Politico plays dumb about Van Jones
September 08, 2009 3:33 pm ET by Eric Boehlert
This one was just dopey.
Searching for an angle to Van Jones resignation, the Politico adopted its trademark breathless style and announced [emphasis added]:
When President Barack Obama's green jobs adviser, Van Jones, submitted his resignation this weekend, he became the first casualty of the Obama administration not to go quietly.
Where other departing officials have given explanations about process or used predictable lines about spending more time with their families, Jones released a statement accusing his critics of using "lies and distortions" about him to divert attention from the White House's agenda.
"On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," Jones said.
Unlike previous administration officials who were let go or walked away, Van Jones was fighting mad! (His exit was "fiery.") And to prove it, Politico then detailed four previous White House staffers who had gone quietly: Louis Caldera, Ellen Moran, Gen. David McKiernan, Steve Rattner.
Why is the Politico premise dopey? Why is Politico guilty of comparing obvious apples to oranges? Because unlike Van Jones, none of the others highlighted in the article had been the subject of a vicious right-wing smear campaign. Because Van Jones was the only one in the article whose reputation was savaged on Fox News for weeks on end.
I'm pretty sure that's why Van Jones didn't go quietly. I'm pretty sure that's why he was exit was "fiery." But I guess that glaringly obvious point escaped the pro's at Politico.
UPDATED: if you take a step back, the Politico's general premise that Van Jones refused to go quietly doesn't even make sense. Refusing to go quietly, in classic Beltway terms, suggests that Van Jones balked at resigning; that he'd battled with the White House, or that he'd been aggressively public in the days since his resignation denouncing his former employer. None of that is true though.
At Politico, the entire he-refused-to-go-quietly premise was based on the fact that Van Jones issued a brief statement attack his critics (not the White House).
Ugh.
Please.......provide a single things said about Jones that was not true??
Provide any evidence that this actually occurred. Jones was and is a nut job whose very words got him in trouble.
Prove it.
His own statements did that very nicely thank you. And if was not, then why did Obama not DEFEND him!!
Beck has not brought forth any arrest records, which are public record, to back up this claim.
While it is inappropriate to declare the Bush admin knew about 9-11 in advance, it is CERTAINLY ONLY REASONABLE to INVESTIGATE the issue given the fact that they WERE TOLD Bin Laden was DETERMINED TO ATTACK INSIDE THE US and did NOTHING about it.
Its just MORE right-wing lunacy trying to dehumanize and demonize EVERYone in the Obama administration.
"In recent days some in the news media have reported on past statements I made before I joined the administration -- some of which were made years ago. If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize. As for the petition that was circulated today, I do not agree with this statement and it certainly does not reflect my views now or ever," Jones said.
The issue is not if anyone on the left is currently supporting him. It's about the lies being told about him.
Oh that is just ripe! The problem with Jones is he is on the RECORD with his nuttiness and there is no way to defend it. Please keep trying though! Pretzel logic at its best!
I am sorry....but you are not being fair. It is NOT fair to quote Jones, and point out the things he said.
Also, it is not Fair to play a recording of his speeches.
Finally, is is really not Fair at all to produce a petition he signed on his own free will.
This was an obvious attack from the right. I cant not believe you dont see that.
"In recent days some in the news media have reported on past statements I made before I joined the administration -- some of which were made years ago. If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize. As for the petition that was circulated today, I do not agree with this statement and it certainly does not reflect my views now or ever," Jones said.
He's not a communist. He's not a 9/11 conspiracy nut. HE HAS NO POWER yet you scared little nutjobbers who can't stand ANY black man with ANY power will go back and splice and nitpick ANYTHING he's done in his entire life to discredit someone who's trying to HELP the county.
He was qualified and competent for his job. But now he has resigned because hate radio/Fox/teabaggers hate the black man.
Why do you hate America so much?
Since he signed that darned petition, and spoke his mind on more than one occassion, he obviously wasn't meant to be in a public office. Especially one as critical to our security as green jobs.
Simple questions for you.
1. Did Jones say he was a communist?
2. Did he sign a truther petition?
I know those are tough questions, but did he say and do those things? Race has nothing to do with it. He is and was a radical, Obama did NOT defend him once it all became public, and thank God he is gone!!
You cant prove anything I said was false. He is, or at least was a communist, and he signed the truther petition. Its really that simple. And once again, Obama decided NOT to defend this man. What more do you need????
What is this great lie? Put up, or shut up!!
Even though neo-cons don't work that way (well, unless they are under indictment) innocent until prove guilty.
I know, your leve of proof of guilt is much lower than anyone elses.
1. Yes. (in college, wasn't it?)
2. Probably, though might not have know what he was signing.
OK, here's a question for you: WHO CARES? He's not a radical. Or maybe in your warped racist mind he's a radical because he's black.
If being a communist and signing a truther petition, which in essence said that the govt either helped plan 911, or at the very least allowed it to happen....allowed 3000 innocent people to die...if that does not make you a radical then what Does it take in your opinion??
