According to the Associated Press, President Barack Obama called Michael Jackson a “brilliant performer” who lived “a tragic personal life.”

President Obama said in an exclusive interview with the AP, “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.”

The president never issued a formal public statement after Jackson’s death.  Obama said he didn’t see the controversy in not doing so and was also unaware of dissatisfaction in the black community with his response.  ”I know a lot of people in the black community and I haven’t heard that,” Obama told the AP.

According to the article, Obama said he grew up on Jackson music and still has some on his iPod.

“I think that Michael Jackson will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers,” Obama said in the interview.  ”His brilliance as a performance was also paired with a tragic and in many ways, sad personal life.”

Twitterers commented on how long it took Obama to speak publicly about Michael Jackson’s death:

1. 
   jlscny Why hasn’t Obama made a personal statement, in person, regarding Michael Jackson ? Clinton would have been leading the procession
2. 
   billskid The absence of any public statement by Pres. Obama about the passing of Michael Jackson is suspicious. Hes a wordsmith.
3. 
   LondonMcgee …u mean to tell me Obama hasnt made a statement concernin Michael Jackson, or hav I missed somthing?
4. 
   happyflier Gag me!!!!! CNN just announced “Pres. Obama has made his first public statement since the death of Michael Jackson.” Sheesh!
5. 
   myzstikal Americans outcry for lack of statement from pres. Obama on death of Michael Jackson…do we want a president or babysitter?

The Twitterverse also had mixed feelings about Obama revealing that he has MJ music on his iPod:

1. 
   mycoalition Thank God, we can rest now. President Obama still his Michael Jackson songs on his Ipod. I’m glad all the world’s crises are solved.
2. 
   FlorOfelia O my damn! Took a week but the U.S.PreZ has finally said Good things about #Michael Jackson& MJ is on OBAMA’S iPOD- NOW I’M OFF MY SOAP B..
3. 
   MikeBates The queen must be miffed. Obama admits he has Michael Jackson tunes on his iPod, yet the one he gave her has his own “greatest hits” on it.
4. 
   KathrinB Obama is so cool talking about Michael Jackson: ‘I still have all his stuff on my iPod,’ the president tells The Associated Press
5. 
   marcellanunez It’s really good to know that Barack Obama has Michael Jackson’s music on his iPod!
6. 
   BrianKDawson “obama has an ipod? how about stop listening to michael jackson and moonwalking through the oval office and fix the economy.”
7. 
   daskwyth Obama praises Michael Jackson, says he still has the entertainer’s music on his iPod… Don’t we all.
8. 
   CallMeAlva Obama as an iPod — with Michael Jackson on it

Share This Post

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinkedIn LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb

Netvouz Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere

Sphinn Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Tweet This Post