Obama says he grew up listening to Michael Jackson

AP ^ | 7/2/09 | Natasha Metzler

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

WASHINGTON (AP)

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

The president said he didn't see any controversy in the fact that he did not issue a formal public statement upon Jackson's death, and said he was unaware of any dissatisfaction in the black community with his response. "I know a lot of people in the black community," Obama said. "I haven't heard that." Obama added that Thursday's interview was the first time he had been asked about Jackson's death.

Then why make ANY STATEMENT AT ALL???

[Borges]

I was shocked he didn't make a statement immediately. Bush would have the same day.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

From Thursday, June 25, 2009:

Vanity: Has President Obama released a statement about Michael Jackson’s death yet?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2279627/posts

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Hollywood News Ping List

[Blue Jays]

"...Why make ANY STATEMENT AT ALL?..."

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Exactly.
There is no reason for the POTUS to issue a statement on the life & death of a pop entertainer.

[lewisglad]

[musicman]

"Obama added that Thursday's interview was the first time he had been asked about Jackson's death."

[bikerman]

Lying sack of $*%t

[a fool in paradise]

The Obama Show airs every day. No Reruns.

He’s got to find SOMETHING to talk about that people can get behind.

“Me too! I liked Michael Jackson!” works in that regard.

[a fool in paradise]

Well, Michael Jackson’s no Eric Clapner.

[Dallas59]

All in Arabic?

[Borges]

Presidents have made statements on the death of artists for a long time. Taft said something about Mark Twain. FDR about Jerome Kern. I remember Bush issuing a statement when Katherine Hepburn died.

[Tarpon]

Colonel Obama grew up in the Muslim military junta of Indonesia, where I doubt they had electricity, much less listen to Jackson, or even knew what he was.

[Freedom56v2]

President Barack Obama described himself as a longtime follower of Michael Jackson,

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I didn’t know President was a FOLLOWER of MJ—IMHO odd choice of words—perhaps “fan” would have been more appropriate as it seems “follower” is usually reserved for religious conotation....

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I hate to defend Obama but given his age it’s highly likely he did grow up listening to Michael Jackson. Between the early seventies and late eighties it was hard not to listen to Jackson given how many hits he had (solo or with his brothers). Furthermore, I think any president has better things to do than issue a pronouncement about a dead celebrity, let alone one who was an unconvicted child molester.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

AFAIK, this is the first time that Obama has claimed to be a MJ fan. Check out this fawning article, from a year ago:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/25/barackobama.uselections2008

Amongst all the musicians mentioned — no MJ.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Obama added that Thursday's interview was the first time he had been asked about Jackson's death.

B.S. I'm sure he wept, as did Michelle, last Thursday and Friday when the news of Jackson's death first appeared.

So, if the tin-pot dictator of North Korea decides to wipe every single Pacific Rim island within the next week, and President Obama is not directly asked about this or inquires himself about these developments, should we then assume that he will not release any statement about a possible nuclear or terrorist attack upon the population.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I was shocked he didn't make a statement immediately."

He had to wait for the poll results and focus group studies to roll in.

[Gator113]

Any and all blacks that believe this garbage are walking miracles..... because with only 1 brain cell, you shouldn’t even be breathing..... or you should be a jellyfish.

[A. Patriot]

I wonder if Michael Jackson was popular in Jakarta, Indonesia in the Molsem community when B.O. was young and growing up there?