POV=FAIL
I have questions for you? Can you prove that the people who signed whatever petition you are talking about are lying? Can you prove that 9/11 wasn't a conspiracy? (Remember, US Senators/House Members are Birthers. Shouldn't they be forced to resign?)
And didn't we have a Communist Party in America-or still do- and what is wrong with being a Communist? Is it a disease? Are they child molesters? Or is it an ideology? You see, you don't have to be a Democrat to work for Democrats. How is that for a concept the Cons would never understand.
I await your finely honed answers.
1. They signed the petition. By signing it they gave it their stamp of approval.
2. Can I prove it is not a conspiracy? No. But I am not making the claim the President allowed 3,000 people to die. If you sign it, you need to prove it.
3. No. You can be a communist or anything else you want to be. That does not give you a right to work for the administration.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6477462
Check it out -- it does NOT claim the President/Admin conspired on the 9-11 attacks -- it merely calls for an INVESTIGATION given the fact that they WERE TOLD Bin Laden was gonna attack and the did exactly Jack Squat about it. It would be STUPID NOT to investigate. Geez -- for all the folks who think we need to do ANYthing possible to prevent terrorists attacks -- even sell our collective souls and torture human beings the BUMBLING Bush Admin THOUGHT (and we know how good THEIR thoughts, suspicions, rhetoric and ability to respond turned out to be ... ) is a "terrorist" -- for those folks not to want every aspect investigated is disingenuous and dumb. They don't mind having their own privacy trounced, but don't go after Bush. If you think they did everything right, then you should WANT an investigation so we all end up with egg on our face. I'll bet many of the folks who "respect the office of the President" too much for that are the same ones who suggest our current President is not a natural-born citizen, is a socialist and wants to kill old people.
How come the folks on the right can NEVER seem to make their arguments based on the merits? They always have to add in some crazy-beyond-the-pale lies to be sure to lasso in some of the few remaining reasonable republicans to their side of an issue. If they REALLY had Health Plan proposals, I doubt we'd be talking about Van Jones because Beck would not have had to go so far off the deep end trying to demonize the Obama and his Admin if we had ANYthing positive to discuss from the right-wing.
Every time someone brings up the truthers, the response has been about how both sides have extremists and they don't speak for anyone else, etc. But when an Obama appointee signs a truther petition, then the response is "so what?" We can't have it both ways. If we want to distance ourselves from the fringe element, then it should be very clear why Jones had to go.
Ah, the old winning isn't everything, it's the only thing philosophy.
Party over People!!
Republicans think government is bad and they prove it every time they are in control of it. Then they spend the time they are out of control doing everything possible to keep folks who try to make government to work from being able to do so.
You said it -- you don't care about the country or people -- you just wanna win so we all lose.
We are not promoting welfare. We are promoting work. ... We are not expanding entitlements. We are expanding enterprise and investment. ... We are not trying to redistribute existing wealth. We are trying to reinvent an existing sector, so that we can create NEW wealth - by unleashing innovation and entrepreneurship. This should be common ground."----Van Jones
Some communist huh?
http://www.examiner.com/x-5738-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Video--Glenn-Beck-continues-his-Van-Jones-communist-distortion
and check out this communist speech :
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-30-van-jones-is-a-communist-intent-on-creating-private-sector-jobs/
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/08/28/bill_oreilly_and_glenn_beck_have_a_new_acorn_and_a_new_ayers.php
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5738-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m8d30-Follow-up-video--Facts-and-questions-for-Glenn-Beck-on-his-Van-Jones-attack
I cut this from the above link and I also find it interesting that none of the right wing wackos posting here never point out any of Jones present policies that expound communism,and they continue to mouth the talking points of Glenn Beck an admitted dirtbag and liar. Enjoy
#4: Finally, Glenn Beck cites Van Jones past associations with communism and asks why the President allows Jones to be an adviser. Beck never brings up the fact that Jones has disavowed any radical associations he has had in the past and now has committed to working within the system for change. If Beck can change and be trusted despite his own past in which he described himself as a "liar and dirtbag" why can Van Jones now not be trusted. All that Beck does to attack Jones is look to his past but Beck never points out current policies of Van Jones that in anyway tilt toward communism.
Why , Glenn Beck, are you willing to give yourself credit for bring able to change your life and advise people while not giving the same credit to Van Jones? Is it only conservatives who can change their lives for the better?
Redemption is impossible if you are a Democrat, and unnecessary if you are a Republican.
That is why it is still legal to be a conservative.
With out knowing you, I dare say that Van Jones has more good for this country than you will ever hope to accomplish.
If being a radical means working within the system to help lift others out of poverty I say "bring it on".
Simple question for you.
Do you have the arrest court conviction records for Van Jones' alleged involvement in the LA riots?
I know this is a tough question, but do you? Does Beck?
If Beck said that he was arrested or was involved in the riots and he was not...he should retract it and apologize.
It still does not deal with the truther issue.
Fog keeps repeating this chant as do the rest of the apologists on this forum so IT MUST NOT BE TRUE!
The problem with it is we have ol' Van on the RECORD saying he is a communist and his signature on a Truther petition. Barry O'Bambi didn't utter one word of help for the GREEN CZAR and he will pass into obscurity where all old (and new) communists go.
