In an AP interview today, President Barack Obama called the late entertainer a brilliant performer, while also addressing the star's troubled personal life:
"I'm glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer," he told the AP. "I think that Michael Jackson will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers. His brilliance as a performance also was paired with a tragic and in many ways, sad personal life."
Obama said he grew up on Jackson's music, adding, "I still have all his stuff on my iPod."
As for any criticism from members of the black community arguing that he should have spoken out sooner, the President (who did write a private letter to the Jackson family soon after the superstar's death) downplayed the potential controversy.
"I know a lot of people in the black community, and I haven't heard [complaints]," Obama said.
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Why must he mention his personal life? Just say he was a great musician and be done with it. We KNOW he had a sad life, no need to reiterate that fact. Jeez.
Take the new Michael Jackson poll — who should get custody of his kids? Vote here:
http://movies-tv-entertainment.blogspot.com/
The Foxtrot, the President has the right to state his own opinion, just as you are. Some people will criticize him no matter what he says! Jeez.
his personal life was tragic. the viper media took him down.
I don’t even know why people would be worried about what the President thinks about an entertainer. I mean, yeah, I was saddened by the passing of Michael Jackson, and I’m listening to Man in the Mirror as I type this, but should anyone be upset that the president didn’t address the death of a pop star earlier? Priorities people, hopefully he’s been busy running the government, and just finally got around to saying something.
In response to Jason C. the only reason the president cares is because that is where all his fans are, celebrates who he wants to stay on good graces with so he can be elected in 2012. With all the famous celebrates who have passed away in the last 2 weeks, the only one he has acknowledged is Michael Jackson, now what does that tell you!!!!
Farrah Fan: I was mainly responding to the fact that the article talked about the black community being upset because he didn’t acknowledge MJ’s death sooner. Seriously! I don’t care who died, the president is running the free world, he doesn’t have to acknowledge it, that’s not his job.
he is only brilliant! not tragic!
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The same people who did Micheal Jackson in are the same people controlling President Obama, so he couldn’t just say MJ was brilliant. That would make Micheals persecutors (the scribes and pharasees)look bad.
Prolly afraid of the pedofiles. Thats why he didn’t talk aobu thim. http://geeklovematch.com
MJ is a winner at the end, all the glories,fame, love,affection showered on him once by all (always by his fans) multiplied at the end of his life. “You are not alone MJ, Our heart is with you”.
Michael Jackson is an artist. Artists are cultural ambassadors to the world. And as such they change and convert minds when wars, broken treaties, and ignorance abounds. Michael Jackson’s relevancy is right up there with Charlie Chaplin, The Beatles, Picasso, and other modern cultural icons. Despite his many duties as President there is no excuse. And his failure to execute this simple task adequately is noted.
He could have left out the part about his personal life. Making statements is about a person’s contribution. I have no word for Obama’s behavior and words in all this.