The evil that is Van Jones
September 03, 2009 4:28 pm ET by Karl Frisch
NOTE: I wrote this before reading this. My point still stands though, Beck's increased attacks on Jones are clearly motivated by Jones' association with ColorOfChange.org which ended in 2007.
The story goes something like this: Van Jones helped found ColorOfChange.org which, "exists to strengthen Black America's political voice," particularly online. Fox News' Glenn Beck said President Obama has "a deep-seated hatred for white people" before going on to say that "this guy is, I believe, a racist." ColorOfChange.org kicks off a campaign calling on advertisers to drop their sponsorship of Beck's show. To date, at least 57 companies have ceased advertising on Beck's Fox News program. Beck refuses to apologize and goes after Jones calling him, among other things, one of the President's "radical advisors" who is "fighting a revolution." In vintage Beck, the Fox News conspiracy-theorist-in-chief bizarrely asked: "Will progressive pigs fly right out of Van Jones' butt and pedal bicycles to" replace coal power? Heck, even CNN's Howard Kurtz noted that Beck had "trashed" Jones while "neglect[ing] to mention" that Jones had co-founded the group which is currently leading the boycott of his Fox News show.
I don't view Beck as the second coming like many in his audience seem to, so I was of course immediately suspicious of his claims about Jones. After a little time on Google I found this YouTube video of Jones and a few others addressing the "Green Collar Economy" at the Center for American Progress back in November.
Watch the video for yourself -- Jones starts just after the 14 minute mark.
I'm sure you'll agree that Beck's rantings are more likely motivated by the loss of so many major sponsors (along with a dash of his own special blend of paranoia and crazy) than by the dark, supposedly "radical" portrait of Jones that Beck's been painting.
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Beck is slamming Jones because he is supposedly behind the ColorofChange petition to have companies not put advertisements on his show. Jones isn't part of ColorofChange anymore, is he directing the action from behind the scences?
Just because he signed on a 911 Truth petition doesn't mean much. Crazy people who are convinced that the government blew up the towers signed, people who just thought there should be an investigation to answer all the questions signed. Doesn't mean much as an individual item.
As far as some of his views. Well gee, you know there are a few black men and women who do get a little radical in voicing their opinion. Doesn't make them right or wrong, just means they have an opinion and they can get emotional about it.
Really? It means VERY much to me! The guy is was appointed by our president, and he is accountable only TO the president. You have no case. Beck, however, did a superb job of making his case.
Beck, however, did a superb job of making his case.
Explain to me how Beck's lying and making up facts is making his case?
Also he did not make his case during his appearance on the VIEW.
After they caught him lying about Ms. Walters and Ms. Goldberge [and they were the one who exposed him] he refuse to come back on the program.
So, when Beck has no one to challenge his lying, it is easy for him to make his case.
rtb53
Dont expect the loony left here to say a bad word about this guy. It is just not in their DNA. No matter how radical or out of the mainstream someone is, they will find plenty of defenders here.
I'd like to know why the Bush Administration, after being given all kinds of advice from Bill Clinton that terrorism was Job 1, didn't do diddly squat for 9 months. I don't think that they allowed it to happen, or caused it to happen, but I still want to know more.
LMAO. What did Clinton ever do about terrorism? First WTC attack? Nothing. USS Cole? Nothing. Kobal Towers? Nothing. Confirmed chance to take out bin Laden? Nothing. The terrorists around the world had the unfettered opportunity to build up their forces, networks and plots while Clinton was President because they knew he would do nothing about it.
Uh, in case you missed it, the perpetrators were arrested, tried, convicted and jailed.
USS Cole?
Uh, in case you missed it, this attack happened in October, 2000.
Confirmed chance to take out bin Laden?
Debunked talking point that is now a LIE.
You really need to read more. Oh, and by the way - where's Bin Laden?
Then, if I remember correctly, the petition goes on to say that high-level government officials deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen. I may not be quoting accurately, but I believe the gist is the same. ANYONE who believes this is on the downside of crazy.
