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July 7, 2009 7:41 AM

Obama Compares Jackson To Elvis, Lennon

Posted by Kevin Hechtkopf
(CBS)
In an interview this morning with CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid from Moscow, President Obama weighed in on the topic of the day – Michael Jackson's funeral.

"There are certain figures in our popular culture that just capture peoples' imagination, and in death they become even larger," Mr. Obama said. "I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable."

The president compared the outpouring of grief to what happened when Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Frank Sinatra died.

Mr. Obama said Jackson was one of the country's greatest entertainers who had a profound effect on two generations.

"It's not surprising people mourning loss," he said.

Click here for complete coverage of Michael Jackson's death and today's memorial

Watch video of the interview below:

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Barack Obama ,
Michael Jackson ,
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Add a Comment See all 23 Comments
by sam-kiley July 8, 2009 8:36 AM EDT
bonjour
elvis, lennon, sinatra ont marqué l'histoire de la musique, a leur maniére, sauf que ces derniers n'ont pas subi le calvaire qu'a subi michael jackson tout au long de sa carriére..il n'a pas été épargné jusqu'a sa deniére heure et pourquoi?????? la couleur de sa peau...
il a été accusé de pé......mais meme aprés avoir été acquitté, il n'a pas été épargné..contrairememnt a beaucoup d'autres accusé du meme délit...cela dit michael et apr le témoignage de beaucoup avait un grand coeur, et un talent exceptionnel, je m'étonne aussi que d'un coté on le pleure, on lui rende hommage, d'un autre coté on n'hésite pas a le critiquer meme a prés son décés, il faudrait savoir..au revoir
Reply to this comment
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 8:13 AM EDT
BEAT IT THRILLET!!!!
Reply to this comment
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 8:11 AM EDT
OH AND TO CBS NEWS U SHOULD BE ASHAMED OR UR SELF TOO U AND I KNOW THAT U SHOULD HAVE MORE RESPECT AND ADDRESS THE PRESEDENT AS PRESEDENT OBAMA ALL THE OTHER PRESEDENTS WERE ADDRESSED WITH PRESEDENT!!!!! WHATS WRONG WITH U GUYS DON'T U HAVE MANNERSS!! AND I'M TALKING ABOUT AT THE TOOP OF THIS PAGE IT SAYS OBAMA INSTEAD OF PRESEDENT OBAMA SHI- HE'S THAT DUDE!! HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT COME ON!
Reply to this comment
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 7:43 AM EDT
OK OBAMA I MEAN PRESIDENT OBAMA U DO DESERVE THAT RESPECT!!!WHICH ALOT OF PEOPLE DONT HAVE... I UNDERSTAND UR COMMENT BUT ELVIS, JOHN LENNON AR RANKED UP THERE WIT MICHAEL JACKSON BUT, U AND I KNOW WE COULD NOT ROCK TO NO ELVIS OR JOHN LENNON WE ARE TALIKNG ABOUT THE GREATEST MUSIC ARTIST EVER I COULDN'T DANCE TO ELVIS OR JOHN LENNONS MUSIC I SPEEK FOR U THIS TIME MIKE STOLE THE SHOW EVEERY WHERE HE WENT HIS DEATH IS WAY WORST THAN THOST GUYS. A LOT OF THE GENERATION DONT EVEN KNOW WHO JOHN LENNON ANN THE ONLY REASON THE YOUNGER GENERATION KNOWS ELVIS IS BECAUSE MICHAEL MARRIED HIS DAUGHTER IF NOT NONE OF THE NEW GENERATION WOULD KNOW OF THESE GUYS NOW ON THE OTHER HAND EVERYBODY FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFT YOUNG OLD BLACK WHITE CHINESSE MEXICAN AFRICAN BABIES EVEN KNOW HIM!! I COULD GO ON ON AND ON I LIKE JOHN AND ELVIS BUT I LOVE MICHAEL JACKSON BIG TIME.GOD BLESS MY PRESEDENT CAUSE WE COMPARE U TO MICHAEL JACKSON AND WE JUST MET U WIT UR FINE SELF. I UNDERSTAND MY PRESEDENT FOR THAT THOUGHT.. I LOVE U PRESEDENT OBAMA.... GOD BLESS U AN UR FAMILY NOW BEAT IT!!!!LOL
Reply to this comment
by erasmus111 July 7, 2009 4:11 PM EDT
by AttentionDeficit July 7, 2009 6:39 AM PDT
My bad. Priscilla and Elvis were doing it when she was 14, but she didn't move in until she was 16.


