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Leave Van Jones Alone
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What do the liberal Jones and conservative Virginia statehouse candidate Bob McDonnell have in common? Ideas—and that's costing them their careers. Plus, Glenn Beck's next targets.
My guess is that Van Jones and Bob McDonnell aren't the closest of friends. One is an African-American activist from the progressive left, who's spent much of his adult life in inner-city Oakland fighting The Man; the other is a white middle-aged pro-life Catholic Republican, who has long represented The Man in the deep-red Sunbelt suburbs of Virginia. But I'd recommend that Jones and McDonnell get in touch. Over the past few weeks, both men have run into a media buzz-saw for the crime of daring to have had actual thoughts at some point in the distant past, rather than filling the space between their ears with poll-tested nothings. And while liberals are outraged about the right's jihad against Jones and conservatives insist that McDonnell is being crucified by the left-wing media elite, hardly anyone appreciates the pervasive—and nauseating—hypocrisy that has left American democracy at the mercy of a gang of self-policing, sanctimonious nerds.
By railroading the McDonnells and Joneses of the world out of public life, we're left with colorless numbskulls.
Until his resignation on Saturday, Van Jones served as a special advisor for green jobs, enterprise, and innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, a little-known office that, as the name suggests, helps coordinate environmental policymaking efforts in the Executive Branch. At the CEQ, Jones answered to Nancy Sutley, who in turn answers to chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. In the White House pecking order, Jones was a small fry, who wasn't exactly sitting in on cabinet meetings. Yet Jones is also the best-selling author of The Green Collar Economy and a charismatic veteran of the environmental and civil rights movements, who tried to build alliances between white and black progressive activists in the name of a pro-growth, pro-jobs urban agenda. Indeed, Jones's gift for creating quirky coalitions led at least some to see him as a younger, more culturally-savvy version of the president himself. But while many on the left doubt whether Barack Obama is truly one of them, Jones has always made it clear that he is "down for the cause." And for conservative provocateur Glenn Beck, that was precisely the problem.
• Big Fat Story: Who Will Be Glenn Beck's Next Targets?Late last month, Beck's Fox News program featured a beautifully produced segment, complete with haunting strains of piano music that drew heavily on a 2005 profile of Jones written by Eliza Strickland for the East Bay Express, an alternative city weekly. When you watch the Beck segment, you get the overwhelming impression that Jones is a gifted public performer, one who may well have been wasted in an obscure White House role. The segment is full of wild and strangely entertaining exaggerations, and it all but accuses Jones of being a secret Maoist radical. The truth, as Strickland reports, is rather more prosaic. Like Beck, Jones is a raconteur with a penchant for dramatizing things to comic effect. His early flirtation with extreme left-wing politics suggests the mild insecurity of a geeky youth who wanted to be taken seriously by his tougher, more formidable peers. Jones is in no sense a thug; even in his radical phase, he was at best "an internet thug," the kind who'd never hurt a fly but who talked a big game. Given his extraordinary intellect, Jones shrewdly decided that macho bluster about fighting The System was far less constructive than using his wit and charm to become part of and ultimately to reform The System. One can imagine an authentic Maoist radical condemning Jones as a sellout. It's easy to see how this might pose a problem for Jones; he seems to value the opinion of the most militant and thus most authentic voices, yet he sees their path as a dead end. And so he tries to win over all comers, from matronly white Republican Meg Whitman, who found him persuasively pro-business, as well as kids in the Oakland neighborhoods he's left behind, who want him to stay true to his roots. In the age of saturation news coverage, it's very hard for public personalities to carefully tailor their self-presentation to different audiences, which the rest of us do constantly. It's unfair. But unfortunately it's a fact of life.
