Prosecutors Display Photo of a Deceased Michael Jackson on Gurney During Opening Statements

I know "shock and awe" often works well for prosecutors trying murder cases, but dang, did they have to show the jury a photo of a deceased Michael Jackson lying on a gurney during their opening arguments in the manslaughter case against Dr. Conrad Murray? I have never heard of anyone using anesthesia as a cure for insomnia. If you ask me, Michael Jackson was asking for trouble when he embarked down the dangerous road of using such powerful drugs to get some sleep. The doctors who introduced and injected him with these drugs all deserve to be behind bars. Still, he shares some blame in his death.

Prosecutors show photo of deceased Michael Jackson

Oprah Winfrey Gets Approval from City of Chicago to Close Magnificent Mile for Taping, Mayor Daley Comes Under Fire

Oprah Winfrey has shown how far her influence reaches in Chicago. Some folks are up in arms over the Mayor Richard Daley and the city of Chicago have agreed to allow the talk-show queen to shut down a significant stretch of the Magnificent Mile next week for the kickoff of her 24th season. According to the Chicago Sun Times, plans call for Michigan Avenue to be closed to vehicular traffic from Wacker Drive to Ohio Street for more than two days -- from 12:01 a.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Wednesday. The hourlong show will be taped at 5 p.m. Tuesday at a temporary stage to be built near the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The taping is free and open to the public.

Some shoppers and businesses only the Mag Mile are upset that Ms. Winfrey was allowed to close off the famous strip for so long. I find it hard to believe that this won't be good for the city. Oprah Winfrey has more than star power. For example, there is a Gap clothing store nearby. I am sure that they will get some more business from all those people coming to the taping. The only problem I expect would be for drivers and public transit riders. The Chicago Transit Authority is telling commuters to use alternative routes.

Mayor Daley said any inconvenience is worth it and that motorists and commuters will understand. He said Winfrey's taping great publicity for the city and an event that will create jobs. At least this isn't a free meal as in the case of the Michael Jackson memorial service. The show will reimburse Chicago for any costs incurred. Well, almost everything -- sanitation isn't included. Of course, you can't please everyone. There are many who have taken offense to what Ms. Winfrey is doing, for all the wrong reasons.

Prince Michael Malahi Jet Jackson, 24, Claims to be Long Lost Love Child of the Late Michael Jackson

Brace yourselves. Another Michael Jackson love child has surfaced. Prince Michael Malahi Jet Jackson, 24, has come forward this week claiming to to be a long lost love child of Michael Jackson ahd his attorney, LaRue Grim claims he isn't motivated by money. You will recall there was a lot of news swirling around the paternity of Omer Bhatti recently.

"Malachi has been told his entire life that he is Michael Jackson's son. His primary goal is to have closure on whether or not Michael was his father, and he wants a DNA test to prove it. Prince Michael Malachi Jet Jackson, who goes by Malachi, turns 25 in September, and is currently enrolled in "a special needs college at an undisclosed location."

Grim says Malachi's mother, Zerline Lavette Dixon, had trouble with drugs so Malachi's grandmother raised him. But, you know who his long-lost dad is. "Malachi looks exactly like Michael Jackson," Grim added. Really, which version of Michael Jackson does he resemble?"I'm seeking a DNA test and I'm very concerned that it be reliable and that no one slips in DNA from a stranger. Malachi never met Michael ... from what I understand Michael Jackson was very private about his personal life." The attorney was asked about the alleged relationshipbetween Zerline and Michael, and the response was: "I don't know about that now. I'm gathering that information."

According to Grim, back in the 1980s Zerline was a fashion designer and had a fashion line under the company name of Michael Jackson."Michael seemed to be a very smart businessman. I don't think he would have let anybody run a company with his name on it without his approval." Funny, isn't Michael Jackson the same person who, according to Mark Lester, asked him to donate sperm because of his own idiosyncrasies? This is nothing but hogwash.

