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

[MrRight77]

A great entertainer YES! A role model to anyone NO! If you disagree look at his background. Furthermore wait until the toxicology report comes out.

[Cherubim]

Maybe some day you will be able to recieve the gift from God, that is Michael Jackson:
Watch this video clue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iPWeu33s34

[Lynn McKinney]

We are all gifts from God. I agree with MrRight77. A truly great entertainer. But, I sure don't want my children to not be able to accept themselves. Nor do I want them to be as self indulgent as this man was.

A role model.....????

[DARKBLUE]

If any resolutions should be made they should be made for our men and women in the armed forces who are fighting for and dying for this country and people and freedom. If it were not for these men and women Michael Jackson would not haave been able to do anything. Enough about Michael Jackson. Get to something more important.

[Cherubim]

Matthew 5:9
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
King James Bible
Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66niaoZ5caI&feature=related

[FGDinVA]

Michael had compassion for all suffering people, including our maimed and injured military.

[rzan1]

Michael contributed $300,000,000 to charitable causes. No, he didn't serve in the military, but he did a lot of good.

[MarcusT]

There are 661 posts with 6 pending. Very depressing.

[laughsatducks]

Why depressing? Shouldn't there be more?

[laughsatducks]

Yesterday, the articles about Pelosi were two of the top three articles here, as they should of been.
Today, the top three stories are about the Jackson family fighting, Bruno (idiot) and Emma Watson. You have to scroll waaaay down to find ONE of the Pelosi articles. Hmmmm.........
Why the change in importance? I have blogged several times about the importance of having a national dialouge about several topics. I would think this would be the one to really focus on.
They have the time to discuss this. What's the problem?
Regardless of my position on other things, I have to say Pelosi is so wrong on this one and I question Huff Po for trying to slide it down the scale.
Off the topic, why is CNN (Showbiz Tonight) talking about and debating Jackson's skin color and whether or not he had the skin disease that his own doctor said he had?
Why do I have the feeling I am going to get to say I was wrong on some other things.........

[Ed Urbanowski]

Maybe they can honor our men and women dying overseas first. If history is kind to home perhapr s Mr. Jackson will be remembered...

[Cherubim]

The U.S. Congress have no Heavenly offerings, thus, they have
nothing to give Michael Jackson.
While on Earth Michael Jackson surrounded himself with what
was Beautiful and good. He was a true BLESSING TO THE WORLD,
and most of all he was a blessing to his children.
Michael Jackson's TREASURES on Earth were his children, and
now he watches over them from Heaven.
Yes, Angels are among us.
Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBuDh13TZJY&feature=related

[roblabrousse]

It's a worthy gesture. It also makes sense that while other issues are not being addresses by Congress. This one should join the group. Beside all these resolutions amount to what? Just one more resolution. What would be more appropriate would be to build a theater/music and dance institut somewhere in his name. A physical tribute to his fame and talent. That's more befitting.

[kbkw54]

Pelosi looks like MJ. LOL

[blaharumph]

we're quite used to this in houston:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6521774.html

[FGDinVA]

I think that in this situation, with so many things surrounding his death still unexplained, time is a better test than Congress as to whether Michael deserves this recognition. There are so many children that went through the doors of his house. I believe that they will eventually come forth and either redeem him or damn him.

He was not just a song and dance man. He was an entertainer of the highest order. He was also a humanitarian of the highest order. He didn't just give his money, his compassion for those in need was unequalled.

His life was a test of our ability to accept and love others who are different from ourselves. His later life was like an open wound that some would gloat over and some would grieve over. The grievers will never believe he was guilty and the gloaters will never believe he was innocent. Practically speaking, Michael Jackson was found innocent in a court of law, and that's good enough for me.

[clsmithj]

Don't you think if there were any then children (now adults today like you and I) that were abused would have come fourth when the opportunity had presented itself best to do so during his 2005 trial?

[Holypat777]

There are reports that victims and their families were threatened with violence if they came forth.

[FGDinVA]

Good point. Like I said, he was acquitted and that's good enough for me. I don't know how the authorities conducted their investigation or whether the court required corroborating testimony. In most cases like this, the court tends to believe the child above all others. For Jackson to be aquitted points of the weakness of the plaintiff's case.

[AdamX]

He slept with 13 year olds - but no sex. I don't care - how inappropriate. He was a philanthropist, therefor his mental illness should be ignored?

