The House of Representatives on Friday – initiated by members of the Congressional Black Caucus – observed a moment of silence to mourn the death of Michael Jackson.

Reps. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said a few words about Jackson before calling on the Congress to rise and honor his memory.       

"Madam Speaker, if there is a God — and I believe there is — and that God distributes grace and mercy and talent to all his children, on Aug. 29, 1958, he touched Gary, Ind.," said Jackson.       

Jackson said the singer's "heart couldn't get any bigger," adding: "I come to the floor today on behalf of a generation to thank God for living in his era."      

Across town at the White House, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked how President Obama reacted to Jackson's passing.      

"Look, he said to me that obviously Michael Jackson was a spectacular performer, a music icon," Gibbs told reporters. "I think everybody remembers hearing his songs, watching him moonwalk on television during Motown’s 25th anniversary."      

"But the president also said, you know, look, he had aspects of his life [that] were sad and tragic," Gibbs continued.      

He added that the president's "condolences went out to the Jackson family and to fans that mourn his loss."       

Many fans are wondering why the president hasn't issued a formal statement about the loss of Jackson. Gibbs hinted to reporters during Friday's briefing that Obama prepared to comment on Jackson’s death had he been asked about it earlier at the news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. But no one asked, so Gibbs said he asked the president himself.

“I asked the president what he thought about it today, and as his spokesman, passed that along to you,” explained Gibbs.      

White House adviser David Axelrod on "Meet the Press" Sunday said President Obama has "written the family and shared his feelings with the family. He felt that was the appropriate way to go." 

Please Login or Register to post comments on this article

Close Comment  |   Read More Comments Hide More Comments

Comments * :

Please do not enter the HTML tags(Maximum 600 characters).