"Lethal Levels" of Anesthetic Propofol Killed Singer Michael Jackson, Death Ruled a Homicide by LA Coroner

It is a sad commentary that Michael Jackson led such a tormented life. The fallout from his death continues. According to a search warrant obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the late singer had lethal levels of Propofol in his system when he died. The report states that Dr. Conrad Murray told cops he had been treating Jackson for six weeks for insomnia and giving him 50 milligrams of Propofol every night through an IV. He also told the cops that he feared Jackson was getting addicted so he reduced the dosage to 25 mg and reportedly mixed it with two other sedatives -- lorazepam and midazolam. On June 23, two days before Jackson's death, he reportedly administered those two medications and withheld the propofol. Michael Jackson was murdered and those doctors who fed him such dangerous drugs should be brought to justice and their medical licenses should be revoked immediately.

On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn't work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray administered midazolam. Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

Murray said he noticed injection marks on Jackson’s hands and feet. When he asked Jackson about them, the pop star told him he had been given a “cocktail” to help him. In addition to Murray, authorities subpoenaed medical records from Dr. Arnold Klein, Dr. Allan Metzger and Dr. David Adams, the affidavit states. They also asked for medical records from Dr. David Slavitt, who conducted the independent medical examination of Jackson for Anschuntz Entertainment Group, Dr. Randy Rosen and nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee. They also subpoenaed records from Dr. Mark Tadrissi, who stored medical records with Adams.

Jackson’s doctor told authorities he left Jackson’s bedside for no more than two minutes before returning to find the pop star not breathing. Jackson reportedly fell asleep at 10:40 a.m. Source: LA Times

This is, indeed, a very sad end to a life that had an impact on so many people across this world. I don't want to blame his family for his downfall, but I have to wonder if they couldn't have done more to help Michael Jackson, rather than use him as their meal ticket. It is equally amazing that Dr. Arnold Klein said on the Larry King Show that he repeatedly told Michael Jackson that propofol was a dangerous drug, but it seems that there is some evidence that he clearly knew more than he professed. Dr. Murray had no business administering such dangerous drugs when he clearly did not possess the expertise to do so.

City of Gary, Ind. Paid $5,000 in Airfare for Joe Jackson, Seven Others to Attend Tribute for the Late Michael Jackson

Gary, Indiana Mayor Rudy Clay and Joe Jackson
(Tasos Katopodis, Getty Images)

Once again, Joe Jackson, the father of the late Michael Jackson, has shown that he has no class. Rudy Clay, the mayor of Gary, Indiana, said his cash-strapped city paid $5,000 to fly Joe Jackson and seven other people out from Los Angeles to attend a memorial for his son in July. It seems like Joe Jackson, Latoya Jackson and Jermaine Jackson just won't go away and grieve in private like the rest of the family.

While city money helped pay to fly Jackson, the musical group the Chi-Lites and security from Los Angeles to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Clay said donations already made or promised to the city will cover all of the memorial's expenses.

He said Gary is currently about $2,000 short of breaking even on the memorial's costs, though he could not provide the total cost for the tribute held at a minor league baseball park.

Clay said Joe Jackson never asked for help to pay for the trip to the city he moved his family away from in 1969 after the Jackson 5 recorded their first album.

Instead, Clay said he offered to pay airfare for Jackson as well as the Chi-Lites so that the group, whose lead singer Marshall Thompson is launching a new record label with Jackson, could accompany the Jackson family patriarch. Source: Breitbart

The last thing this city needed to spend its scarce resources on was a trip for Joe Jackson and his "posse" to visit Gary. I am appalled at the mayor for making such an offer, but not surprised that Joe Jackson, who shamelessly plugged a new record label on the red carpet at the BET Awards days after his son's death, would even accept such an offer. Sorry, but that $5,000 could have been used to service some of the needs of the city.

Debbie Rowe, Katherine Jackson Reach Settlement Agreement in Custody Case for the Two Children she had with Michael Jackson

Debbie Rowe has settled her custody issues over Michael Jackson's children and it doesn't involve a single penny, but it does call for a psychologist for her kids. According to TMZ, Rowe reached the agreement with Katherine Jackson and it is subject to approval by the judge.

