Rep. King on Jackson: 'There's nothing good about this guy'
(CNN) - New York Rep. Peter King called on the media to "knock out the psycho-babble" and stop covering Michael Jackson because "this guy was a pervert."
"He was a child molester. He was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country," King said Sunday in front of the American Legion Hall in Wantagh. "We're too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say, 'We don't need Michael Jackson.'"
King, a nine-term Republican representative from New York's Third Congressional District, said the media has "disgraced itself," noting that there are people dying everyday.
"There are men and women dying today in Afghanistan. Let's give them the credit they deserve," he added.
Jackson went on trial for child molestation allegations in 2005, but was acquitted after a 14-week media circus of a trial in Santa Maria, California. A decade earlier, prosecutors in Los Angeles declined to file charges in their own 13-month child molestation investigation. That case settled out of court, reportedly with Jackson paying millions in damages.
"There's nothing good about this guy. He may have been a good singer, did some dancing, but bottom-line is - would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room with Michael Jackson? What are we glorifying him for?" King said, asking instead that the public honor people like servicemen, teachers and firefighters.
King defended his comments in an interview Monday with CNN radio affiliate WOR, “The fact is that what he has done as far as young children are concerned, young boys are concerned, is a horrible example to set to the world.”
“…Anyone who causes evil or endangers children, to me that supersedes anything else. And do we as a culture really want to be defined by Michael Jackson's singing and dancing or by the fact that he became a worldwide spectacle for abuse of children? “
King was chairman of the powerful House Homeland Security Committee from 2005 until the Democrats took over the House in January 2007.
He won 64 percent of the vote in his re-election victory last November.
Earlier this year he said he was considering a run for the Senate next year, taking on Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who replaced Hillary Clinton as New York's junior senator.
I would like to see Service Men honored more being active duty myself. Noone cares about us till a 9-11 (Or it's equivalent) happens but least someone has to guts to say this about him. Im not a fan of Jacksons music but I think he had some good qualities...either way you slice it tho the coverage has been crazy...talk about somethin else this isnt breaking news anymore...he died awhile ago...
Amen Mr. King. Amen.
I agree 1000%.
This guy is an entertainer. He did nothing to forwward the cause of this great country. He Never was asked to put his life on the life for Peace. All this mess is a Media Hype.
Move on and honor those who SERVE!
The man is unknown to the rest of the nation, he has his own click in NY, who eventually some of them will turn on him.
Jackson is been honored for his talent and achievements , maybe Mr. King is jealous of the KING.
CNN is also a business, and apparently their ratings are going up. Trust me they are not groupies, the coverage of Michael Jackson makes good business sense.
If something bigger comes along, they will be on to the next story.
That's how out of touch with his constituents Rep. King is!
Amen is all I have to say about this. Peter King is 100% correct.
Why make these comments now? You know the guys dead right?
HALLELUIA! I didn't ANYBODY was EVER going to say it!!! The Republicans ought to nominate this guy for president. He sounds like he has some common sense.
I think representative King could use a long vaction.
Bad... bad.. bad timing for your comment Mr. King. I wonder how many percent of votes you will receive the coming senate election. MJ has more fans than you.
Earlier this year he said he was considering a run for the Senate next year, taking on Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who replaced Hillary Clinton as New York's junior senator.
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OMG.....OMG.....No chance at a NY Senate seat now for Rep. King.
The Republicans cannot seem to help it, they seem bent on self destruction.
More proof that Republicans have no soul...
Even Republicans sometimes speak the truth.
Finally someone had the guts to say something – it has gotten out of hand with the media!
It's about time somebody said what needs to be said about MJ. What is the press thinking about or do they not know how to report news anymore.
Get over it and look what you can do to better the world.
THANK YOU! Finally someone tells it like it is.
An absolutely honest and correct statement.
Way to go Rep. King. You hit the nail on the head. It's a disgrace to all that has made us great to be glorifying a pervert. The man was sick. Why do we allow the media to tell us what to think??
I can't say I've ever agreed with Mr. King's politics, but I totally agree with the Michael Jackson comments!
I concur!
Thank you Representive King. It is about time.
This coming from a member of Congress where they hold hearings on steroid use in Major League Baseball and are considering looking into the BCS. I'm sure there are better things for Congress to focus on than Sports, like Healthcare and Energy. Ridiculous...
Why talk bad things about a person who died so recently in such strong terms. many people think that Michael Jackson was innocent but got trapped due to his unusual life style and behavior
Nothing like that good old Conservative compassion… Michael Jackson was acquitted of all charges. What does that mean? It means that the man was tried in the United States court of law, and found innocent of all charges.