Former President Clinton has placed a call to the Jackson family after the death of Michael Jackson. President Obama sent a letter in the mail to the family Saturday after the outpouring from around the world.
Friday Robert Gibbs was tossed the question about the presidents feelings on Micheal Jackson.
Monday, a reporter tossed the question to the president he walked out of the room without addressing it. Friday Robert Gibbs said the president was anticipating a question on the death. The White House journalists have been abuzz about the whole Jackson issue and his past presidential affiliations.
On Capitol Hill, members of the Congressional Black Caucus paid tribute to Michael Jackson on the House floor.
The White House issued a “clarification” of Time magazine’s report that Obama has finally chosen a church home–Evergreen Chapel, the nondenominational church at Camp David.
“The President and First Family continue to look for a church home,” a White House official said in a statement this morning. “They have enjoyed worshiping at Camp David and several other congregations over the months, and will choose a church at the time that is best for their family.”
At the daily White House Press Briefing June 19, 2009, April Ryan asks Robert Gibbs about President Obama’s “thoughts about slavery” and before she could finish her question, he jumps in and answers, “Opposed…
Q And also real fast on something, the Senate has unanimously passed a symbolic resolution apologizing for slavery and racial segregation, and sent the measure to the House. This being the first black President — Bill Clinton did not apologize for slavery; George W. Bush said he would not do it as Africans were also involved in the slave trade. Does this President think that that’s something that should indeed happen?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I have not spoken with him specifically about the Senate resolution and I’d want to get his view on that.
Q Okay, well, what is the President’s thought about slavery, especially since he invoked –
MR. GIBBS: Opposed. (Laughter.)
Q Excuse me?
MR. GIBBS: Opposed.
Q Especially since –
MR. GIBBS: April, you just asked me what the President’s view on slavery was. What did you think I was going to say? (Laughter.)
Q You didn’t let me finish my –
MR. GIBBS: Okay, look, this is a very serious topic –
Q Yes, thank you.
MR. GIBBS: — I just want to note that that was your question. Go ahead, I’m sorry.
Q Okay, but I want to finish the statement –
MR. GIBBS: And it does drive me crazy when one doesn’t get a chance to finish their entire statement before somebody else — I’m sorry, I’m off track, go ahead. (Laughter.) It is Friday, guys; I’m just trying to have a little fun.
Q Anyway, you know, especially dealing with this issue of slavery, especially since he invoked the issue of slavery over a year ago in his Philadelphia speech on race, is it something that this White House could indeed tackle? Bill Clinton tackled it and tabled it in his second term when he dealt with the race initiative. Is this something –
MR. GIBBS: Tackled and tabled what? I’m sorry.
Q The apology — the possibility of an apology for slavery.
MR. GIBBS: Well, one, I don’t know if this is even something that — just purely legislatively, I don’t know if the resolution per se ultimately comes here or not for signature. I don’t know the answer to that.
Look, I think the President has spoken on any number of occasions about the stain that slavery left on this country, that throughout our history we have sought to better perfect our union and have had many bumps along the way. And one of the most significant of those stains is that of slavery; that it is clearly something that we continue to struggle with. The President obviously hopes that we can make progress on race relations and that we all have a deeper and better understanding of backgrounds and beliefs.
