President Obama Remembers Jackson the Icon While Keeping in Mind the 'Sad and Tragic' Parts of His Life

Michael Jackson has got to be one of the most important influences in my life. I was brought up in a southern family that had few black friends and I grew up hating but the music of Michael Jackson changed me. My family hated that a black man meant so much and changed so much in my life.I'm happy to say my wedding will be on his b-day. And I can't wait till the day comes when i will sing praises to God alongside him in Heaven.

Michael Jackson had much world wide influence; and it has been positive for 40 years. Let's see Obama match that record, even with his teenage drinking and drugging!

world has lost great pop star.....

Rest in peace Michael Jackson

Farrah and Ed were very good entertainers but Michael Jackson was great. He was phenomenal. He was extraordinary. Michael crossed age, gender, racial and class lines and tore down barriers of segregation that were impossible to cross before him. Michael broke the record for charitable contributions and made a significant difference in the lives of suffering people worldwide. We cared about Farrah and Ed but losing Michael is like turning off all the lights on Time Square or in Paris. The space left behind is dark and ordinary without him.

are we serious. It is sad that Michael Jackson died. Fine. He was just one person and we have a Presidential press conference to learn that Obama is mourning his loss?

This during a recession, with multiple wars on-goings, with Korea&Iran&Isreal threaten an almost armegeddon, with homelessness, with illegal aliens flooding our streets, with crime skyrocketeding, with a coup in Honduras, with Mexico threatening to destabilize due to disease and druglords?

And Obama is fretting over MJ? What about Farrah or Ed, Obama? Why no press conferences there also?

Micheal Jackson is a person that everybody enjoyed seeing in concert.

In the year of 1992 i had a dream that Micheal Jackson and i got married.

I was in a DUI program at the time of the dream at Drake Hospital. And when i woke up from the dream my room mates said to me invite us to the wedding.

He is forever in my heart and his spirit lives on because he came and vistied me. He inspired me to write a song in 1987. it is called Spin Your Fire with me.

Love Stacy/Cincinnati

President Obama has already matched and surpassed the accomplishments of my beloved Michael Jackson. The President is the most influential leader of the free world and the first African American to hold the office of Commander In Chief of the United States of America. Michael Jackson was BAD but even he never accomplished that. I love you Michael and I love you President OBAMA.

Michael Jackson was a great soul, in addition to being a music/entertainment icon.
End of story!

For who does not have 'sad and tragic aspects' to their lives?

In remembering Obama, should the 'sad and tragic aspects' of his life -- teenage drugging, etc be mentioned in order to diminish the REASON WE REMEMBER those who are near and dear?

If Obama can remain a direct, energizing and fulfilling focus for world attention that Michael Jackson has been for 40 year, then that would be a great accomplishment for Obama.

Michael Jackson had much world wide influence; and it has been positive for 40 years. Let's see Obama match that record, even with his teenage drinking and drugging!

What a crazy statement lol!

Congress has just passed a new bill that will devastate our country -- Cap and Trade for CO2... and the press is totally occupied with MJ....?

I think the only kid Michael ever damaged was himself. You were not a witness to any molestation and you did not attend Michael Jackson’s trial. All you have to go on is tabloid gossip. A jury of 12 who actually heard the evidence acquitted Michael Jackson.

I feel very sorry for the kids Michael damaged.

As a person who grew up in Detroit Michigan listening to the beautiful music of Michael Jackson and his siblings I am filled with sorrow at the passing of this great man. Michael was very special to me as a long time fan. I always felt a little protective of him even though I didn’t know him personally. I pray he finds the peace and happiness in death he was never able to find in life. His music filled me with so much joy and I will never forget the impact he has had on my life and the world. I hope President Obama whom I also love will make a stronger statement about the incredible loss the world has suffered. Michael deserves the respect and appreciation. To the family of Michael Jackson I express my deep condolences. I love you and will miss you Michael. Let your voice now join the voices of the angels in heaven.

distraught, disheartened & a little disgusted

Thank you for this post. I believe that it is imperative that President Obama considers the ramifications of failure to honor the greatness of Micahel Jackson as other world leaders have.
Last night I e-mailed The Whitehouse with a short list of Michael's songs that express his humantarian nature & compassion. Due to President Obama's moral values which coincide so with Michael's, one would think that he would be honored to speak of Michael. I just don't get it. Is President Obama at a loss for words ? This would be a 1rst. At the very least, I feel strongly that he should direct The Whitehouse and/or ask First Lady Michelle to express some light on this great loss. President Obama's delay in responding seems inconsistant with his usual respectful, intelligent & heartfelt manner. I feel disillusioned by him and certainly hope that something airs from a place that the world has just recently begun to look up to again.

There was nothing holding the President back when he answered that question about MLB Yankee player Alex Rodriguez admission of his passed steroid usage.

I believe the same frenzy and fame that pushed Obama to the White House is of the same drive that propel Michael Jackson as a person recognized across the globe.

I rather heard these statements directly from the President and not indirectly told through Gibbs. Obama's silence speaks volumes. It seems every week I get a little more disappointed at this White House.

U may judge him, u may ridicule him, you may curse him, but the only judgement that matters to him, is the judgement of the man that can only give you eternal salvation. Through him, with him, in him.

I just wanted to say that this is a sad day in US history, for a US president to issue a statement acknowledging an incident that Micael was accused of, but was found innocent in a court of law. The administration is basically saying even though Michael was found innocent in a court of law the speculation of the charges are enough to convict anyone in the court of public opinion. What happened to innocent till proven guilty? Oh wait he was pronounced innocent!! Yet he is still guilty in the country's eyes!!

Dear Mr President,

Don't you think that that there should be proper statement issued directly to the american people about the legend that is Michael Jackson? Long before you came into the picture, Michael Jackson inspired generations. Long before Oprah, Michael was reaching out to help millions of children in need of help. I believe that music had just lost an icon. As the people's president, I believe that you should acknowledge the people's King of Pop.

You people don't have anything better to do... maybe you oughta get a hobby.
MJ was a pop star & an incredibly troubled person, but he was not involved in politics or world issues. He did not get involved in anything socio-political whatsoever in his life.
Don't you think that the president of the United Stated has far more important things to be concerned about & spend his time on than the death of Michael Jackson?

He did issue a statement... through his spokesperson. That's enough. I want my leader to be occupying his time with the business of leading our nation.

Obama's got his priorities in order... it's time for you to get yours in order as well.

Korea, Iran, the economy, then a deceased celebrity who loved fame and made his children pay for that fame by wearing masks - rather than settle down and raise them normally. A power hungry singer who has hardly worked in years.

Obama is not outspoken about foreign policy, sure, except when it comes to Burkas ? O gee...