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

[dteg]

You guys congratulate people every day in congress so give Michael his resolution, Do not break normal protocol because he is black. Why when someone is black the rules change and it is time to end normal protocol. I hadn't heard the word buget problems in years until the Katrina hurricane. Then when it came time for black people to get some help everyone was yelling we have a defecit.

[NoahVail]

Come on. This has nothing to do with his race, and everything to do with his legal (moral?) problems with pederasty.

[dteg]

Well this is America and race does matter

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

It's not the color, it's the somewhat creepy, bizzarre personal life. I don't think Paul Rubins or Andy D!ck is waiting on a resolution for their epitaph.

[lionzion]

Who???.. Get a person with billions of fan and then u can compare!!

[JakeMontero]

i thought he bacame white - really who cares about his color?

[Darcman]

You do!

[mrskorn]

Wow, Pelosi finally has some sense.

Andy why, with the picture of Pelosi, does the headline act like it is the GOP that is against the resolution. I am guessing there are plenty of politicians on both sides.

[p1pablo]

The purpose of that headline is to devide and excite IMO.

[p1pablo]

Oops..divi­de.

[Roye Barber]

I love how people ignore all the humanitarian work that Michael Jackson did. This resulation would not be unnecessary. It is not like Congress hasn't ever took the time to honor someone and still get things done. I rather they honor him than honor people like former U.S. Senator Jessie Helms who opposed school integration, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and the national holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

[eleanorhawking]

Thank you Nancy! Finally, we agree on something.

[PKatherine]

the resolution wasn't necessary.

seriously!!!

[Jaybot]

Fine, so long as she does the same thing to the Republican resolution supporting the coup in Honduras.

[R8RBOB]

I think Ms. Jackson Lee rushed this resolution because she like others was caught up in the emotions following the death of Michael Jackson. This resolution could have waited six months if not a year after MJ's passing to propose this. Honoring someone should come at a time when everyone has accepted one's death. It may not be right but I think the House is doing the right thing to reject the resolution. The country has more pressing issues to deal with.

P.S.
Rep King is a a-hole.

[dteg]

There is no lobbying interest involved so this will not bog down the congress. You have congress every day on tv congratulating this organization and other people so why not Michael. It will not slow down any major legislation in congress or cost any money so go ahead and pass the resolution.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

Reading is fundamental.

1) An opponent could ask for a recorded vote, which then requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
2) Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who called Jackson a "p3rv3rt, child m0l3st3r, p3d0phil3" in a video he posted on YouTube this week, vowed Tuesday to do "whatever I have to do" to oppose honoring Jackson

Now what conclusion can we draw?

[dteg]

Resolution would probably still get 2/3 easily. I doubt if more than handful of republicans would try to make an issue out of it. They are already looking pretty foolish among minorities and this will cost them nothing.,

[southwindow]

this circus- this exploitation of the deceased- must end.
that televised memorial was as great an indictment of our culture as any I have yet to see... I applaud pelosi and whoever else declines to be a part of such morbid profiteering and self-aggrandizement .

[caseyasmith]

Really. It was all MSNBC showed last week and the first part of this week. Our media continues to fail us as a nation, as it waves flags mindlessly in times of war, refuses to question the white house story line, and bows to entertainers that have no weight in the public political arena.

[whyisthis]

MJ was exploited and in turn, he exploited. This country is soooo pathetically messed up.

[ChknFngr]

This might be the only thing I'll EVER agree with Pelosi on...

[delo2009]

How has this been handled in the pass? Has any entertainer ever been recognized?

[whitegayrepublican]

No matter what we may think, he is and always will be the GREATEST entertainer whose ever lived. His humanitarian efforts alone raised billions of dollars for causes and gave people outside the USA a reason to love America. For what's its worth, he was our greatest ambassador, despite what we may feel personally about the guy. May he RIP!

[prog]

This is a good question.

[NoahVail]

When Farah Fawcett met St. Peter at the Pearly Gate, he told her, "Farah, we are so happy with everything you have done for breast cancer awareness. Do you have any special requests before you enter?"

"No," she replied. "I just want all the children to be safe."

"Done," said St. Peter.

[middleofeverywhere]

That made me laugh.

[ttyy]

I don't think ANY government time should be wasted honoring ANYONE like this.

[SamKnause]

I do not understand why this man should not be honored. He started more charities then any other entertainer. He helped to heal the divide between white and black. He was not found guilty in any charge against him. He paid millions in taxes. Have any of our recent presidents done anything that would deem them to be honored? Ronald Reagan started the downward spiral of the economy that we are feeling now. Bush Jr. started an illegal war and allowed torture. Just these two examples, are people who have serverly harmed our country. Did Michael do anything to harm his country? No. Was Michael addicted to illegal drugs? No. If he was addicted to anything they were legal, but probably obtained illegally by those who administered them to him. Has anyone brought as much joy and happiness as this man? No. His songs and dance moves are imitated the world over. An alcoholic and cocaine user can become the President of the United States but a man who has done so much good for the world and preached only love and peace his entire life is not worthy of acknowlegement.

[eridees]

I'm not surprised at Pelosi's stance. We have an ineffective majority dem house that can't grasp the fact that they won an election and have a mandate from the people to pass health care reform. So you think they have the guts to pass a Michael Jackson resolution. For those who are upset by this, don't worry, there will be other countries who truly recognize his contribution and will put us to shame by honoring him.

[caseyasmith]

Look, nit wit, honoring a mindless pop star who sang crappy songs is NOT as important as healthcare and getting our economy back on track. Any government that wastes time and energy honoring a freaking POP SINGER is ridiculous. Get in the real world. Michael Jackson sucks and so do you. Start expecting better from your representatives and quit whining about a dem majority not wanting to idolize some strange, ridiculous pop star.

[eridees]

Your intelligent well thought out rant has converted me from nit wittatude.­.. There do you feel better. I hope so and then maybe you can stop attacking anyone who has an opinion contrary to yours.