Rowe will get visitation of the two children she had with Michael. She wants and will get a psychologist who will visit the children and help them adjust to her being in their lives on a meaningful basis.

Rowe will maintain her parental rights. The agreement says Rowe has no parental rights to Blanket, Jackson's youngest child.

DEA Agents, FBI and Law Enforcement Search Las Vegas Home of Dr. Conrad Murray, Personal Physician of Michael Jackson

URGENT:  DEA agents, FBI and police swarm down on the home of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician. They are at the doctor's home as part of a manslaughter investigation into the singer's death.Murray was Michael Jackson's personal physician and was with Jackson when he died. 

Murray, who is based in Las Vegas and is licensed in California, Nevada and Texas, had his Houston office and a storage unit searched last week by DEA agents. Court records show the agents were seeking evidence of whether the doctor committed manslaughter.Police said Murray is cooperating and have not labeled him a suspect.

Well, I am sure that by now, he may have removed anything incriminating from his home, but his computers and laptops may tell a vastly different story. No matter how you look at this, he's in some serious trouble.

Still developing. More to come.

Louis Farrakhan Sees 'Conspiracy' in Michael Jackson's Death, Blames 'Zionist Leaders,' US Government & Media

What would the Michael Jackson saga be without Minister Louis Farrakhan giving his two cents? Addressing 2,000 followers at Mosque Maryam, the Nation of Islam headquarters on the South Side, Farrakhan described Jackson as a "messianic voice" and an "archangel of sound, song and dance," as he called Jackson a victim of "Zionist leaders," the U.S. government and the media. Of course, those comments sparked some outrage in the Jewish camp and rightly so. What do the Zionists have to do with Michael Jackson's demise? Dr. Conrad Murray, his personal physician is very much an African American and whose fault is it that Jackson chose to surround himself with hangers-on and yes-people, who didn't seem to have his best interests at heart?

I am pretty sure the US government didn't tell Mr. Jackson to take all those prescription drugs or to use anesthesia to fight insomnia. If Louis Farrakhan continues to make comments like this, he will never gain mainstream acceptance. I must say, he has made some very valid arguments through the years, but those are rendered ineffective because of his continuous anti-Semitism. It is very disappointing that he continues to blame the Jews for just about everything that goes wrong in the African American community.

Citing it as part of a conspiracy to undermine Jackson, Farrakhan said the lawyer told him Jackson had agreed to do 10 concerts but had been booked for 50, and there was concern Jackson would get sued if he couldn't uphold the agreement. Farrakhan, 76, also cited the molestation accusation of which Jackson was acquitted as another example of efforts to undermine his success.

During the wide-ranging, 2½-hour speech, Farrakhan said he does not believe Jackson was killed intentionally. Instead, he believes Jackson's death was the result of a mistake by Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, who is a target of a manslaughter investigation.

In speaking of Jackson finding his roots in the black community, Farrakhan said President Obama did the same when he said police "acted stupidly" in arresting Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Obama later said that he had used a poor choice of words. "His [Obama's] black started coming out," Farrakhan said. "He had to pull that fella back in. Underneath, it shows you all his brilliance, his magnificence ... he's one of the brothers." Source: Chicago Sun Times

Farrakhan, for what it's worth, has done a lot of good things in the black community, but he continues to draw sharp criticism for his relentless attack on the so-called "Zionists." We have to accept responsibility for our own actions and stop blaming others for our shortcomings. No-one forced Michael Jackson to turn to prescription drugs. He was led to that life because of an accident and it is obvious that he was never able to kick his addiction because of the choices he made, including to surround himself with leeches and rabid wolves, instead of people who really had his best interests at heart.

Dr. Conrad Murray Exhibits Strange Signs in the Death of Michael Jackson

The fallout in the death of Michael Jackson continues. According to TMZ, law enforcement has reportedly said one of the theories they're exploring in the King of Pop's death is that Dr. Conrad Murray administered Propofol to the singer and then left the room, eventually to return to a dead body.

Our sources say when paramedics arrived Michael Jackson was found with an IV in his arm, an IV stand nearby along with an empty IV bag and oxygen tank. We're told paramedics who arrived on scene say Dr. Murray's conduct was "strange" -- he was "hard to deal with" and was "getting in the way" of emergency responders.

