John Yarmuth's "Michael Jackson" Walkout Could Cause Blacks To Walkout On His Re-election Plans. Read More Below.
Yarmuth's walkout on 'Jackson moment' angers some
When the Congressional Black Caucus decided to ask for a moment of silence on the U.S. House floor after the death of singer Michael Jackson, Rep. John Yarmuth walked out.
The 3rd District Democrat said his June 26 protest had nothing to do with Jackson per se, but rather with what he viewed as an inappropriate gesture in the middle of an important debate over energy.
"I just thought that was really ridiculous," Yarmuth said in an interview.
But some in the African American community think Yarmuth's reaction was itself inappropriate.
"Some people are upset with him," said Raoul Cunningham, president of the Louisville NAACP.
Cunningham said he is not among them but thinks it would have been best for Yarmuth to keep his concerns to himself and let others honor the King of Pop.
"I think he stepped in it," Cunningham said in an interview last week.
But Yarmuth insisted that to interrupt a major debate over energy legislation, one of the most important bills the lawmakers will consider this year, to ask for silence for Michael Jackson was "over the top."
"We have many opportunities to pay tribute to people we want to pay tribute to," the Louisville congressman said.
Yarmuth said he does not recall a moment of silence after the deaths of other entertainers and athletes.
Former members of Congress are accorded the gesture, and every month the House has a moment of silence for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. The House also has had moments of silence for the victims of Kentucky's ice storm and the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Yarmuth said.
Cunningham said he has fielded "several" calls expressing concern over Yarmuth's walkout.
Jackson is a symbol for many in the African American community, Cunningham said.
"Generally, he's been right on the issues," the NAACP leader said. "But in this case he was ill-advised."
"During times such as death or tragedies, people's emotions are heightened," Cunningham said. "If I had been advising him, I would have advised him not to say anything, even if you thought it was wrong. Some things you shut up about and you move on."
When the Congressional Black Caucus decided to ask for a moment of silence on the U.S. House floor after the death of singer Michael Jackson, Rep. John Yarmuth walked out.
The 3rd District Democrat said his June 26 protest had nothing to do with Jackson per se, but rather with what he viewed as an inappropriate gesture in the middle of an important debate over energy.
"I just thought that was really ridiculous," Yarmuth said in an interview.
But some in the African American community think Yarmuth's reaction was itself inappropriate.
"Some people are upset with him," said Raoul Cunningham, president of the Louisville NAACP.
Cunningham said he is not among them but thinks it would have been best for Yarmuth to keep his concerns to himself and let others honor the King of Pop.
"I think he stepped in it," Cunningham said in an interview last week.
But Yarmuth insisted that to interrupt a major debate over energy legislation, one of the most important bills the lawmakers will consider this year, to ask for silence for Michael Jackson was "over the top."
"We have many opportunities to pay tribute to people we want to pay tribute to," the Louisville congressman said.
Yarmuth said he does not recall a moment of silence after the deaths of other entertainers and athletes.
Former members of Congress are accorded the gesture, and every month the House has a moment of silence for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. The House also has had moments of silence for the victims of Kentucky's ice storm and the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Yarmuth said.
Cunningham said he has fielded "several" calls expressing concern over Yarmuth's walkout.
Jackson is a symbol for many in the African American community, Cunningham said.
"Generally, he's been right on the issues," the NAACP leader said. "But in this case he was ill-advised."
"During times such as death or tragedies, people's emotions are heightened," Cunningham said. "If I had been advising him, I would have advised him not to say anything, even if you thought it was wrong. Some things you shut up about and you move on."
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 5:40 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home