Michael Jackson Resolution Squashed By Pelosi

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shut the door Thursday to a resolution honoring Michael Jackson because debate on the symbolic measure could raise "contrary views" about the pop star's life.

Lawmakers are free to use House speeches "to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "I don't think it's necessary for us to have a resolution."

A resolution sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, cites some of the singer's charitable acts and proclaims him an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian.

Even before Pelosi's comments, some Democrats said privately they did not support the resolution and a divisive debate would hurt House efforts to muster the votes for priorities such as health care and climate change.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who posted a video on YouTube calling Michael Jackson a "pervert" and a "pedophile," has pledged to do all he could to block the resolution.

Michael Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy. Those allegations, and his admission that children slept in his bed at his home but nothing sexual occurred, have led some members of Congress to put distance between themselves and any formal honor for the entertainer.

"A resolution, I think, would open up to contrary views to _ that are not necessary at this time to be expressed in association with a resolution whose purpose is quite different," Pelosi said at a Capitol Hill news conference where she discussed various legislative matters.

Unbowed, Jackson Lee said she will seek support from colleagues who thanked her when she introduced the measure June 26, one day after Michael Jackson died. She said honorary resolutions don't often "pass the next day."

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"On this floor we elevate people and doing that we have to work to tell your story," she said after a House vote. But she would need support from Democratic leadership for the resolution to advance to the full House from the committee where it is now.

When members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a moment of silence in the House after Jackson died June 25, some lawmakers walked out of the chamber.

Jackson Lee has pledged that the resolution, now before the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she is a member, would come to the full House for debate. Such honorary measures normally move quickly from committee to the full House and pass on a voice vote.

But Jackson Lee's resolution was in trouble early. It drew only one co-sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and was not endorsed by other black caucus members.

From the stage at Jackson's memorial Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Jackson Lee hoisted a framed copy of the resolution.

___

Associated Press writer Jim Abrams contributed to this report.

Comments

[citygal1500]

Congress has more important things to do than pass a resolution honouring Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, or any other entertainer. They should leave that to the Kennedy Center and spend their time fixing the country!

[mcmingus]

Like this is a big deal. Pelosi being ridiculous, might as well be a Republican.

She'll let the Black Caucus soldier forth on their own, and they'll get nowhere.

[nowarpleez]

Pelosi is a b*tch.

[EdwardMRoche]

Mozart frequently used excessive scatology. Picasso was a cruel womanizer. Michaelangelo and DaVinci had sexual issues. John Nash was a schizophrenic. Socrates was condemned to death for corruption of youth.

Congresspersons will come and go, including Representative King who seems to have taken up the baton of continuing to accuse a person of felonies when the jury as trier of fact has found him innocent; King who was not a juror, King who never examined any of the evidence, King who as representative of our government has sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution which has established a system of law and justice that should be respected, and King whose opinions are little more than cheap sensationalist journalism trash.

Yes, Congresspersons will come and go, including representative King. But Michael Jackson's music will outlive them all.

[Chernynkaya]

Yes, I once had a professor who asked us if we'd rather have great literature written by bas tards or mediocre stories written by nice guys. Same with music- Wagner anyone? (Although, MJ was merely different, not Wagnerian.)

[octopi]

Perfect response.

[Free2Speak]

There was never any proof of how much money MJ paid for the first accuser,media throws around 20 million but the most credible insider said 4.5 million.But the media prefer the 20 million which they just conjured up. China is building a small Neverland in a tribute to MJ at cost of 15 million dollar.I think it will eventually turn into a Disneyland competitor after they see how the people want to express their unwaverable love for MJ from all over the world.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Thank you, Madame Speaker.

[MTiffany]

In offering this Resolution Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has demonstrated precisely the amount of thoughtful foresight that Michael Jackson used when he shared his bed with adolescent boys, "even though nothing sexual happened."
If you can't prove the truth, you probably can't disprove the rumor. Idiots, the both of them.

[cakejab]

Rep. Lee is making the point that the STATE OF CA and child welfare found Michael Jackson falsely accused, i.e. FOR MONEY.