As we already reported, paramedics wanted to pronounce Jackson dead at the house but Dr. Murray insisted they transport the singer to the hospital. We're told at the UCLA Medical Center -- after doctors gave up on resuscitation efforts because Jackson was clearly dead -- Dr. Murray continued CPR, which some of the UCLA docs found curious. Source: TMZ

All I can say is, enough already. If the cops have enough evidence of probable cause, they need to just arrest Dr. Murray. There are several bothersome actions on the doctor's part in this case. First, he was nowhere to be found after Jackson's body was taken to the hospital and he was pronounced dead. Second, he left his car at the residence, yet he claimed he did not know the address to call 911 earlier. Third, he lawyered up quickly. Fourth, he reportedly had some of his employees remove boxes from his storage facility in Houston and lastly, he has not spoken to the parents of Michael Jackson to explain the chain of events that occurred. Sorry, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well it is most certainly a duck.

Omer Bhatti, is he Michael Jackson's Eldest Child from a One-Night Stand? Blanket Bears a Striking Resemblance to Bhatti

Well, Joe Jackson is spilling all the beans. According to Entertainment Weekly, he says that Michael may have had another son. See the interview below:

Michael Jackson with Omer Bhatti

The soap opera in the death of Michael Jackson continues with the latest revelation that he may have a love child. Hah. Apparently, the talk now is that Jackson eldest child is 25 year-old Omer Bhatti, whose mother is Pia Bhatti. He sat in the front row with the Jackson family at the late singer's memorial service. Mr. Bhatti is reportedly seeking a DNA test to prove that he is really Jackson’s son. Jermaine Jackson Michael’s brother had announced that Omer Bhatti will be welcomed into the family if he could prove that he is the fourth child of Jackson.

Doesn't Blanket, Prince Michael II, 7, bear a striking resemblance to Omer? I heard there was speculation that he resembled Nico Brando, Michael Jackson's friend, but that may have been already disproved.

A Fox News report in 2004 claimed Michael had been telling his friends he was the father, but they were unsure whether or not to believe him. Jackson was introduced to Omer in 1996 and he was reportedly highly impressed by the imitation dance move of then 12 year-old Omer. The following year Jackson invited the whole family at Neverland ranch to stay with him. Omer’s father Riz Bhatti worked as a chauffeur and Omer’s mother Pia Bhatti became the caretaker of Blanket.

Stay tuned. There will be more drama from this latest revelation.

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's Personal Physician, Houston Clinic Raided by Federal Agents and Police

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's doctor, is in the hot seat as we speak. According to Houston's KTRK-TV, the federal agents and the police have descended on his Houston, carrying out a search warrant at this hour. The agents and police reportedly arrived at approximately 10:20am and have swarmed inside the Armstrong Medical Clinic, where Dr. Murray has his office. You will recall that Dr. Murray became a central figure in the investigation of the death of the King of Pop because he had been recently hired by Jackson, was with him in his mansion and tried to revive him.

Several marked Houston police cruisers are at the scene, as well as a couple of uniformed officers at the front door of the clinic. A couple of people have been let inside the business, but they left again after a few minutes.

Law enforcement authorities told ABC News the warrant for the search was based on preliminary results of the autopsy made available to them, which indicate Jackson's death was tied to the drug Propofol, a powerful anesthetic normally used only in hospital operating rooms.

Edward Chernoff, who represents the physician Conrad Murray, posted a statement on his law firm's website late Tuesday saying investigators from the Los Angeles County coroner's office have asked for medical records in addition to those already provided by Murray.

"The coroner wants to clear up the cause of death; we share that goal," Chernoff said in his statement. "Based on Dr. Murray's minute-by-minute and item-by-item description of Michael Jackson's last days, he should not be a target of criminal charges."