Which leads me to Bob McDonnell, the GOP's gubernatorial candidate in Virginia. As you may have heard, McDonnell was cruising to victory over his lackluster Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds when the Washington Post unearthed his 1989 master's thesis. It turns out that McDonnell, a devout Catholic conservative, was, twenty years ago, a devout Catholic conservative, one who believed that mothers of young children should work in the home, that no-fault divorce was a danger to society, and that abortion should be strictly forbidden. The most explosive revelations, if you can call them that, relate to McDonnell's views on working mothers, views that McDonnell has since strongly repudiated. The tone of McDonnell's thesis suggests that he was a committed ideologue when he wrote it, not unlike Jones. And just as Jones moderated his views as he tried to build coalitions, McDonnell found that voters in suburban Virginia were not interested in his take on contraception and the right to privacy. Recognizing that the state’s voters have moved steadily to the left on social issues, McDonnell has focused his campaign on job creation. But Deeds, a dismal campaigner who's struggled to gain traction in a place that seemed to be heading in a strongly Democratic direction, has tried to keep the focus on McDonnell's social conservatism. Thanks to the thesis, Deeds now has a decent shot at doing just that. I'm reminded of Thomas Frank's What's the Matter with Kansas, in which the author argued that conservatives whip up furor over abortion in an effort to dupe working class voters into ignoring bread-and-butter issues. Deeds seems to be doing something like that to the more gullible members of Virginia's suburban middle class.
Notice that the liberals defending Van Jones aren't also rushing to defend Bob McDonnell. Meanwhile, Beck and his allies aren't accusing McDonnell of secretly harboring a sinister papist agenda that he'll impose on Virginians as soon as he comes to power. That's to be expected. What's depressing is that these tactics keep interesting oddballs out of elected office. Yes, Bob McDonnell's social views might be at odds with most suburbanites. But unlike George W. Bush, McDonnell clearly spent a great deal of time thinking seriously about these issues. While conservatives might object to Van Jones's love of government-driven green industrial policy, surely his work with inner-city communities should give him credibility that your typical affluent liberal lacks. By railroading the McDonnells and Joneses of the world out of public life, we're left with colorless numbskulls. Frankly, I resent it.
Reihan Salam is a fellow at the New America Foundation and the co-author of Grand New Party.
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So? Jones was a third-tier "advisor".
On February he calls Republicans excreta gaps and on March he accepts a WH desk job.
He is also videoed saying "time to get uppity".
Charisma, meet my upper gap.
so I assume you have never called anyone anything too exaggerated yourself?
lol
you make the writers point exactly.
Jones' signature on some random radical survey on 9/11 isn't what upset me. It was his other tone deaf comments he made about the GOP and "white people". The other thing is people judge you based on the company you keep and the Obama administration was very excited to have him. Also, what you did in college is about as relevant as who you dated. Jones created several crazy Utube moments in the last 12 months not 20 years ago.
The Guy said GOPs are aholes what is the problem,he ain't lying.What he said about white people they say the same about blacks,so get down off your high horse.
optimus said: "The Guy said GOPs are aholes what is the problem,he ain't lying.What he said about white people they say the same about blacks,so get down off your high horse."
What white people in political power "say the same about blacks"?
If you're going to make the lame argument that, "It's okay because THEY did it too," at least make sure that THEY actually DID it.
You fail. Try harder next time.
And a lot of what Jones said was just stuff he put in his speeches to excite crowds of activists. I mean, do you think any of us on the Left doubt that Republicans are a bunch of redneck assholes, or that corporations routinely dump toxic waste on the poor? it happens every day.
Did Jones say anything crazier than what people on the Right like Palin, Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan and pat Robertson say all teh time? Let's go back and take a look at what Republicans say in speeches to their hillbilly base, and you will see every form of craziness under the sun.
mcmchugh99 - 'Did Jones say anything crazier than what people on the Right like Palin, Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan and pat Robertson say all teh time?' No, but none of these shameless bombthrowers are working in the administration of a sitting POTUS, and God forbid that they ever are.
Van Jones should have known better. He wasn't just playing to the audience in front of him, but also whoever catches his act secondhand and thirdhand. I think Obama does that, tone things down so he's not freaking out the more hysterical members of the national audience, not that it does him any good.
Even so, I am disappointed that the Obama administration cut him loose. There's nothing wrong with signing a Truther petition and there's nothing wrong with being a Communist or having been one - just as long Van Jones didn't try to force it on anyone.
Truther. He is a truther.
Truthers were banned from Kos and Huffpo.
Kos. Kos banned truthers.
Do you see the humor there?
No?
You kids? If you go to Yale, or anywhere, take some time to actually read the books, think about the material? In between protest marches and beers and stuff.
Yale Law School graduate truther.
Doesn't get better than that.
Oh wait...it does...
The Government caused 9/11!
Yeah, We Need More Government!!!
The government created AIDS to kill Blacks!!
Yeah, More Government!!!
