Aren't obama's personal feelings completely irrelevant - he's not a private individual but the head of state and has to articulate the feelings of a nation. Speaking as a non-american, i was really surprised when i realised that obama hadn't offered up any comment personally. Our prime minister and leader of the oppostion both immediately released statements as did other leaders round the world. MJ was this huge figure in popular culture, the biggest selling solo recording artist and the most famous american in the world, so i personally found it massively disappointing that the head of state of him own country did not think it appropriate to say something.
Yes, you are absolutely right. Michael was a huge cultural icon. He was one of the besting selling recording artists in history. He was also one of the most talented individuals from the U.S. President is the head of the United States. Now, may I ask what really was "the feeling of a nation" on the passing of Michael Jackson? Fans don't want to re-visit it. But, in 2009, Michael was still a very polarizing and controversial figure. Thus, Americans' reactions on his passing were both positive and negative. The cause of his death was still not determined in June 2009, although rumor of drug overdose dominated airwave. So, how could Obama articulate a singular voice of a nation? The passing of Michael was not the magnitude of the 911 terrorist attack, an event that unified a nation, or the Iraqui war, an event that transformed the fate of two nations. Obama simply could not represent any particular feeling. What he had to say was somewhat personal in nature, so why his personal feelings were irrelevant?
When he did say what he said and referred to sad and tragic things in mj's life, it's obvious it was a reference to the allegations and the trial, and this was to me anyway, clearly the reason obama and his advisors had decided to not say anything immediately and instead wait to guage public reaction. I agree with you, loveis magical, that it was cowardly of obama, esp seeng he was a fellow african-american and surely shd have felt some kinship there.
Obama is a very calculated and reserved person. In my opinion, his distant personality is one of his biggest political liabilities. Don't expect him to be the first to offer his position. He's not spontaneous. Thus far, I have never seen Obama said anything disrespectful about Michael. He didn't use Michael for publicity. So, he may not even have anything against Michael.
As for kinship, it's not as obvious as it seems. Obama and Michael share some parallels. One became the first African American global star who broke racial barrier. Another became the first black American president. However, they didn't share the same root. Obama's father, unlike Michael's, was not descented from American slaves. The senior Obama was a student from Kenya. Obama's mother was white. Obama was born and raised in Hawaii, a culturally diverse place. He also spent a few years in Indonesia with his mother and step-father. After he returned to Hawaii, Obama was raised by his maternal grand-parents. He went on to study in Columbia and Harvard. So, would he feel some sort of kinship for Michael? Hard to say. There was actually an interesting article in the New York Times several years ago reporting on how some in the African-Amercian community felt Obama isn't one of their own. I'd stop right here, as this can turn tricky.
It was very telling that a few months later one of his political buddies died and obama immediately broke off his holiday to release a fulsome tribute to him, declining completely to mention that this man drove his car off a bridge, managed to escape and walked away not raising the alarm, leaving his woman passenger to drown. That's sad and tragic.
The "political buddy" that you mentioned was Ted Kennedy. Senator Kenndy died in August 2009. It's strange to see the brother of JFK and Robert F. Kennedy, a man who served in the United States Senate for almost 50 years and one of the most influential members of the Democratic Party being regarded as a nameless political buddy of Obama.
The driving incident happened in 1969, 40 years prior to his death. No doubt the incident was the darkest mark in his life. However, Ted Kennedy had risen from it. At least, his constituents moved on and had sent him back to the Senate repeatedly. Senator Kennedy was instrumental in the bi-partisanship efforts between Republicans and Democrats. Ted Kennedy was known as "the lion of Senate". He's very well regarded by his peers. In 2008, Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama, which was a turning point of Obama's presidential campaign. Kennedy's endorsement gave Obama the advantage over Hillary Clinton.
Ted Kennedy was a former colleague of Obama, a mentor to Obama and at one point, Obama's most important supporter. Kennedy may even be a personal friend of Obama. The first dog, Bo, was a gift to the Obamas from Ted Kennedy. So, what's so telling about Obama cutting his vacation short and moarning a personal friend? Isn't it what anyone would do?
Moreover, Ted Kennedy wasn't a no-body in America. He was not a lowly political aide. He was heir to the Kennedy dynasty. His death maked the end of Camelot.
Why we dwell on just one sentence of the Obama's statement on Michael's passing? At the end, Obama did give a statement through his press secretary. The statement, while not heartfelt, was respectful. He praised Michael's talents and offered his condolences to Michael's family and fans. This was typical of Obama, the reserved and calulated politican.