Although Chernoff has said the doctor didn't give the pop star any drugs that contributed to his death, Murray has nonetheless received attention from those angry over the singer's death. Source: KTRK-TV

I am sure there is more to the doctor's actions than we are being told about. Personally, I believe this doctor knows more than he's saying. His statement that Michael Jackson had a weak pulse when he found him cannot be corroborated by anyone, certainly not Michael Jackson. Who knows if that was really true.

This story is still developing. There is more to come.......

The Jacksons May Reunite, in Negotiations with AEG Live to Perform at O2 Arena in London

Will the untimely passing of Michael Jackson resurrect the singing career of the Jackson brothers? Four Jackson brothers, members of the hit-making quintet led by Michael Jackson until his solo career skyrocketed, have been in negotiations with AEG Live about performing at the O2 Arena in London. They want to take over some of the dates the venue had earmarked for Michael Jackson's 50 comeback concerts, the Los Angeles Times has reported.

The quintet broke up in 1984. But there are outward signs that Michael's death has brought the brothers closer together and may result in the rebirth of the Jacksons on the stage. On Friday, promoters for Jamaica's star-studded music festival Reggae Sumfest announced that three members of the group -- Tito, Randy and Jackie Jackson -- had been confirmed as attendees at a concert next weekend. The announcement said that a fourth member, Marlon Jackson, "may also join." Jermaine Jackson will be in Austria that weekend at the 2009 Save the World Awards, where he will accept a posthumous humanitarian award for Michael.

As sad as this sounds, Michael Jackson will be worth more in death, literally and figuratively, than in life. I suspect his brothers will make more money now than they have ever made previously.

Katherine Jackson's Lawyers Filed Papers to Ask if She Can Object to Executors of Michael Jackson's Estate

Either Katherine Jackson, mother of the late King of Pop, is being manipulated or she just doesn't understand what's at stake. According to TMZ, attorneys Londell McMillan and Burt Levitch, who represent Mrs. Jackson personally, have filed legal papers on Friday asking a judge to rule if she can object to the appointment of the executors, John Branca and John McClain, named in Michael Jackson's will and still collect the money he left her. Huh? You will recall that her son left her 40 percent of his estate, so why start a fire where there's no need for one?

At issue is the "no contest" clause in the will, which means that anyone who files objections to the will automatically gets no money. McMillan and Levitch want to know if the "no contest" clause would apply if Katherine only objects to the executors Michael chose. I guess, since she's getting such a big chunk of his estate, that should be enough to keep her happy, so why the dust-up about the executors? This is a prime example of Mrs. Jackson not understanding the implications of mounting such a legal challenge and another reason why she was not chosen by her son to be the executor of his estate.

Stay tuned. There is more to come in this soap opera.

Dash Snow, Promising New York Artist, Dead at 27 From Drug Overdose

Dash Snow,27, a rising young New York artist, died last night due to a drug overdose. His death has been confirmed by his grandmother, art collector and philanthropist Christophe de Menil. It is a sad case because another young person has gone too soon, much like Michael Jackson.

Snow gained prominence after being featured in an article titled “Warhol’s Children” that appeared in New York magazine in 2007. He worked in video and photography and also developed a distinctive collage style that fused and contrasted found images in fresh and suggestive ways. He exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Los Angeles and Europe and is currently featured in “Abstract America: New Painting and Sculpture” at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

His grandmother said that he was in rehabilitation in March and remained drug free until recently. It's amazing that we can send someone to the moon but we just can't implement measures to discourage prescription drug abuse, for example.

Janet Jackson to Seek Custody of Michael Jackson's Three Children, the Family Said to be Supportive

Janet Jackson wants to seek custody for the three children of her late brother Michael Jackson. According to Contactmusic.com, the singer had reportedly discussed his wishes for his kids -- Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, seven, known as 'Blanket' - in the event of his death and was even planning to draft a new will to amend custody details

A source said: "There was a lot of rifts in the family, but Janet was the one person he spoke to regularly and he made sure the children kept in touch with her too. "Ultimately, he wanted Janet to look after the children, with help from his mother Katherine, and was planning to draft a new will to reflect those wishes. He trusted Janet implicitly.

"When he had health concerns, he had a talk with Janet about how much she meant to him and the children, and how if anything happened to him, he wanted her to make sure the children would be loved and cared for in the same way he was raising them. She told him of course she would."

