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.

* * * *

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."

Story continues below

advertisement

"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.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[InstantDogma]

Innocent people don't pay 20 million for silence.

[Mattylock]

You would if the allegations, which is all they were, would cost you many times that in harm to your career.

[Bluejay00234]

And no parent who's child had been molested could be brought.

[Holypat777]

Guess again!

[tokenconservative]

And victims don't accept 20 million.

[LooktotheLeft]

hmmm, not sure if I'd go that far

[keerod76]

When I first heard about this I knew that Sheila Jackson Lee had gone "Off The Wall."

I also knew there was no way in hell it would pass.

http://balmer.typepad.com/keithsmooth/
A Funny Writer, A Funny Blog

[freaktown]

god for nancy pelosi. the house has too many nonsense "resolutions" that do absolutely nothing at all. they should focus on getting real work done.

[levibatgirl]

Pelosi kinda suggested that trying to pass a resolution would have opened up a lot of MJ bashing on the floor.

It would have been an ugly circus.

Let the music industry honor him.
It should be about his musical talents.

[scooperss]

Good for pelosi.

[Collielady]

None of the resolutions honoring people are "necessary", but they do occur. So the question remains, why not MJ? The answer is, he is controversial and not politically advantageous. It's as simple as that.

I'm disappointed, but I don't need a corrupt political body to honor a genius. I can do that myself.

Perhaps MJ's memory will be less tainted without the blessings of this Congress that took impeachment off the table, and won't investigate war criminals. MJ was better than that. Far better.

[DSOTM]

Bury him and give him his postage stamp.

I agree 100% with Nancy, he has been honored enough already.

[bensisco]

I hate to say it, but almost every entertainer has a checkered past of some sort (e.g., drug use, problems with the law, etc.). That never stops Congress from honoring those individuals that they want to honor. Michael Jackson has no criminal record that I know of. Maybe Pelosi is not worthy of such a high position if she can't treat all our citizens and icons equally.

[dteg]

Yep all the great white ones have been honored in congress but when it comes time for the black man the rules suddenly change. All of a sudden we do not have 10 minutes for a voice vote or 30 minutes for a full vote for a resolution that they honor people with every other day. All the white ones like Elvis(drugs,dating 14 year olds), Frank Sinatra have checkered past

[chaosinthemind]

Difference between drug use and touching little kids.

[Danigirl65]

Apparently being found "not guilty" doesn't matter much either, eh? So much for the constitution.

[carlgt1]

it seems silly but aren't there resolutions all the time for old geezers, sports teams, Cub Scout packs, etc? I mean it's not like they're asking for the Congressional Medal of Honor for him.

[WarrenPease]

I see one dilemma: Quincy Jones deserves some credit for Michael Jackson's music, albums and status as a cultural icon. Mr. Jones is still alive.

[lionzion]

Um..He made one album.. Then bad, dangerous and few others where good too..

[TurgidCaterwauling]

No one will remember the resolution; fans will remember his music. Resolution unecessary.
It changes nothing.

[mollymac]

It is so time to stop bickering over MJ! I cannot believe the inane comments in this post. Sounds like kids being picked for softball teams! He is gone, lots of needs in our world for the living! Put your energies there folks. Bickering over whether he did it or not is irrelevant. If you believe he did, well OK; if you don't believe it. Again, OK. No one knows and at this point it is moot. The Jackson family is at odds with itself; you all can't fix it. Move on and history say what it will.

[MESGAIN26]

what u mean know one knows ?? thats why its called research ( ie) google ur point is moot speak for ur self , its a known fact he did it fact its in the genuis book of records

[RedKnuckles]

You appear to be over reacting to a few cherry picked comments..­.the majority (and I agree) seem to be essentially thanking Pelosi for wanting to move on with more important business.

[MichelleB]

Why not? Michael has done more to promote humanitarian causes than other entertainers, he gave a total of $3000,000,000. I bet that can't be said about Pelosi.

[MarianneEvans11]

How much of the contributions that he made were mandated by the courts? The Humanitarian Award should be and I thought it was, awarded to people while they are alive? Did Arthur Ash ever receive an award? Does anyone remember him? He began helping children (AA and Caucasian) earlier than most African American entertainers. Let the followers remember his music and let's put this to bed now.

[l3randon]

Um, did you really just say Michael Jackson donated a total of 3 billion dollars to humanitarian causes? May want to check your numbers there.

[lionzion]

Do you have an exact figures?..­.

[MESGAIN26]

bingo my sentiment exactly

[rebopine]

There is no such number.

[Shashi0224]

I bet she doesn't have it to give. What's your point? And....are you sure of your numbers? Seem a bit large for someone who died in debt.

[cliffstep]

So , a coupla years ago , my then fouteen year old son was making MJ jokes. I laughed at the ones I hadn't already heard , then put on Billie Jean. Inside of one minute , he was dancing.
He's weird , I told him , but he is The King of Pop.
Let it rest for awhile. Let him rest for awhile.
Pass your resolution around , Ms. Lee. When you get 200 co-signers , it will make it to the floor. And play Billie Jean while you ask the congressmen for their signature.
But don't underestimate the fact: he was weird.

[Darcman]

Another white liberal running scared in the face of right wing bigotry! Countless other celebrities have been honored by congress, why is honoring MJ any dif?

[JakeMontero]

flagged for being raclst

[UCLAdy04]

What is racist about that comment? I'm so sick of people getting offended when someone raises that specter of racist motivations yet take no issue with the fact that racism may be involved. It is certainly suspicious that countless other people receive these sort of commemorative resolutions yet now when it comes to Michael Jackson all of a sudden there is a double standard. Stuff like this goes to show what we as Black folks already knew and people like Bill O'Reilly will never understand­...regardl­ess of how white MJ's skin became or how many plastic surgeries he had a Black man is always going to be a Black man.