The government is poisoning the cities!!
Yeah, Government health care, Just like that!!!
You guys put on quite a show, I must say.
Any writer who starts out by referring to Virginia as the Sunbelt immediately loses credibility. Nor are the suburbs, in Northern Virginia at least, "deep-red". I stopped reading at that point.
thats too bad, I found the rest quite good.
That's Reihan for you. My point is that if the guy can't even make sure his clothes look right for the picture that's going to go up on this website with every story he writes, can you imagine him doing due diligence with his research? I certainly can't. And didn't VA turn blue with the last election? Guess Reihan forgot about that.
Virginia's suburbs were blue in 2006, and helped Jim Webb defeat faux good-ol' boy, and one of the dimmest bulbs on the planet, George Allen, Jr. They went blue again in 2008 and helped Obama win the state.
Reihan's incompetence here mirrors the general incompetence, and bad writing of TDB's so-called reporters and commentators, eg. the various Rebeccas, Barbies, Melissas, Tiffanys and other Vanity Fair wannabes.
Surely the left can do better than this. Van Jones didn't disavow his views and he recently and repeatedly said he was proud of them.... except for the "I didn't really read it" defense of signing the truther document.
These are two totally different scenarios and views. Connecting the two is beyond silly. McDonnell is being vetted by the voters. Van Jones was vetted by no one except the full of themselves liberal insiders who don't have a clue about most americans and are actually proud of that fact. People who follow those insiders are the gullible ones.
I disagree with your view of liberals. But even if you are right and I'm wrong I would still rather have someone who gaffs now and then but dosn't invade the wrong country or ignore the briefing "binladen determined to strike in the US".
I just don't get why politicians seem to need first and foremost to be people we all want to have a beer with and never say anything which isn't politically correct.
In my mind it dosn't matter if the head of FEMA is a green Martian who goes around swearing all day and would hate me if he met me. As long as he does his job right fine by me.
Kennedy got plenty of tail while in office but on the other hand, were all not dead under a pile of radioactive rubble, so good work on his part.
Really?
Always deflect criticism of your guy by referring to the previous ones you dont like? Why is this the left's favorite way of making a point?
How do you even KNOW Bush ignored "binladen determined to strike in the US" report? Because to imply he ignored it would mean his other option would have been action. What would the libs have liked Bushy to do? Pre-emptive strike on Taliban? Screening terrorost-looking dudes at all airports? Come on!
And Kennedy?!? Which one? Because if I recall, the USSR did not fall until the mid 80's. And if you were not referring to 20 years dead JFK, then who?
theoPitt: Deflecting criticism of your guy by referring to somebody else's mistakes has always worked for conservatives.
Why shouldn't we liberals use it too?
As to how ElLamer knows Bush ignored the "binladen determined to strike in the US" report? 9/11. Any more questions?
@theopitt,
Even you can't be that obtuse. I suspect he/she was referring to the Cuban missle crisis, at which time JFK was president.
Okay alan and connie.
Alan, 9/11 proves he ignored the report. Please fantisize that Al Gore had been President and handed the report. What would Al Gore have done?
Connie, he called their bluff, my parents practiced hiding under their desk in high school, and we had a cold war with the Soviets for another 25 years.
So, to both of you, go ahead point to something in a previous administration that has nothing to do with the current subject in order to deflect problems of your own.
And you know, putting together your two masterful thinkers, it follows that if as a country we face the threat of terrorists for another 25 years, Bush will have done just as well as JFK with the Cuban Missle Crisis.
Theo,
First, I don't have to prove anything to you. You went after a poster and I simply told you what they were probably referring to.
If your parents remember hiding under their desks, you weren't there. I was, so please don't lecture me about what life was like. There is not one iota of doubt in my mind that Bush-Cheney would NOT have handled the Cuba missle crisis the way JFK did the consequences would have been anywhwere from bad to horrendous.
theoPitt: Your guy Bush 43 managed to prevent several other terrorists attacks in the U.S. after 9/11 didn't he? So if you pay attention to this stuff, you have a good chance of avoiding disasters.
I think it is likely that Gore would have paid attention to terrorists before 9/11, not just after.
I dont know, Alen. No one will ever know. I dont think Billy did the best job with the terrorists, but he did what he thought was right. So did W. And if he did prevent further terror attacks, it was due to the horror of 9/11 that allowed those interrogations.
