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

[edwarvir]

Michael Jackson was thee greatest entertainer of all time
this is true, but he was more than just that. He changed
the world. He in his own way without large crowds and
marches made all nationalities come to gether with love
He deserves it. I like Nancy Pelosi, but she can't even
get the Dems and the Repus too come together. I hope
she reconsiders her position, if not we will have to get
it done without her.

[TruthfullyYours]

and how do you propose doing that? like pelosi said, there are so many more important things the house need to accomplish other than bestowing mj this honor that congresswoman lee had initiated to do on her own. i'm an avid michael jackson and the jackson five fan going back the mid-60s. also. lee had said that jackson was acquitted of the charges lobbed against him. there's a difference between acquitted on technicality and acquitted on merit. jackson was acquitted on the first.

[lilguy]

And you were on the jury so you know why,they aquitted him. He was found not guilty of all charges. The jury said they did not believe their story. Later on, after the news media told them how wrong they were and they had to go back into their community, the foreman tried to qualify the decision by saying he believe that he was guilty of molesting the first boy.

[massthreat]

"In more important legislative news--the House has passed a resolution defending the virtues of ketchup."

[joecoolconservative]

Wow! I can not believe it! I actually agree with the Queen Bee. BTW never, ever trust a woman or man who hyphenates their last name.

[moxieme]

Speaker Pelosi is absolutely correct. This is not a priority and we DO NOT need the drama.

[Poboy]

Memo to Congressional Black Caucus:

Get this done, Pronto.

[biglover]

Sorry folks. Nancy is really right on this one. I am a Jackson fan. Do not believe he was guilty of any of the things they said about him and he was a tragic figure but he has been honored by his fans and his loved ones. There is no need for such an honor from Congress and you know what, if she had done this there are those of you who would have jumped all over her saying what a waste of time.

Give it a break leave it alone and let us move on to important things. Michael was laid to rest - let him rest in peace.

[EmeraldWorld]

I agree as an MJ fan myself. I really don't need some document or resolution from Congress to tell me how big of an icon and humanitarian he was.

Now, if Pelosi and the Dems could just get to work on health care reform and stop being so weak about pushing through a public option.....

[damilitantone]

If Michael Jackson doesn't warrant a resolution for his contributions to the country and his role an quasi-ambassador of goodwill to the many nations that he visited and performed in during his lifetime then Congress truly needs to get out of the business of drafting and passing these types of resolutions because folks who have done far less and who have been more notorious have received them.

[clsmithj]

Exactly.

[bensisco]

How many American citizens will the entire world virtually stop to pay tribute to? Every major network and cable station broadcasted Jackson's memorial service for three hours uninterrupted. People simultaneously viewed the service in movie theaters across the nation as well. Yet, Pelosi doesn't think Congress should recognize Michael Jackson with this resolution. I guarantee you plenty of people with far less stature and far more controversial pasts will be recognized with a Congressional resolution by Pelosi and company in the coming days and months.

[kmac23va]

And yet they'll take up time debating the naming of a post office. And force a recorded vote. Talk about time wasters!

[tokenconservative]

My respect for Pelosi decreases as the days wear on. Sure, other civil rights lumanaries like Al Sharpton can be commended. But a fairly apolitical character who donated tens of millions of his own money and wrote songs to raise money to stave off hunger; no, he's not worthy of it.

[Bluejay00234]

I may be wrong here, but haven't they honored others with shady past? Didn't they just honor George Carlin recently, didn't they have better things to do then? If nothing else I would at least hope they would recognize his humanitarian work, and the 300mil he's donated to children, orphanages, and other charities.

[Shashi0224]

Thanks for keeping this in perspective Speaker Pelosi!
MJ was a great performer........he didn't find a cure for Cancer~
He died of a drug overdose in all reality....is this really the icon of virtue worthy of such an honor?
Let's enjoy his music and be appreciative of his talents and what he did, but let's not over extend his virtue.

[Bluejay00234]

And what have you done lately?

[damilitantone]

In 1865 the Confederate General Robert E. Lee and traitor to the United States sent a request for pardon, along with an oath of allegiance, to President Andrew Johnson. His request was filed away and never acted on. Lee’s right to vote was restored in 1888, 18 years after his death. His oath of allegiance was discovered in 1970 among old State Department records. In 1975 a resolution to posthumously restore Lee's full rights of citizenship passed by a unanimous April U.S. Senate vote and a 407-10, U.S. House of Representatives vote, with the resolution effective June 13, 1975. President Gerald R. Ford signed the resolution on August 5, 1975 with a dozen of Lee's descendants attending including his great-great-grandson.

After an exhaustive trial and many witnesses, Jackson was found not guilty of any crimes folks may have believed he committed, however, Lee was undeniably responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of United States soldiers. If Robert E. Lee can be the recipient of a congressional resolution then there's no reason that Michael Jackson can't receive one, too.

[ShawnHanks]

Robert E. Lee was a West Point Superintendant, Mexican War hero and the Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. He was a patriot through and through and one of the greatest American generals of all time.

Jacko was a wacko.

[Bluejay00234]

And you dimish your very statement above.

[damilitantone]

He was a traitor to the United States and shouls have been treated like a traitor.

[dteg]

There will probably be honoring a 100 more people this month but no time for Michael. The honors will continue in congress and on the house floor every other day but they can't slip Michael into one of them. What kind on nonsense is that.

[DesertDogAlpha]

I'm no Pelosi fan, but good for her. There are several thousand Americans who were killed or wounded in our current wars (and many more dying daily who fought in WWII and Korea) who are infinitely more deserving of individual Congressional resolutions honoring them than this late and departed strange bird.

[BabuS5]

So I am sure you will be standing in front of congress when they honor 100's of other important people this month.

[DesertDogAlpha]

I have not idea what point you are trying to make? What the heck would "standing in front of Congress" (there are plenty of tourists standing around every day already) do?

[mereader]

Come on now! Freak show circus surrounding him aside, the man sang and danced. He did not cure cancer!

- not a GOP member