[FGDinVA]

If his mental illness only meant that he was a 10-yr-old psychologically, then what?

[roblabrousse]

Michael Jackson is dead. The rest of this has to do with other people's criteria. Pelosi was saying that the Congress' time doesn't need to betaken up with a matter like this.

Anyone who admires him won't change their feelings because a "resolution" wasn't passed. Something that will never bespoken about probably anyways. Let's erect a statue or start a fund for an educational institute .

[sixyfivepercentwater]

The house does indeed need to stay away from this. I can't be alone in thinking a lot of interesting and unsavory factoids are going to come out about Jackson in the coming days and weeks, and anyone who praises him now is probably going to have egg on their faces in the future. I hope that at some point the dust will be allowed to settle and he can be remembered for the commercial pop icon he was.

[Bluejay00234]

And when the fairy in the sky takes George Clooney congress will honor him with a resolution of being the world hottest bachelor. What a joke.

[StillAmused]

Ironically, one of the kindest things Pelosi could have done for the Jackson family. She knows the GOP hyenas well -- having been a victim, herself -- and is depriving them a platform from which to hurl their toxic venom for 24-7 consumption by the amoral network cameras.

Better the news cycle concentrates on the GOP's own ever-growing list of disgraced hypocrites. It is a wise person who knows when NOT to pick a fight. Just step aside and let them destroy themselves.

Thankfully, a well-intended but meaningless proclamation from a body of clueless politicians is the last thing necessary to establish Michael Jackson's special place in the American story.

[confuseddemocrat]

Yes I agree....the death of MJ has dominated the news obscuring the recent developments in Iran and diverting attention from the multitude of Repub scandals......

the GOP will use this resolution to spew out a litany of coded terms just to promulgate wedge issues surrounding race, liberalism and sexual preferences (not insinuating anything about MJ, just describing how the GOP mind works)

Thus the GOP will use MJ and his family as a foil just to divert attention away from GOP's ethical, political and moral missteps

[Steamboater]

Don't kid yourself. A lot of democrats would be hard-pressed to vote for that resolution and they shouldn't. Jackson did some very good thjings and was a brilliant artost but he also hd a personal life that shouldn't be admired. Whether he was a pederast or not was never proved but he admitted he slept with young boys. When I saw that boy from that British talent show sing at the memorial and he said that Jackson called him and invited him etc etc etc, a big red flag went up.

[samandally]

Thank you Steamboater, the huffington haters always have to try and point fingers to make themself seem better. If a person has good memories of the man that's all you need.A resolution is not going to make people respect him more or less at this point.

[StillAmused]

"When I saw that boy from that British talent show sing at the memorial and he said that Jackson called him and invited him etc etc etc, a big red flag went up."

*
"Shaheen shot to fame earlier this year after singing the Jackson 5 hit Who's Lovin' You on ITV's Britain's Got Talent and the Jackson family has chosen him to pay tribute to the late singer in the most spectacular celebrity send-off of all time.

"He has been flown to Los Angeles and will perform alongside stars including Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, and Usher." -- Telegraph, UK
*

*
"The biggest night of 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi’s life was meant to come next Monday; he was due to duet with Michael Jackson at the singer’s comeback London concerts at the O2 Arena." -- The Times, UK
*

... and Kenny Ortega explained, following Shaheen's performance -- right there on the TV machine -- that Jackson had invited him to perform with him in the London concerts.

But you wouldn't know, since you were busy hoisting your tattered red flag.

How very sad.

[felisa11]

from another poster

:They honored Isaac Hayes with a resolution, and Graceland got a Senate Resolution passed by Bill Frist: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060327-455" and a book about Elvis's death shows he was just as hotly dissected as Michael Jackson with several resolutions being discussed in Congress: http://books.google.com/books?id=9xFnqI9QBikC&pg=PA133&lpg=PA133&dq=congress+honors+elvis+-jackson&source=bl&ots=eMmaiquMAY&sig=PGGqSBj4lF_wD08npVBHbZ-MG-Y&hl=en&ei=1qRWSsvEKsKMtgfz_MDFAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11

[AsianAfricanAMERICAN]

Big MJ fan here...But who cares...?


Congress should be focusing on important issues, not celebrities. I can honor MJ on my own time and dime.