NEWSAl Sharpton Pushes for MJ Stamp
Jul. 6 2009, Published 5:53 a.m. ET
The Rev. Al Sharpton is campaigning again, but not for any political office -- the outspoken reverend appeared Sunday as a guest speaker at L.A.'s First AME church, and announced that he's going to push for a stamp to commemorate Michael Jackson. He says he wants the U.S. Postal Service to waive the usual five-year waiting post-death period, E! reports. So far that treatmentt has only been given to late presidents.
The reverend also expressed his concerns over how he believes the media is covering the death of the fallen pop star, citing a "disrepectful double standard" between him and other late icons like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
"I'm here because of the disgraceful and the despicable way the media is trying to destroy the legacy of Jackson," Sharpton told parishoners. "You have had other entertainers that have had issues in their life; you the media did not degrade and denigrate them."
He asked the media to show respect for the family, saying, "Michael was no freak. He was a genius."
"We want love. That's what Michael Jackson sang about," Sharpton added. "Let's talk about love. Let the media deal with the mess, while we deal with the message."