If you believe our government did not do enough to prevent such an attack, I can hear that argument. If you think our government wanted an attack like this to succeed I think you may be on the same wavelength as Glenn Beck and these crazies who think Obama is trying to talk to schoolchildren in order to turn them against their parents. Wacky is wacky no matter which side of the aisle it is on. And anyone who believes that our government deliberately allowed 9/11 is wacky. Not to mention giving our government WAY too much credit.
You had better be prepared to take the heat if you are going to oppose them.
The right-wing noise machine has the power of the Murdoch empire and the weak castrated MSM behind them.
Here is the double-negative speaking Van in his own words and quotes from him:
Van Jones and Communism
His stance as a Truther should be his pink slip alone. Barry's judgment was already in question. The selection of Van only cements that view.
How did the FBI miss Van Jones past?
Who vetted him?
Oh well, we could go on and on. At this point, I believe our president could be caught red-handed in bed with Chavez and the Obama Media would attack Fox News!
Van Jones is the equivalent of a Project Manager. No power. Get a grip, it's not like this guy is in the cabinet.
With apologies to wikipedia:
Jones is an environmental advocate, civil rights activist, attorney, and author. He founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in 1996, a California NGO working for alternatives to violence and incarceration.[2] In 2005, Jones co-founded Color of Change, an advocacy group for African Americans.[3] Formerly based in Oakland, California, Jones founded Green For All in 2007, a national NGO dedicated to "building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty."[4]
Jones participated as a volunteer legal monitor for a protest of the Rodney King verdict in San Francisco. He and many other participants in the protest were arrested.
Jones said he was "a rowdy nationalist"[11] before the King verdict was announced. By August of that year, he said, "I was a communist
Diffenately a communist.
From 2001-2003, Jones and Books Not Bars led a campaign to block the construction of a proposed "Super-Jail for Youth" in Oakland's Alameda County.
Oh my gosh. We certainly can't have this.
He graduated from Jackson Central-Merry High School in 1986. After earning his B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Martin, Jones left his home state to attend Yale Law School. In 1993, Jones earned his J.D. and moved to San Francisco.
Got to be one of those "affirmative action" kids.
2009 - the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award, presented to those who best exemplify selfless and devoted service in the cause of equality.
2009 - Eco-Entrepreneur Award, Institute for Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Innovation; Howard University
2009 - Individual Thought Leadership, Energy & Environment Awards; Aspen Institute[39]
2008 - Best Dressed Environmental List (#1 of 30); Sustainable Style Foundation[40]
2008 - Time Magazine Environmental Hero
2008 - Elle Magazine Green Award
2008 - One of the George Lucas Foundation's "Daring Dozen"
2008 - Hunt Prime Mover Award
2008 - Campaign for America's Future "Paul Wellstone Award"
2008 - Global Green USA "Community Environmental Leadership" Award
2008 - San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Award
2008 - Puffin/Nation prize for "Creative Citizenship"
2008 - World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader"
2000 - International Ashoka Fellowship
1998 - Reebok International Human Rights Award
1997-1999 - Rockefeller Foundation "Next Generation Leadership" Fellowship
Yup, diffenately a liberal, lefty, communist, socialist, facist, nut job if I have ever seen one.
Don't these people know that this is America (cue patriotic music) we can't have people like this having the presidents ear. Jesh, I bet as Enviromental Advisor he is probably telling the president that he needs to invade Great Britain.
We all know that America wasn't made a great nation because of its diveristy, or anything like that. It was because people toed the line and knew their place.
Now, where is that woman with my beer????
All Tin Foil hat types are welcome at MMfA though! It wouldn't be the same without them here!
Hypocrite thy name is liberal!
Does Jones still believe that "white environmentalists are essentially steering poison into the people-of-color communities"?
Does he want "reparations for slavery [and] redistribution of all the wealth"?
Does he truly believe that we are intentionally spraying poison on the backs of immigrant workers?
Does he really want to give the Native Americans "the wealth"?
Also what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Let it be known that the Van Jones like people associated with Obama will be Obama's undoing.
He should be more intelligent on who he appoints.
those are his own words..if they would have vetted him he wouldnt made it pass the first interview...but with czars Obama appoints them as he sees fit..Congress has no say..
yeah this guy needs to be right with The President of the United States.