You are BAD. Priscilla wasn't having sex with Elvis at the age of 14.

In fact, even later they were not having sex. I remember her saying that Elvis didn't want to touch her.
Reply to this comment
by TheGoodGuise July 7, 2009 12:43 PM EDT
I'm sure President Obama means well by putting Michael in the same category as John Lennon, but they were in entirely different leagues. A new book has been written that proves that John and Paul were the two witnesses that appear in The Bible in Revelation 11:3. The book can be read for FREE at http://thegoodguise.wordpress.com/. Read the book and learn just what was accomplished the final 1,260 days of The Beatles. While reading the book you will see that a new understanding of many aspects of their musical creations has taken place. For example, the line 'and of course Henry the horse dances the waltz' is finally explained in detail, putting to rest the debate that has carried on for the past 40 years. It is time for us to rethink The Beatles. Read the entire story. You will never look at The Beatles or The Bible in the same way again.
Reply to this comment
by despido July 7, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
Obama Compares Jackson To Elvis, Lennon...
-------------------------------------
It seems to me that Elvis preferred women and Lennon could actually write music.
Reply to this comment
by CobbT July 7, 2009 11:45 AM EDT
I have one question, why are folks making Michael Jackson out to be a Martyer?? I know he was found not guilty; however, why did he pay out those millions of dollars if he was not guilty of child molestation?? Just like OJ, got away with it. I am sorry, I had no use for him after that and sure don't have any use for him now. Thanks
Reply to this comment
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
YES U DO AND U SICK GET WELL SOON TOO!!!!
by Sloughfoot July 7, 2009 10:35 AM EDT
They're all maggot bait, end of story.
Reply to this comment
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 7:59 AM EDT
GET WELL SOON!!!!
by grabandgo July 7, 2009 10:04 AM EDT
I don't remember Elvis or Lennon fondling kids in their beds.
Reply to this comment
by gravyboat4000 July 7, 2009 10:10 AM EDT
Elvis fondled Priscilla when she was 14.

Lennon chose Yoko over the Beatles.

Yoko...FRIGGIN YOKO!

That said, the comparison is about their popularity, and the response to their deaths by fans.
by beentheir1 July 7, 2009 9:48 AM EDT
Why is it that people of black skin, always compair them selves to white skin people, I am a second JFK, LINCOLN, MJ having white children, changing his skin to white, whats going on here, or I'm I being a anti-black or pro-white. Being Old, Fat, at one time dark skin, but now white, "SKIN CANCER" and have lived and is older that MJ by 5 years. Wish that he have lived longer than me, because he is no ELVIS and dam sure not even close to JOHN LENNON!! OBAMA you are not close to JFK or LINCOLN get over it, pick someone that is black not white!!
Reply to this comment
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 7:59 AM EDT
PLEASE GO READ UR BIBLE. COLOR DOESNT MATTER ANY MORE LOOK AROUND U THIS WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW.AND FIRST OF ALL I NEVER SAW ABLACK OR WHITE PERSON IN MY LIFE I'VE SEEN BROWN PEOPLE AND I'VE SEEN PINK PEOPLE NOW WHEN U SEE A BLACK OR WHITE PERSON LET ME KNOW CAUSE I WANNA SEE THAT SHI-!!!!!!
by whatsup49 July 7, 2009 9:27 AM EDT
i'm sorry to see snobama commenting at all on this mj circus. mj does not deserve all the media attention he's received. shame on the news media for letting millions of other americans down when you dropped the ball on coverage of more important things, such as snobama's health care plan and cap and trade, both of which will have a profound impact on the american people's health and wallets. snobama campaigned on no new taxes for people making less than $250 k, however, his cap and trade bill will cause people to spend nearly 3k more in utility costs, and once his socialized health care goes through (please god, help bring congress to its senses), you won't have a choice but to accept the government's plan because private companies won't be able to compete. he'll likely also tax the heath care benefits millions receive through their employers to help cover those who don't have insurance, including 10 million illegals and another 10 million people who qualify for medicare and medicade but haven't signed up. there's 20 million of the estimated 47 million or so snobama and his allies claim don't have coverage. another large chunk are the 21 to 35 year olds who can afford to purchase health care coverage on their own but don't want to. alas, mainsteam news media have forgotten the millions of other americans who don't care about mj.