Anyway, Gore, I doubt would have been water-boarding Taliban BEFORE 9/11 to find out what was planned. No afterwards, perhaps he'd have do the same as W. But, again, we will never know.
Connie, the fact that you are a generation older than me does not make you smarter anymore. That has weight when I speak to my teenagers, not when we are both adults with decades of adult experiences.
ElLamer said: "...dosn't invade the wrong country or ignore the briefing "binladen determined to strike in the US."
LAME, DEBUNKED TALKING POINT ALERT!
Surely, you refer to the infamous Aug 6 Presidential Daily Briefing. I challenge you, or any of your ilk, to name ANYTHING contained in that document that might have served as a warning that 9-11 was about to happen.
Don't be a window-licker and repeat the title. Bin Laden's desire to strike the U.S. was known to Bill Clinton after bin Laden mocked the U.S. military for fleeing Mogadishu (they were actually pulled out by Clinton...the one time he SHOULDN'T pull out, he does!). Everyone knew bin Laden wanted to strike the U.S. BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN SAYING SO since the early 90's.
Everything in the Aug 6 PDB (which I read and you obviously haven't) is about hypothetical attacks THAT NEVER HAPPENED, as well as a brief history of previous attacks.
But if you read something in the PDB that I missed, please post your information.
I have to say that this is the first thing that this writer has written that I agree with 100 percent. Van Jones is an incredible and valuable person who was listed in the Times top 100 most influential people and actually lived up to the hype. It is sad and a shame to lose such a charismatic and visionary person in this administration.
At the same time, although I disagree with everything McDonnell stands for, I have to agree with the author. Something he wrote 20 years ago should have no impact on his current situation. We all change tremendously over the course of decades and to give someone a permanent scarlet letter because of something they did decades ago is wrong.
For instance, hypothetically, if a person goes through a family tragedy as a teenager and writes some crazy things, does that mean that they could never amount to anything for the rest of their life? Ridiculous. We will lose some of the most talented minds of our time if we continue to act this way.
As an example, a good friend of mine was one of the first soldiers to die in Iraq. He was against the war, but he had signed up for the national guard in order to help some flooding victims a year earlier. Even though he hated every second of it, he knew he had no choice and did his duty. Then, he was killed by friendly fire.
The following year and a half I wrote hundreds of screeds against president Bush. I even think I may have signed the same petition that Van Jones did, thinking as he probably did, that we did not think the government was in on it, but that there should be an investigation.
After a year and a half or so, I got my wits about me back and tried to remove a lot of my rants from the internet realizing that they were a product of my pain, not reality.
Does this mean that I will have a scarlet letter on me for the rest of my life because as a young man struggling with a friend's death I wrote something stupid? I hope not, but I fear it will.
These two men should not be targeted for their past writing and we as a culture have to learn how to forgive rather than tar and feather every person that does not conform.
you sound like a unique character. I'm sorry about your friend.
I agree that this is a remarkably even-handed article. I enjoyed it.
I find it very interesting that Mr. Salam has left out very pertinent facts in the telling of Bob McDonnell's unearthed thesis paper. McDonnell wrote his thesis as a 34 year old graduate student obtaining both his Masters in Public Policy and his Law degree at then CBN (Christian Broadcast Network), now Regent University under the tutelage of Rev. Pat Roberston, evangelical preacher-man, leader in the Christian Coalition, and current mentor/close friend to Mr. McDonnell.
The thesis was a 15 point action plan full of extreme evangelical christian ideas that laid out for the Republican Party ways to "protect American families" through government policy-making. It was a clear roadmap that demonstrated his belief in the link between Christianity and US Law. McDonnell went on to win a seat in the Virginia legislature a YEAR later and has since put forward numerous bills that support 10 of his 15 points in his thesis.
McDonnell was successful in greatly restricting access to abortion for women in his state. He sponsored a bill 4 times to try and establish covenant marriage in Va. He voted against the equal pay act in 2001. He also led a committee that tried to end the career of Circuit Court Judge Verbena Askew when it was revealed she was homosexual. McDonnell was widely quoted as saying that her homosexual activity raises questions about her qualifications as a judge.