The only problem on this forum is the sorrow of seeing a fellow traveler called out and put down.
1) At various points in my life, I have espoused different beliefs: Anarchy, socialism, communism, even a little fiscal conservatism. One of the 'charges' against Van Jones appears to be that he once advocated communism. Is this a crime? Does it make him an evil person?
2) Van Jones signed a petition in favor of an investigation of what happened on 9-11. He may be one of the millions of people who have great difficulty accepting the 9-11 Commission's Report. Do you believe the 9-11 Commission Report on it's face?
Ya know it IS legal affiliate with any political party you choose in THIS country -- even the Communist Party. Lucky for you, cause a lot of people think maybe the Repugnantcan party should be outlawed. Maybe in the future people will lose their jobs for formerly associating with Republicans. Apparently you already can't hold office without claiming to be Christian or maybe Jewish -- but no way can you admit to being Muslim or -- OMG -- ATHEIST -- YIKES!
sorry i do not know how to do links, i 'll get my son to show me.
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20041026093059633
I would hope not to have to interpret this for those of you claiming Jones is not a radical, but I feel there is that need. He was referring to giving up his unapologetic in-your-face brand of activism for one that works with all parties to get the job done, even if the true aims of the movement are not honestly disclosed (sound familiar folks?).
The job at hand: radical ends. So he himself admitted that, while he would abandon his radical techniques, his goal of "radical ends" would still be the cornerstone of his activism.
People like Van Jones do not do environmental causes and initiatives (several of which I am a member of) a service by attempting to marry his socialist ideology with the green movement. Unfortunately, the green movement has been largely hijacked by the (to borrow Big Al's phrase) "global governance" cabal. And the backlash against environmental policies that are really needed (unlike cap and trade) will blacken the eye of the movement further and set it back perhaps permanently.
Sunstein, Holdren, Koh, Browner: more of the same, wearing disguises cut from the same tired Jones' pattern (maybe not the "Kanye was right" shirt he was wearing though--no, that's not racist though). Please do not act surprised when they too are further exposed for their radical ideologies (and that list is the short list if you care for me to expand upon it). Obama is a radical. He has a long history of hanging with radicals. And now he has surrounded himself with more radicals. Can't you guys just admit it? Though I suppose many of you who routinely support him don't consider yourselves to be radicals either.
To add to your point, they can never admit who they truly are or they'd never get elected. That's why they campaign on centrist populist issues then lurch to the left when they're in power. It's also why the name changes every twenty or thirty years (progressive, communist, liberal and now progressive again...what's old is new!) but the stripes stay the same.
The country voted FOR radical CHANGE. Now shut up and give it a chance before you freak out. Lead, follow, or get OUT OF THE WAY! We never liked Bush, but we didn't hate him until he deserved it based on HIS actions (or inaction).
Seriously -- please -- here's your chance EXPOSE those "radical" ideologies. The country voted FOR those ideologies. They are leading as they said they would. (Unlike the compassionate conservative who would leave no child behind, would be a uniter not a divider and was not Imperialist. It was code -- take what I said and expect the exact OPPOSITE.)
You forgot one important option: FIGHT!
"I have not yet begun to fight."
"Give me liberty or give me death"
"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
I already feel better writing those words. Ding! Ding!
You ask EXACTLY WHAT these radicals are going to do that will affect my life negatively? Are you serious? Let's just take it from a purely financial perspective because I am a fiscal conservative. Can you honestly argue that a 15 trillion dollar deficit by 2019 (their numbers) will not negatively affect my life, your life, the life of my 3-year-old son?
I did my homework on Jones, Obama, Sunstein, Koh, Holdren, and the rest of their ilk. Since you have not, why don't you go and actually read THEIR OWN WORDS? Take a glance at Holdren's EcoScience. Go peruse some of Sunstein's many books. Find out more about Harold "The Transnationalist" Koh.
The country absolutely did not vote for these radical ideologies as you stated. If that were true, why would Obama's approval numbers be plummeting, especially among the independents who got him elected? Because like Tbone added, these radicals can't be honest with their agenda or else they would never have been elected.
Now that people are downwind from this over-reaching stench, they are holding their noses and pointing their thumbs down. My own household is a perfect example. I am the only adult of four adults who did not vote for Obama. The three that voted for him now state they would not vote for him again knowing what they know today (and two of them are REGISTERED DEMOCRATS). My wife and I are former democrats who are now registered independent.
On that front, it was a nice try attempting to label me too. Not happening. Both parties have lost their way and so many of these clowns need an election day wake up call. Spending ourselves into national bankruptcy is not the answer. Leaping to the left fringe is not the answer. Attempting to control the masses through legislation is not the answer (good luck with cap and trade and your mercury-laden CFL's by the way--that will help the environment. Thanks Van).
The people have no control over the Washington pigs. I think you need to wake up as well and raise your fists too. And if you are not willing to fight for the future of this country, "get OUT OF THE WAY." You'll thank us someday. If not you, then your children will.