick ever; for 1 country. I don't see how the two compare...

[eleanorhawking]

Ed McMahon put his LIFE on the line for this country. He survived, thank God, and had a successful career.

[ShawnHanks]

For Sheila Jackson Lee (who believes man landed on Mars), this is her crowning achievement in Congress.

[eleanorhawking]

I hear Shelia has seven or eight more funerals to speak at in the next couple of days. Who died? She doesn't know - just so there's a camera.

[RRundbaken]

It's not necessary. He's being honored enough and any honors can be bestowed on a local basis. He contributed a great deal to charity so perhaps those recipients can name something in his honor. I would hesitate naming anything connected to children until the record is set straight about what he did or did not do to children. If it was all innocent, great, that would be my strongest wish. But there were huge payouts made and I don't think the argument that the insurance companies forced him to pay out of fear of huge losses is sound. I don't care how much it would have cost, if I was falsely accused of molesting a child I would spend every last cent fighting that charge. Mr. Jackson was a brilliant entertainer and those closest to him. friends and family, are defending his honor so give him the benefit of the doubt. But in his last years he was certainly strange and exhibited rather bizarre behavior. His saving grace will be, it seems, that he was a very good father as evidenced by his beautiful children. Still there's a part of my mind that says he may have taken liberties with some kids, probably out of some misguided innocent curiosity. The truth one way or the other needs to come out before any larger tributes are considered.