the news coverage of wacko jacko's death is befitting of a president or royalty, of which he was neither. rest in peace, wacko. the sooner it's over and done with, the quicker the news media can get back to their jobs, informing the american public of issues that matter, and not the death of some freakish entertainer.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 July 7, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
I find it curious that people see the need to add their comment on a subject that they would hope attention would wane?

An artist needs to create attention, if an artist is able to make an impression whether it is positive or negative an impression is what is desired.
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 7:48 AM EDT
OK I JUST HAVE THRE WORDS FOR ALL THE MJ HATERS U AND I KNOW ODVEOUS HE DOES!!!!!! AND HERES MY THREE WORDS AND THIS IS FOR ALL AND I MEAN ALL U HATERS GET WELL SOON!!!!! HAHHAHAHHAHHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH CAUSE UR SICK!!!!!!
by BREJONTE July 8, 2009 8:04 AM EDT
TO ALL U SICK PEOPLE GET WELL SOON!!!! ***- THE PRESS MICHAEL WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST!!!!RIP MICHAEL I GOT UR BACK.....
by maghop July 7, 2009 9:04 AM EDT
although some may believe he may have been a pedophile but in the eyes of the court of law, m.j. was aquitted of all charges. unless you have some factual insight you can not make statements that he was anything but a gifted performer. i own no m.j. music, i hold no bias towards him what so ever, in fact his death did not suprise me at all. he was different and we all recognized this, but it doesn't mean he was a child molester. for those who say and believe he was, support your opinion with actual facts and not heresay!! rip m.j. p.s. lennon was and still is the man!!
Reply to this comment
by xlib July 7, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
There's a difference between being acquitted and being found innocent. He was not found innocent.
But,if you find it just dandy that a grown man sleep and cuddle with little boys, go for it. Now, let's hear the usual lib argument about blaming the parents and totally sticking up for jackson. Yea, the parents of those kids should be held responsible but that does not mean jackson is/was without blame. I know it's hard for you libs to accept blame for anything.
by whosaid1 July 7, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
BitterSocialistsAreFunny, you nailed it !! Noone with that amount of money would allow someone to "shake" him down...without a real FIGHT. Unless, of course, they were guilty.....
by Angelicaaf July 7, 2009 5:55 PM EDT
As a parent myself if somebody had done that to my child no ammount of money would be better than him going to prision for what he did so as far as that goes the parents who accepted the cash are at fault and nobody could prove that he did it. It was the child's word(more than likely the parent's telling the child to say what he did) against Jackson's. He was a gifted performer and this world loves to focus on all the negitive in something. Somebody can't show love without being "weird". We are not to Judge anybody but if you must, than take a close look at BOTH sides of a story. The worst things are said about the most popular people in the world. The one's with the most talent and money because jealousy takes over in the hearts of those who could never ammount to what he did. He was a great humanitarian and he did wonders for this world. The man is dead show a little respect or keep your opinion to yourself!!
See all 23 Comments

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