[MTiffany]

First, Rep. Lee is making a point about the child molestation charges with her Resolution by not mentioning them in the Resolution? Really?
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.600:
I would say that to be able to do so would be quite ingenious, were it not for the fact that someone smart enough to pull off that kind of legislative legerdemain would probably be smart enough to also figure out in advance the epic sh*tstorm that such an action would instigate among the reactionary bigot Republicans in Congress and would therefore not be quite so ham-handed and impulsive to publicly announce the Resolution at a televised memorial service without first securing the backing of the majority of her fellow members of Congress needed for its passage.
Otherwise it might just look like nothing so much as opportunistic self-serving posturing and grandstanding. And we know politicians would never do that. Especially on the sensitive issues of race and child molestation. That would just be tacky! And we know Sheila Jackson Lee certainly isn't a race-baiting, tacky, opportunist using a publicly televised memorial service to push her own agenda.

[Ugonna]

she was trying to honor his achievements, not declare him a saint. Next.

[sabrinatee]

Don't members of the House of Representatives have anything more pressing to do than attempt to pass resolutions deifying Michael Jackson - say, oh, taking on the recession, overseas conflict, health care, education, etc.? Jackson will continue to be memorialized in the media for months to come - isn't that enough?

[Ugonna]

Months to come isn't enough, and two, he won't be memorialized by them anymore. It is pretty clear they have moved on to the investigative aspect of the tragedy(naturally so).

[chulanow]

Congress passes resolutions all the time honoring every day Americans, so why are the Democrats against honoring Michael Jackson?

If the Congressional Black Congress wants to honor a fellow African American then Democrats should support them.

This latest move by Pelosi is not going to go over very well with Jackson supporters and if the Dems insist on blocking this resolution then they can be assured that their campaign fundraising coffers are going to dry up for the 2010 elections and beyond.

[mcmingus]

Agreed. Nothing to lose by supporting the resolution. But Pelosi's afraid of Republicans going postal about this. Pelosi, the panicky, paranoid politically expedient, white mouse of the House.

[FCruz12780]

Pelosi is a smar tlady. This debate would have been nasty.

[Dunworkin]

Why would the black people of congress want to be involved in speaking out for this person who was ashamed of his own color,why is he any greater than Ray Charles or all the other black entertainers
of other time periods,the jazz artists or big band artists who made it possible for M.Jackson.

[Ugonna]

why are so sure he was "ashamed" of his race??? This has been confronted so many times, it is obvious you don't want to listen.

[moda31]

surely this means nancy will stop all the other symbolic resolutions that the house passes for celebrities and others....i won't hold my breath. this resolution was no more "unnecessary" than any of the hundreds of others just like it that the house has passed.

[Halfwit]

I have to wonder if she is trying to stop other congressman and women making speeches on the floor of the house like Rep King's. The debate on this resolution could get really ugly.

[RobinLandseadel]

The responses on this blog demonstrate that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doing the right thing. Whether history determines that Michael Jackson left a lasting mark on culture is not known or knowable. As of this moment, the once and future Gloved One is a third rail.

[wrenchdevil]

agreed.

[Jazzylady26]

excuse me, but who died and made chickenhead pelosi God? Who? Judge not lest ye be judged? let's pray to god, whomever that might be, that this hag isn't caught with her hand in the till of the nation's coffers, yes? I used to admire this woman! what an incredible disappointment!!!

[tfred]

Lee should get the black caucus together and they should vote against EVERY bill that that _itch Pelosi brings to the floor. Let her see who has the real power in the congress.

[Cherubim]

The Church, says Amen.

[Lynn McKinney]

Think before you speak.

[TheBlackCat]

You honestly want to bring the country to a stand still in the midst of the biggest economic crisis since the depression just to spite someone for dissing Michael Jackson?

Brings the idea of celebrity worship to a whole new level.

Way to have your priorities in order. Not to mention, I hardly think that what you're proposing would be something endorsed by Jackson himself.

[TheBlackCat]

also, if you read this article, only two members of the black caucus supported this resolution. So not even the black caucus supports it.

[Tanyars5]

yes indeed.......

[aquarius64]

Really? If the CBC pulls that bonehead move and holds up the 2nd stimulus, health care, education and other policies that would aid the African American community (their constituents), let's see how fast those same constituents will stick with them. Cynthia McKinney and William Jefferson prove the members are not invuneralbe. They represented predominately black districts and still were booted out of office during their races because of some stupid move they did (throwing a cell phone at a cop and packing marked FBI money in the refrigerator). There is so much the black electorate will take off its representatives.