LONG ISLAND CONGRESSTHING GETS A SPANKING FOR MICHAEL JACKSON REMARKS

This may help people to understand why Rev. Al Sharpton has been able to maintain a top status as a promient civil rights activist, despite all the slings and arrows he has taken over the years. The one constant with Rev. Sharpton is that no matter how outlandish a charge of his might sound, there is always some right wing racist lunatic making his argument for him. On Sunday, Sharpton, as a guest speaker at Los Angeles' First AME church, took issue with how some media outlets wanted to dwell on the negative, tabloidish stories of Michael Jackson career, calling it "disrespectful double standard" between how Michael Jackson is treated in death, an how other musical icons such as Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley were. Some folks were puzzled when he said this given how much the media has reflected positively on his career and legacy, but Rev. Sharpton held his ground. And then, as if Rev. Sharpton opened the curtain himself for him, Rep. Peter King of New York steps onto the stage and reprises a once prominent but until recently little scene role as racist antagonist. Normally you can find him supporting racial profiling for Arab Muslims, saying they are "an enemy living amongst us," and that "we have too many mosques in this country", introducing "English Only" bills in congress, and if you go far back enough, like to the early 90s, hear him try and attack African Americans on a regular basis, most notably on the radio show of notorious racist Bob "I don't have any problem with the National Alliance" Grant. Now let's be honest. Most people who are critical of the Michael Jackson coverage, or even of Michael Jackson himself are not going to get any hassles. When you are Rep. King, however, you don't get the benefit of the doubt. Everyone is talking of the poor taste King is displaying in calling out Jackson as a "pervert" and "pedophile" just a day before Jackson's service. That was bad enough, but there has also been this underreported thing about his comments where he complains about this being an example of things being "too politically correct", and that shifts everything from what could have been a somewhat justifiable concern of overexposure right back to Peter King's personal little race war he keeps fighting. He espounded on this "too politically correct" crap on Steve Malzberg's radio show Monday afternoon, the two of them also crying about how they can't say the things he said without being called "racist". Well, in their respective careers, they have dug their own holes in that regard. Only in Rep. King's case, people might want to remember this stupidity since he is among the possible Republican contenders in 2010 for the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. He is also thinking of running for Governor of New York that same year. Then again, he might want to keep an eye on his current job, since this site was set up to raise money for the Democrat willing to run against him. Perhaps he should have followed his own advice and focus on more important things like Honduras and Iraq. That's what he is getting paid to do in the first place.
Newsday
Reaction to Rep. Peter King's Web video lambasting Michael Jackson and media coverage of his death was sharp , with many commentators seeing his comments through the prism of race.Feelings about the Seaford Republican's remarks calling the King of Pop "a pervert" and "a pedophile" tended to be strong, whether they agreed with him or not. King said more than 1,000 people called his offices in Massapequa Park and Washington, D.C., with scores more commenting on the story at Newsday.com."It's either, 'Thank God we finally have someone with the guts to say the right thing,' or 'You should rot in hell,' " King said. "Almost no one has come out anywhere near the middle."But political experts said they couldn't see what King has to gain by alienating Jackson fans with remarks seen by many to be racially insensitive. King said he didn't see any racial overtones in the video, which was posted to YouTube by his campaign staff.It's not the first time King has made indelicate statements - he once declared there were "too many mosques" in the country and in April said Muslims do not cooperate with local police."I don't know that this plays so well in his district unless there are a lot of people in his district that are anti-black," said Stanley Klein, a C.W. Post political science professor who is a Republican and longtime King supporter. "I think this is the most off-the-wall thing that Peter King has ever done."Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, said King's remarks are "racist.""Sometimes you think you know people," Dukes said. "I thought at least he was a decent person. He is like Jim Crow Jr., the way it came out."Laura Ahern, the executive director of Parents for Megan's Law, said the link between Jackson and alleged child sexual abuse was too strong to ignore."It is refreshing to see an elected official say what is really on their mind," Ahern said. "Michael Jackson was a talented entertainer, but a parent's worst nightmare. Numerous allegations of child sexual abuse are Michael Jackson's true legacy, one that cash settlements cannot erase."Because of the media coverage of Jackson's death, King said he felt "an obligation" to speak out. I believe I'm articulating the views of a great majority of the American people, certainly the people around here," he said.Some who agreed with the substance of what King said wished he'd been more sensitive."There is probably a little more sophisticated way of explaining his feelings," said Suffolk Legis. Tom Barraga (R-West Islip), whose district overlaps with King's.In 1994 Jackson paid $22 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a boy who alleged Jackson abused him. He admitted during a 2003 television interview that he shared a bed with teenage boys, but he was acquitted of child sexual abuse charges in 2005.Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with three of Long Island's other four members of Congress, declined to comment for this story. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) issued a statement saying, "My parents taught me to never speak ill of the dead."In Massapequa Park Monday, feelings were split."I think he should be worrying about other things instead of worrying about Michael Jackson," said Jaclyn Nigro, 23, of Massapequa Park.Teresa Giametta, 54, of Massapequa, disagreed. "People don't like to hear the truth," she said.Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine declined to comment. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who is scheduled to speak at Jackson's memorial service Tuesday, said, "Thank God millions of people openly disagree with Mr. King."