Michael's most recent will, written in 2002, named Katherine as the children's guardian but Janet - who accompanied the children to their family home to retrieve their belongings after the singer's death last month - has the support of her siblings in taking over as primary carer. Source: Contactmusic.com

Personally, I think Janet Jackson is the best person to get custody of the children. It is obvious, from the memorial service, that they have a close bond with her. Katherine Jackson, though her intentions are good, is elderly and it isn't fair for her to raise three small kids again. Besides, everyone in their right minds do not want Joe Jackson to get his hooks into those kids. That would be contrary to what Michael Jackson would have ever wanted. We all know what Latoya and Jermaine Jackson are all about and they do not deserve to get custody of these children.

On a lighter note, I guess Jermaine Dupri will have someone his own size to play with if Janet Jackson is successful in getting custody of the children.

Debbie Rowe Reportedly Gives Up Parental Rights for Prince Michael, Paris Michael Katherine, for $4 Million

CNN is reporting that Debbie Rowe and Katherine Jackson, mother of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has reached a settlement for the children. We all knew Debbie Rowe was in it for the money. She has reportedly given up her parental rights again to Prince Michael I and Paris Michael Katherine, for $4 million. This woman cares more about money than her own children, if they are her biological children, that is.

Debbie Rowe's attorney has denied that a deal has been reached in the custody case.

Still developing. More to follow.....

Read more...

Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson’s Dermatologist: "I Warned Him About Diprivan"

Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's dermatologist, surfaced on "Larry King Live" last night and said that on occasion he gave the pop star the painkiller Demerol but warned him about using the powerful sedative Diprivan. He said that Demerol was among the strongest drug he prescribed Jackson and doesn’t know how he got Diprivan, usually administered by anesthesiologists in hospitals.

Investigators looking into the cause of Jackson’s June 25 death have zeroed in on drugs given to Jackson. Diprivan was allegedly found in Jackson’s home. Klein said “If you took all the pills I had given him in the last year at once, it wouldn’t do anything to you.” He said he discovered that Jackson was using Diprivan while on tour in Germany. Klein told Jackson the drug was dangerous: “I told him he was absolutely insane.”

Wait, I have to give my two cents. If Dr. Klein knew Jackson was taking Diprivan during a previous tour, why didn't he try to help him? He knew what could happen to the singer if he continued taking this dangerous drug. I am so irate about the enablers, hangers-on, drug pushers and trash that hung around Michael Jackson and watched him self-destruct. I hope Dr. Klein is investigated thoroughly. It's amazing that he didn't bother to share his concerns with the singer's family, but was only too happy to come on television to tell his "side" of the story.

Rev. Al Sharpton in New Controversy Over Comments that Michael Jackson Paved Way for Barack Obama to Become President

Here we go. Fallout from the Michael Jackson memorial service yesterday is being debated this morning. Rev. Al Sharpton said, during his speech, that Michael Jackson helped President Barack Obama to become the first African American president of the United States by breaking down racial barriers. Jackson didn't seem interested in politics, but he was daring in music and broke down many barriers there. He raised the bar for entertainers very high and shattered them himself. There are no singers today who can duplicate the King of Pop. Jackson advocated self-improvement over organized action and was a tireless advocate for humanitarian causes such as anti-poverty, HIV/Aids and education programs. His only foray into race-based issues came when he called Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola a racist, in 2002, and accusing the record industry of ripping off black artists.

“He wasn’t interested in electoral politics, but he was interested in causes in the black community. He contributed to a lot of charities and was close to the Rev. (Jesse) Jackson and to Rev. Sharpton,” says poet and essayist Ishmael Reed, who wrote about Jackson in “Mixing It Up,” an essay collection.

He has been in the company of three presidents, including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George H. Bush. Before his 2003 arrest on child molestation charges, of which he was acquitted, Republicans felt very safe to stand in his company. In 1984, President Reagan invited Jackson to the White House to thank him for supporting a campaign against drunk driving. “He is totally opposed to Drugs & Alcohol and is using his popularity to influence young people against them,” Reagan wrote in his diary at the time.

