July 2, 2009

Obama: "I Grew Up On" Michael Jackson

President Calls Pop Icon "One Of Our Greatest Entertainers," But Says His Personal Life Was "Tragic"

  • President Barack Obama speaks during a reception with National Finance Committee members, June 29, 2009, in Washington.

    President Barack Obama speaks during a reception with National Finance Committee members, June 29, 2009, in Washington.  (AP)

(AP)  President Barack Obama called Michael Jackson a great entertainer and said "I still have all his stuff on my iPod."

But in an interview with The Associated Press Thursday, Obama said he didn't see any controversy in the fact that he did not issue a formal public statement upon Jackson's death. Obama said, "Look, you're the first person who's actually asked me about it."

The president said that Jackson, who died last week at 50, will "go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers. I grew up on his music."

Obama said that at the same time that he felt Jackson had experienced "a tragic and in many ways sad personal life."

Click here for full coverage of Michael Jackson's death

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© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 19 Comments
by RCC_Soldaten July 3, 2009 9:36 AM EDT
Does Obama have to comment on every aspect of our lives? Or does the media truly believe he is the second coming? God help us.
Reply to this comment
by Benton09 July 3, 2009 6:51 AM EDT
I see the 'Third Reich' of the Republican Party was posting a lot on Thursday. Heil Limbaugh boys...
Reply to this comment
by RCC_Soldaten July 3, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
I bet you have a picture of 'Papa Joe' Stalin and Karl Marx in your kitchen don't ya? With Obama in the middle.
by nottellin1 July 3, 2009 12:18 AM EDT
The Prez is not so slick after all "still have all his songs on my ipod"? Still since when? When MJ was still current? Since he died? Since before he was accused of molestation? He must mean still since he died because the ipod was yet to be introduced for the other 2 events. Bam Bam is a typical Dem that will say anything to be popular!
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by HGOODGUY July 2, 2009 10:29 PM EDT
THE PROBLEM WITH MOST OF YOU "SUPERIOR INTELECTS" IS THAT ANY ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN "DUMBED DOWN" LIKE MOST OF YOU IS A THREAT!!!!

MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO "SCRATCH YOUR WATCH OR WIND YOUR ASS"
Reply to this comment
by jakedog030 July 2, 2009 6:21 PM EDT
He grew up on Jackson, Engels & Marx. And I don't mean Groucho.
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by credibility2 July 2, 2009 5:28 PM EDT
Obama sent a personal note of condolence to the Jackson family. I'll bet he doesn't do this for every celebrity that dies. Wonder, too, if Obama felt Michael's pain in being addicted to drugs?
Reply to this comment
by gravyboat4000 July 2, 2009 5:45 PM EDT
Where does it say he sent a note?

More made up nonsense from the fringe.

Hey, Todd's lookin for recruits for Alaska's militia, you should check it out.
by erasmus111 July 2, 2009 5:27 PM EDT
by jackp32 July 2, 2009 1:56 PM PDT
It is well documented beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackson paid 2 children millions of $ to buy their silence and waive their right to file child molestation charges against him. Those of you who make excuses for him by saying that he is not guilty of molesting children are idiots who do not want to admit that your hero is a child molester. That is despicable.


So tell me, if your child had been REALLY molested, would you accept money, or would you want him to go to jail for what he did? Wouldn't you want him to be stopped, so he couldn't do it to other children?
Reply to this comment
by jackp32 July 2, 2009 4:56 PM EDT
It is well documented beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackson paid 2 children millions of $ to buy their silence and waive their right to file child molestation charges against him. Those of you who make excuses for him by saying that he is not guilty of molesting children are idiots who do not want to admit that your hero is a child molester. That is despicable.
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by blog_fever2 July 2, 2009 4:40 PM EDT
He who is without sin, cast the first stone. - Holy Bible
Reply to this comment
by gravyboat4000 July 2, 2009 5:46 PM EDT
Never met him. What a name.
by RCC_Soldaten July 3, 2009 9:40 AM EDT
Don't worry - you will.
by erasmus111 July 2, 2009 4:12 PM EDT
by jackp32 July 2, 2009 10:25 AM PDT
I guess it's OK for the President of the U.S. to show some love towards the most celebrated child molester in America.


Let's hope you never get wrongly accused of something. Can you imagine what that would be like? Michael Jackson was never proven guilty. The boy who he SUPPOSEDLY molested was on TV the other night, and he said that Michael never molested him. And at the time he was accused, the mother of this kid couldn't even keep her story straight. If something is the TRUTH, it shouldn't be hard to keep to one story.

And if Michael was a pedophile, you had better believe that there would have been MANY more children come forward by now. If it were my child that had been molested, there would have been no amount of money that would have bought me off. That is of course if my child had REALLY been molested.
Reply to this comment
by Sky017 July 2, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
What station on TV? A Google search didn't turn find it. Can you provide a link? Thanks.
by xlib July 2, 2009 3:01 PM EDT
Ah, another puff piece on your messiah.
Here all along I thought he was into ludicris.
Reply to this comment
by koko98-2009 July 2, 2009 2:41 PM EDT
You haters can keep on hating. It will make it all the sweater when you get your AZZes kicked at the ballot box...again!
Reply to this comment
by arnitampeck July 2, 2009 2:31 PM EDT
I Wish people would stop calling Michael Jackson a child molester. The court has proven him not guilty. Why can't people focus on the positive things he has done in his life. People who keep calling him Jacko need to stop as well. I too grew up listening to his music and I think he was one of the greatest entertainers of all times. Michael was a good person who has done great things for charities. Some people are so negative and dark, they have nothing but bad things to say about people. These are people who should keep their mouths shut. President Obama obviously didn't grow up on crack cocaine. He grew up on education and is a very classy man. Some people only wish they had that kind of class. Obviously negative people always have something bad to say about good people because their lives are messed up. Another thing, some people in America have a hard time excepting black men who become successfull and rich. Sounds like jealously to me.

arnitampeck
Reply to this comment
by jackp32 July 2, 2009 1:25 PM EDT
I guess it's OK for the President of the U.S. to show some love towards the most celebrated child molester in America.
Reply to this comment
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