Among the most controversial points in his thesis, McDonnell criticizes a 1972 Supreme Court decision legalizing the use of contraception by unmarried couples. He criticizes federal tax credits for child care expenditures because they encourage women to enter the workforce. He states feminism is among the "real enemies of the traditional family." He also states that government policy should favor married couples over "cohabitators, homosexuals, or fornicators."
His paper is a look into the mindset of a man who has actively sought to throw the state of Virginia back into the dark ages through government policies. Yet, for his strong Christian convictions, McDonnell has tried very hard to sell himself as a moderate and to hide his extreme views.
Comparing the McDonnell controversy to Van Jone's statement that Republicans are @ssholes is Apples and Oranges, Mr. Salan.
Well done, indie.
Come on indie, you're missing the point of the article. I am no conservative in any way, shape, or form, but you know there is alot more inflammatory information about Van Jone's background than signing a truther petition and calling repubs a--holes.
Actually, I don't know any more inflammatory info. about Van Jones. I clearly laid out some of the facts that I know about Mr. McDonnell that illustrate how he has directly acted on his extreme writings. Perhaps it's out there and you can so kindly provide a link, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe Van Jones tried to legislate any extreme beliefs he held into law like the lovely Bob McDonnell has done. Again, apples vs. oranges.
Indi - I will again point out Mr. McDonnell was elected and will need to be again to continue with his extreme views as you call them. Point is he was elected and hopes to be again.
You need only go to YouTube and watch all the radical, racist, and activist views of this non elected individual, Van Jones. I do agree that it is Apples vs Oranges, big time.
indieimva - I grew up and spent the first 30 years of my life in that "Sun Belt" state of Virginia before moving to the more southern sunbelt of North Carolina. As a Christian I don't have a problem with most of what Mr. McDonnell believes if in fact what you have said here is true. If he put forth bills based on his beliefs than more power to him. And if people agree with him than they will/did become law. If not they won't/didn't. I don't apologize for being a Christian and I'm tired of people trying to make it something ugly. The left sure seems to pull it out when its convenient for them. And by the way most of our early laws were based on Christian values and morality.
Now to the article at hand, while I get the parallels Mr.Salam is trying to make here I want to point out a few differences. Mr. McDonnell will have to get elected. Mr. Jones apparently had to submit to little more than a DMV check to get appointed to a position in the White House with no oversight from the Senate. This man does not deny his communist leaning background and beliefs. Last time I checked this was the US and it is a country based on FREEDOM, the opposite of communism. You only have to go back to March to listen to Mr. Jones most recent remarks. I fully stand behind his first amendment rights to speak his mind. If you all want to pitch in and pay his salary go ahead but don't use my tax $'s. There are to many more that Obama has put in place that have radical views and need to go, and they will in time. The difference, no one voted them in. Mr. Obama says judge him by the people he surrounds himself with, and some of are sir.
I'm not sure you can describe Van Jones, who was born in 1968, the year Martin Luther King died as having been a part of the civil rights movement. I think if what is described here is true that he was hired for symbolism, which i do not doubt, shows what is wrong with government. When presidents hire based on some artisitc concept of what the portrait of the administration should look like, instead of capabilities, that illustrates exactly what is wrong with our country. Hiring kooks to make a point is just stupid. And, please Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosis, et al, get off the "he went to Yale crap", so did GWB. Face it, Yale and the rest of the elite Ivy League club has no shortage of nutcases and it is high time the government expands its reach to State Universities.
Moreover, I am not that familiar with McDonnell. however, I wonder why the liberal media is making such a big deal about his college thesis but won't demand to see Obama's. These people reek with hypocrisy and every day lose another ounce of credibility.
Flyoverland, why aren't you out enjoying your golden parachute? As former CEO of a major surgery company, surely you made certain that you received one. After all, you're so much smarter than all us "liberals."
Your use of the term "liberal media" implies that you are actually, in fact, nothing but a loser who sits and listens to Rush Limbaugh all day, or whoever it is that gives you your catchphrases.
Still can't find a job, eh, Embers? Here's a thought. Why don't you go out and apply for a few jobs? I am here a lot and I haven't seen anyone get hired on here yet. Just a thought.
The civil rights movement extends far beyond MLK's death sir. Remember Rodney King?.....well van jones was arrested for protesting after the case against the officers was dropped.
Oh, and that "he went to Yale crap" was the same thing the repubs used to defend their kind, so get off it.
