Sheila Jackson Lee Honors Michael Jackson, At Incredible Length

Via The Hill’s blog, we’ve learned of our own Sheila Jackson Lee’s epic attempt to immortalize Michael Jackson (who is being celebrated as we speak; check out the twittering/liveblogging at the music blog of our sister paper LA Weekly).

Amazingly, Lee’s bill declaring the House of Representatives “recognizes Michael Jackson as a global humanitarian and a noted leader
in the fight against worldwide hunger and medical crises” is a bit….long-winded.

It contains no less that 44 “whereas” clauses, including these:

— Whereas in December 1991, Michael’s office MJJ Productions donated more
than 200 turkey dinners to needy families in Los Angeles

— Whereas, on February 7, 1989, Michael visited the Cleveland Elementary
School in Stockton, California, a site of playground violence where 5
children had been tragically killed and 39 had been wounded

— Whereas, on March 1, 1988, at a press conference held by his sponsor
Pepsi, Michael presented a $600,000 check to the United Negro College
Fund

— Whereas in the early 1980s, Michael Jackson became a dominant figure in
popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a
strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos
airing on MTV, such as `Beat It’, `Billie Jean’ and `Thriller’–widely
credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into
an art form–helped bring the relatively new channel to fame

And on and on and on and on.

We’re sure Republicans will balk at this. If they ever take the time to read it all.