American Morning
Fmr. Jackson family attorney alleges drug abuse
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/26/brian.oxman.art.jpg caption="A former family attorney for the Jackson family claims people around Michael Jackson enabled drug abuse."]
Results from an autopsy on entertainer Michael Jackson are expected Friday, according to the Los Angeles coroner's office. The "King of Pop," who was prepping a comeback tour, died Thursday at age 50.
Brian Oxman, a former attorney for the Jackson family, says Michael Jackson was over-medicated and that he was surrounded by “enablers.” He spoke to T.J. Holmes on CNN’s “American Morning” Friday.
T.J. Holmes: You spoke of these “enablers” who didn't help Jackson and that he was over-medicating and it had a lot to do with these drugs. Your quote was that the Anna Nicole Smith case was nothing compared to what happened with Michael Jackson. Do you know what kind of medication he was on?
Brian Oxman: I have not discussed what medications he's on, because I think that's a matter for Michael's privacy, which should not be discussed. My main point has been that I talked to this family about it. I warned them. I said that Michael is over-medicating and that I did not want to see this kind of a case develop. And in particular, in the Anna Nicole case, I said if that's what's going to happen to Michael, it's all going to break our hearts.
And my worst fears are here. I do not know what the cause of Michael’s death was. I don't know if it’s cardiac arrest. I don't know if it's an infarct. I don’t know if it’s a congenital abnormality. We have to await the coroner's results and the toxicological screening to make sure we know before we can say any kind of allegation to anyone.
Holmes: You say he was over-medicating. He was getting this stuff from somewhere. Was he surrounded by people who were doing everything they had to do in making sure they kept this medication close by when he wanted it?
Oxman: He had over-medication and it was a serious problem. And the exact people who were doing this – I'm not going to point any fingers. All I know is that I had warned that this was a problem and this is my worst fear. It is a nightmare.
Avlon: 'Wingnuts' scream partisan talking points
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics and writes a weekly column for The Daily Beast. Previously, he served as Chief Speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/26/wingnuts.schultz.coulter.cnn.getty.art.jpg caption="Ed Schultz (L) and Ann Coulter (R). CNN and Getty Images"]
I call it the ‘split-scream’ – partisans screaming talking points at each other on your television screen. Usually it’s so predictable that you can figure out what they’re saying with the sound off.
But sometimes the epidemic of political infotainment gets so extreme that it veers into cruelty, callousness and the near-justification of violence. That’s what we see in this week’s "Wingnuts" – Anne Coulter on the right and Ed Schultz on the left.
On Monday night, author and conservative commentator Anne Coulter went on Fox News’ "The O’Reilly Factor" to talk more about the killing of abortion doctor George Tiller. A trip to Crazy Town ensued.
When O’Reilly asked why conservative male commentators had been silent about Dr. George Tiller’s murder, as opposed to Coulter and some of her female conservative colleagues, Coulter replied: “I’ve noticed there haven’t been a lot of people talking about it. I’d like to think it’s because they’re hungover from the ‘Hooray George Tiller is dead’ party, but I think that’s not it.”
But Coulter was just getting warmed up. “I don’t really like to think of it as murder,” she said. “It was terminating Tiller in the 203rd trimester.”
After that line, O’Reilly tried to bring Coulter down to earth with a reality check, saying “But you can’t diminish what that killer did or you have anarchy.” Coulter did not take the bait, offering this clarification: “I am personally opposed to shooting abortionists, but I don’t want to impose my moral values on others.”
This, of course, a dry parody of the position that most Americans have on abortion – they are personally opposed to it, but believe that individuals should make up their own mind on this most difficult personal decision. Her final shot of self-justification? “There have been only five abortion doctors killed in 35 years.” Only.
'King of Pop' Michael Jackson is dead
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) - An autopsy on entertainer Michael Jackson has been scheduled for Friday and results are expected by afternoon, according to the Los Angeles, California, coroner's office.
The "King of Pop," who was preparing for a comeback tour, died Thursday at age 50.
Jackson, under apparent cardiac arrest, was taken from his home by paramedics to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where a team of physicians tried to resuscitate him for more than an hour, said Jackson's brother Jermaine. He said the music idol was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. (5:26 p.m. ET).
Another one of Jackson's six siblings told CNN that he learned of Jackson's death through his manager, Frank Dileo.
"Frank told me that Michael last night was complaining about not feeling well. He called to tell him he wasn't feeling well," Marlon Jackson said. "Michael's doctor went over to see him, and Frank said, 'Marlon, from last night to this morning, I don't know what happened.' When they got to him this morning, he wasn't breathing."
What’s on Tap – Friday June 26, 2009
Crowds are still gathered across the country this morning – mourning the loss of Michael Jackson. An autopsy today will determine what caused his apparent cardiac arrest. We are remembering the life and legacy of the man who was born to perform like no one else. Close family friends and spiritual advisers to the “King of Pop” will join us from around the globe. We’ll look at what happens now to his three children and the global obsession with him, even after his reputation took some major hits.
We Listen! Your comments – 6/25/09
Editor's Note: With President Obama’s prime time health care address on Wednesday evening, American Morning’s Thursday audience intently scrutinized the health care segments. Bill Bennett was ardently rejected as an appropriate spokesman on the topic, as his statistics and credibility were called into question. Others remarked that conservatives were against health care because they can afford coverage.
- Ralph: I could care less what those ignorant rednecks on the right "think". These fools are the same ones who want to deny me access to health care. That makes it a personal attack on me as far as I'm concerned. To hell with them.
- Bernadette: Where in the world does Bill Bennett get his statistics and 'facts'? Certainly it is not what the majority of the American public wants! 80 percent indeed. He is living in a delusional world and hopes that we are too stupid to challenge his skewed figures. Insurance companies must be pressuring him and others in his party to come on air on tout their praises. He should realize that those days are over.
- Shag: I don't understand how your are giving a fair hearing to the healthcare issue when you've got Bill Bennett and the former head of the American Red Cross on, back-to-back. I have Aetna, and the cost of my premiums and deductible eats about half of one of my paychecks. Most of my co-workers are unhappy with the insurance we've had for years. I listen to your host and they deliver softballs to the people they interview. You need to give this issue a fair hearing. We have "the best healthcare in world," for the wealthy who can afford it. Lastly, how does a man who was found to have gambled 1 million dollars quarterly, get to be an arbiter of "values."
How do you feel about Mr. Bennett’s comment regarding health care? Do you believe that health care quality will suffer under the universal plan being proposed by the Obama Administration?
Actress Farrah Fawcett dies of cancer at 62
(CNN) - Farrah Fawcett, the blonde-maned actress whose best-selling poster and "Charlie's Angels" stardom made her one of the most famous faces in the world, has died. She was 62.
Farrah Fawcett rose to fame in the 1970s, thanks to a best-selling poster and the hit show "Charlie Angels."
Fawcett, who checked into a Los Angeles, California, hospital in early April, had been battling anal cancer on and off for three years.
Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's romantic partner since the mid-1980s, recently told People magazine that the sex symbol was declining.
"She stays in bed now. The doctors see that she is comfortable. Farrah is on IVs, but some of that is for nourishment. The treatment has pretty much ended," he said in a story posted May 7.
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