Rodney King had nothing to do with civil rights. He proved himself to be criminal scum both before and after he was beaten.
Another Yalie sticking up for his kind. What is the soup of the day at the Yale Club today?
flyover-
Regarding the "liberal" media not demanding to see Obama's college thesis, perhaps because 1) President Obama didn't write one since a thesis paper is not required for a law degree and 2) Bob McDonnell's paper came to light only after he, himself referred to it in an interview with two Washington Post reporters. It would be pretty negligent of any self-respecting journalist NOT to look into writings that the author referenced in an interview.
No, no. You misunderstand. I think he wrote one. i think he doesn't want anyone to see it. where's that outrage?
Flyoverland-
Irregardless of whether or not the President wrote a thesis, what beeswax is that (or any of his grades for that matter), yours? They are private records, protected by law, and they do not belong to you.
What leads you to believe he wrote one? Again, he was pursuing a LAW degree. It sounds to me like you may be like the "birthers" in that even with absolutely no evidence to back up your "hidden thesis paper" theory, you will only believe what you want. You can actually go onto the Regent University website, last I checked, and obtain a link to most student's thesis papers published through their library to access McDonnell's. No "liberal media" digging required. No mystery. No conspiracy.
so, why are they making a big deal out of the Republican's thesis? As you say, most are available in the libraries. Obama's was removed. That doesn't make you even the least bit curious what was in it? It works one way or the other.
Please cite a CREDIBLE source that proves Obama wrote a thesis as an undergrad @ Columbia or a law student @ Harvard and that it was "removed." I looked and found only one that was a far right loonie sight that spewed lies in quotations about what Obama wrote in his two books and had crazy birther nonsence repeatedly posted. Again, source please.
You know, you are simply embarressing in your disingenuous argumentation. I feel sorry for you. If you wonder why conservatives don't trust liberals, this argument is a good example.
But, since it is my goal in life to educate you, Here is a credible source from last week which quotes NBC News. Is NBC News credible to you?
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/07/obamas_missing_thesi s_1.asp
First of all, it's OUR MONEY that is funding the lifestyles of these czars. There's NO OVERSIGHT, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, and apparently NO VETTING of these Dembot hacks and Obama cronies.
I get that Obama wants to pay back his friends for supporting him during his campaign. It's just that I don't want to be forced into paying for it! Let Obama pay for his Czar's out of his own deep pockets --- didn't he raise over half a BILLION during his campaign?
Second, Glenn Beck asked answers of the White House and gave them an opportunity to respond on his show. They never did. If he had been at MSNBC, it would've been a different story, I'm sure! He pointed to the truth, something that the flunkies at MSNBC no longer care about.
The silence by the liberal press on any subject that makes their Chosen One look shaky smacks of CENSORSHIP, because when you refuse to cover a story, it means you're refusing to inform the public.
I for one think that any news media outlet that will not be "fair and balanced" for the American public should be either fined for their silence or kicked out of public broadcasting. The press has their first alliance to the public, but we know that's simply not the case for the ObamaMedia.
Did you demand, too, that Bush pay his staff out of his pocket?
And from your opinion of the media, it's apparent you love the "fair and balanced" Fox News. Good luck.
I did not know that Bush had czars. Tell me about them and how they were out to undermine our country.
peppermint-
Of course, Bush had adviser czars, and forty two of them resigned under controversy. You have to consider also that Glenn Beck wasn't even around to do them in, so it is safe to assume there were legitimate reasons for their resignations. Remember Mr. Brown who did such a "great job" for then Pres. Bush in NO, I don't think he stuck around long after his inability to perform came to light. And I might add that "Brownie" was out specifically because he did a lousy job.
How about the "drug czars" every prez since Reagan has had?
Or Bill Bennett, the education czar.
Kind of like all of the 9/11 investigation reports that have been sealed and classified by the GW WH, even though the investigation is closed and the culprit identified, right Mae? I think that could be considered censorship.
MaeQueen: Have YOU noticed THAT your CAPS lock KEY gets STUCK?
The fact that the Democratic Party has no problem with a passionate defender of cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal, a self-satisfied and described "Communist," a supporter of the destruction of the Jewish state, and a promoter of the theory that the Katrina tragedy was a white racist plot, and so forth should make most moderates in the party feel uneasy.
