Bill Clinton praises Michael Jackson for Dem fund raising

[Holly_Hobby]

GONAIVES, Haiti (AP) - Bill Clinton paused during an aid mission to Haiti on Tuesday to honor Michael Jackson for helping the Democratic Party raise cash at a crucial time. The former U.S. president, now a special U.N. envoy to Haiti, recalled Jackson's performance at a 2002 fundraiser at New York's Apollo theater.

"He basically helped save my party from terrible financial distress, so he was very kind to me personally," Clinton said during a stop on his tour of a still-struggling northern Haiti, where floods killed several hundred people last year.

Clinton, his face bright red under a scorching summertime Caribbean sun, spoke fondly of Jackson, recalling that the singer performed at his first inauguration in 1993. He also said Jackson had struggled with the burden of early fame.

"He was an immensely gifted man and I think he basically meant well," Clinton told The Associated Press. "I know about all the trouble he had in his life and I hope he will be remembered for his contribution as an artist. I hope his children turn out well. That would be the greatest tribute you could have."

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090707/D999PKL81.html

(This is news to me...I had no idea about the fund raising)

[ProSense]

1. Interesting n/t

[flamingdem]

2. Thanks for the positive info on MJ, glad to hear he was a supporter nt

[rainbow4321]

12. Here's video of MJ singing at Clinton's Inauguration

Very sad.. one of the songs he sang was "Gone Too Soon" in memory of Ryan White..from what I've read, MJ had also asked the Clinton administration to increase funding for HIV/AIDS care.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ubC10jZQak

--------------------
It's the Ryan White funding that allows so many people living with HIV/AIDS to get access to healthcare/meds/other services that they otherwise would never get. The clinic I work at (including our salaries) is paid for by the program funding.

It initially started in 1990. One more reason I was glad that Pres Obama won..because I'm thinking had McLame had won, this funding program would have been $lashed to the point where it would be of no help to anyone.

http://hab.hrsa.gov/about/

[Lilyeye]

3. This is very interesting. Thank you for posting.

[Catherine Vincent]

4. That was very touching for Clinton to do that

And I remember that Jackson performed at Clinton's first inauguration.

[DaveinJapan]

5. Well said, Bill. nt

[Sultana]

6. Muah, love ya MJ

[redqueen]

7. Thanks...

I had no idea either.

[Control-Z]

8. These are pretty much my same thoughts

though I had not posted them on DU:

"He was an immensely gifted man and I think he basically meant well,"

"I know about all the trouble he had in his life and I hope he will be remembered for his contribution as an artist.

[Holly_Hobby]

9. Kick n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Michael was a liberal

and that song from the rehearsal clip, his final 'performance', speaks of our current media and government corruption, the divisions they insist upon. He mentions that our heros would not have stood for this, he names both MLK Jr and FDR in the song. About the rest of the creeps he say "All I want to say is that they don't really care about us." And people do not listen to the words, and called him 'vapid pop'.

I'll repeat what he said. They don't really care about us. That's all I want to say too.

[HOLOS]

11. Michael was in Guiness Book of Records re Pop Star Most $$$ to Charities