President H. W. Bush complimented Jackson, who appeared with him in the Rose Garden in 1990 and noted that Jackson had received a humanitarian award from the Capital Children’s Museum. “He does good work, what we call the ‘Points of Light’ concept,” said Bush, referring to his national volunteer program. “Glad you’re here, sir. Very pleased you’re here.”

Lastly, Jackson sang “Heal the World” at President Clinton’s first inaugural gala, in 1993. Nine years later, even after allegations had emerged of inappropriate behavior with children (child sexual abuse charges had been settled out of court in 1994), Jackson appeared at a New York fundraising concert for the Democratic National Committee.

So, it is safe to say that Michael Jackson embraced a vision of a post-racial America, but I cannot say that he is the reason why President Obama is in the White House. There are a myriad of reasons that led to his historic win and that is not solely attributable to Michael Jackson. I do understand Rev. Al Sharpton's position, that Michael Jackson transcended race early in his career. He had millions of fans of different ethnic backgrounds and he personified that "it doesn't matter if you are black or white." You will recall that the president ran a campaign second to none and he is a transformational leader, who has the charisma of Ronald Reagan, the charm of Bill Clinton, a solid education and a deep conviction that we can overcome anything. He also personified what America should be about -- unity and he was a meltingpot in his own rights. Lastly, the time had come for a serious and drastic change in America.

Michael Jackson Tribute Second to None, The "Greatest Entertainer Who Ever Lived" Received a Royal Send-Off to Eternity

Michael Jackson's memorial celebration was, by far, the best I have ever seen. It had moments of laughter, somberness, music and just raw emotion. I cried when Usher broke down and when the King of Pop's daughter Paris spoke about her father. Let me echo Marlon Jackson's words, "I hope they will leave Michael alone now." Yes, I have all the haters, the skeptics, the critics, the analysts and the envious will leave this man alone. Props to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee for reminding her associate, Peter King, that the Constitution of America guarantees all the right to be innocent until proven guilty. He called Michael Jackson a low-life and a pervert. That is quite contrary to the fact. A low-life and a pervert would not have received such a royal send-off to eternity.

Rev. Al Sharpton hit home with his pointed comments, aimed at the critics of Michael Jackson. "When Michael started, it was a different world, but because Michael kept going, because he didn't accept limitations, because he refused to let people decide his boundaries, he opened up the whole world in the music world," Sharpton said. "He put on one glove, pulled his pants up and broke down the color curtain."

Sharpton then addressed Jackson's children.

"There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy," he said. "It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it." Amen.

Rest in peace Michael Jackson, rest in peace. Your work here is done. Let us all walk in the destiny that God has ordained for us. Let us commit to being the best person we can possibly be. Let us emulate Michael Jackson and be that "Good Samaritan." I cried. I laughed. I sang along with the singers. Michael accomplished so much in 50 years, more than we probably ever could.

Michael Jackson's Send-Off Celebration: Second to None

Stream videos at Ustream

Michael Jackson's memorial celebration was, by far, the best I have ever seen. It had moments of laughter, somberness, music and just raw emotion. I cried when Usher broke down and when the King of Pop's daughter Paris spoke about her father. Let me echo Marlon Jackson's words, "I hope they will leave Michael alone now." Yes, I have all the haters, the skeptics, the critics, the analysts and the envious will leave this man alone. Props to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee for reminding her associate, Peter King, that the Constitution of America guarantees all the right to be innocent until proven guilty. He called Michael Jackson a low-life and a pervert. That is quite contrary to the fact. A low-life and a pervert would not have received such a royal send-off to eternity.

Rev. Al Sharpton hit home with his pointed comments, aimed at the critics of Michael Jackson. "When Michael started, it was a different world, but because Michael kept going, because he didn't accept limitations, because he refused to let people decide his boundaries, he opened up the whole world in the music world," Sharpton said. "He put on one glove, pulled his pants up and broke down the color curtain."

Sharpton then addressed Jackson's children.

"There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy," he said. "It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it." Amen.