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Pelosi Slams Door on Jackson Resolution

By SUZANNE GAMBOA

posted: 3 HOURS 35 MINUTES AGO

comments: 228

filed under: Gut Reactions, Highbrow, Music News, Politics

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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.

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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."

"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.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2009-07-09 13:45:03

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MsTaeia

08:06 PMJul 10 2009

Michael blows me away. He was beyond perfectly beautiful "Gone Too Soon" ~A true MJ fan from the heart~

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MsTaeia

08:01 PMJul 10 2009

Michael's music have such added dimensions. "Gone Too Soon" ~A true MJ fan from the heart~

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MsTaeia

07:59 PMJul 09 2009

MJ fans to MJ haters we do not have to agree on everything, but we must have the same mind set when it comes to stating that MJ is the, "King of Pop." "Gone Too Soon" ~A true MJ fan from the heart~

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MsTaeia

07:56 PMJul 09 2009

Michael deserves to rest in peace. "Gone Too Soon" ~A true MJ fan from the heart~

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BlueTickLAM

07:55 PMJul 09 2009

Ms Taeia put the child down that youre nursing ,grab a phone book and try to call a 2 yr college or maybe look in the paper and find a job.Make educated Black people proud of YOU !

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UNZIPnFLIP

07:52 PMJul 09 2009

Sheila Jackson Lee.. Where are your priorities? (and what is the average IQ of the people who voted for you? ) (seriouslly)What a waste of government money.

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MsTaeia

07:52 PMJul 09 2009

I know that we fans need to advocate for MJ so that his legacy can live as it deserves. "Gone Too Soon" ~A true MJ fan from the heart~

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jesonma13

07:51 PMJul 09 2009

I found a great dating site ______Wealthyloves.com______where you have the opportunity dreaming about dating a millionaire and make it true! u dont have to be a millionaire.but u can meet one. I thought everyone needed to meet some miracle after all the terrible stuff in the news and the economy .------

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BlueTickLAM

07:48 PMJul 09 2009

We agree on one thing ,Pelosi is bad. She makes we good Democrats look like a liberal.

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BlueTickLAM