Jul 7, 2009 6:03 am US/Eastern
Rep. King Continues Jackson Rant To CBS 2 HD
Congressman Expands On YouTube Video, Says Media Coverage Of King Of Pop's Death "An Orgy Of Glorification"
For The Most Part, New Yorkers Appear Split On Controversial Issue
MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Long Island Congressman Peter King (file)
CBS
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Candles pictures and a teddy-bear sit next to a poster of Michael Jackson as Israeli fans pay tribute to the pop legend in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 30, 2009.
Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images
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Newly-released video of Michael Jackson's last rehearsals have emerged. This video was recorded on June 23rd, two nights before Jackson died.
AEG/CBS
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Messages left by fans outside the gates of the rented Holmby Hills home of music legend Michael Jackson after his recent death, in Los Angeles on July 2, 2009.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
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Tickets for Michael Jackson memorial service at Staples Center, Los Angeles, California.
AP
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The Staples Center which is one of the possible locations for a public memorial service for music legend Michael Jackson, after his recent death, in Los Angeles on July 1, 2009.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
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Over the weekend, Long Island Congressman Peter King posted what is often called "a rant" on YouTube -- sounding off. In this case, about what he called the media glorification of Michael Jackson. CBS 2 HD sat down with the congressman Monday and King continued in person where he left off on YouTube.
On the video, King launches into scathing criticism of Jackson.
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For the last, I don't know how long now, this low-life Michael Jackson, his name, his face, his picture, is all over the newspapers, television, radio. That's all we hear about is Michael Jackson. Let's knock out this psycho-babble. This guy was a pervert, a child molestor, he was a pedophile, and to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what's it say about us a country?" King says on the video.
The "rant," as such a video posting is called, that Rep. King posted on the popular video sharing site sparked a split of outrage and praise. And Monday, he told us why he did it.
"I just thought, this has gone over the top. It was an orgy of glorification," King told CBS 2 HD on Monday.
On the video King also says: "
I just think we're too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say, 'We don't need Michael Jackson!' He died, he had some talent, but fine, there are people dying every day. There are men and women dying everyday in Afghanistan, let's give them the credit they deserve.
"The bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be alone in a room with Michael Jackson?
King also says
"there was nothing good about this guy" even though Jackson "may have been a good singer" and "did some dancing."
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On Monday he carried the rant further:
"Yes, he
did violate young boys. He
did put them in terribly inappropriate positions. And that's a terrible signal to be sending out to society -- that we're somehow
condoning that behavior. And you are condoning it when you give him the type of --- when we give him the type of
regal coverage! And millions of people fighting to get to this mega-memorial! I mean, this is --- this is wrong!"
You can easily imagine what King's fellow representative from the Harlem branch of New York's congressional delegation would say.
"I'd rather leave it alone," Rep. Charles Rangel said. "It's unfortunate that it's been said. I hope he's sorry he said it, but talking about it is not going to help or ease the pain that he has caused."
And in King's own district:
"I kind of think the media went overboard with it also. I do. I don't know exactly what he said; but I do think the media went overboard," said Mia Deternova of Massapequa Park.
"I believe that Michael Jackson was a great entertainer. If he was acquitted, then that's what we should go on," added Jeff Bowers, also of Massapequa Park.
To which King said Monday: "Listen, I feel a lot of sympathy for Michael Jackson. I mean this guy was a tortured person.
"So I said it yesterday. I'm speaking today. I will not be speaking tomorrow, on the day of his memorial. I mean, here's a guy who had so much; in the end, he really had very little."
So, our rather admittedly unscientific poll finds the voters somewhat divided – evenly in King's king's district regarding the Jackson coverage.
King said he has had calls from some people calling him names, but overall, he has been heartened by the response.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths, July-Dec.
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