Hurricane Sheila Understands the Constitution, Lists MJ's Hospital Visits in HR 600

Can someone ask Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's piteous constituents in Texas's 18th district what they make of her grandstanding at Michael Jackson's mawkish public funeral? Lee, previously only famous for bemoaning the lack of "African-American hurricane names," stepped to the lectern at the Staples Center this afternoon and defended MJ's honor after Rep. Peter King (R-NY), a longtime supporter of Fenian terrorism, called the singer a "pervert."

"I can tell you as a member of the United States Congress, we understand the Constitution, we understand laws and we know that people are innocent until proven otherwise. That is what the Constitution stands for."

Lee also informed the assembled mourners of the recently tabled House Resolution 600 which would honor "an American legend and musical icon" and waste even more of the congresswoman's precious time. The entire text of the resolution, documenting every sick kid Jackson weirded out, can be viewed here. A sampling:

- 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.