I'm a lifelong conservative (and Republican - yes I admit it). Glen Beck is a loud mouth moron (like Keith Olbermann) who does his movement a great disservice by being a hyperbolic idiot all the time.
That doesn't change anything about the fact that in this case Van Jones was (truly amazingly) an even bigger idiot who got what he deserved even despite the MSM's attempt to whiteout the story. The astonishing thing about this story is not that Jones had to resign, but that he was ever even considered for ANY job in a presidential administration, let alone hired.
You folks are giving Beck and other conservatives too much credit. Van Jones was a little fish in a big pond. He did himself in not Beck.
"and we are not saved..."
Which simply makes a good case for rampant racism on the part of Glenn Beck, doesn't it?
Perhaps rampant is too harsh a word, however it makes one wonder why he would go after a mid level hiring who happens to be an accomplished African American.
Opportunity knocked. Beck is an opportunist. Van Jones was in his weight class.
Hi,cheenthere, we have disagreed on many times when it is about SP, that they had called her a slut.etc.But you know alot about many things,can you please explain to me slowly,what did Mr Jones do,that GB,and others are screaming about.In no way will I ever believe any pres of the US would hurt their country. I have my own big problem with the former administration, But I do not believe that, any pres. would hurt their countrymen,but there are many people who believed our govt was asleep.Is Mr Jones a man who believed what???At that time many people were angry and confused and upset.Did he believe the former administration did this on purpose.??Many Americans questioned many things,,,But now next to our Pres,what is the problem???As for Glenn Beck Im surprised people do not jump off the empire state building after he talks.How do we solve our problems instead of hyping hatred.???Cant everyone,even if we do not agree find a way to work civily with our pres?Many people are in crisis.This country has to unite.
amapola101-
I have not agreed with posters who refer or for that matter even insinuate that SP is a slut. I don't happen to agree with SP's politics firstly, and secondly I don't appreciate her manipulative ways.
Glenn Beck made a target of Van Jones and gained the hysteria of his followers and even more media attention which resulted in Mr. Jones' resignation. I believe Mr. Jones questioned, as I have to add did I, the events of 9-11, but satisfied I moved on, as I believe Mr. Jones did also.
"His early flirtation with extreme left-wing politics"
"early?"
Aren't views recent ?
Poor Van Jones.
Let's all feel sorry for the guy who
signed the "truther" document implying
the government may have been complicit
in the 9/11 attacks.
Poor Van Jones.
Let's feel sorry for the guy
who admitted to being a "former" communist.
That's right Sophia, it is not unusual and certainly not a crime to look around, learn and experience this life. As far as the truther doc., plenty of people were asking questions. So sue them. Van Jones is far and away a more alert, active and patriotic person than you appear to be. You need the sympathy, not Jones.
Sophia, the "truther" document you're referring to was a petition calling for an investigation into the government's possible/alleged role in 9/11... the "black op" meme has been around since not long after the attacks. Apparently more than a few people found the idea plausible. Just yesterday, I watched a National Geographic show alleging a conspiracy.
- Embers
" Just yesterday, I watched a National Geographic show alleging a conspiracy. "
Wow Embers,
there was also a documentary that the Moon Landing was
filmed in a Hollywood Studio Lot.
Are conspiracies more palatable to you if they favor a left wing agenda ?
Anyone who believes the US Government planned the 9/11
attacks is as crazy as the right wing birthers or death panels.
Gee, sophia-
The truthers sure did not demand the attention Taitz and her followers have demanded. Maybe because Taitz has spent a lot of time and money and gotten nowhere in the US Court system. Taitz has gotten a lot more attention which she apparently desperately craves. And the moon thing is pure entertainment which is why I guess you watched it. You must have been bored.
Yes, many of his greatest hits are recent. The author is wrong.
Maybe they offended your sensibilities, but not mine. So suck a rock.
There is a huge difference between the two men mentioned in the article that people fail to comprehend because their partisan ideals blind them from it.
Van Jones was slipped into a post of undefinable power with no vetting by the white house - no congressional approval - coddled by a press that is MIA once again. Back doored into a position of "Czar" with no oversight other than the whim of 0bama out of sight of the American voter.
Bob McDonnell on the other hand is putting his case before the people of Virginia who will decide his fate. The Washington Press core is suprisingly all over this story though as they can not trust the people of Virginia to come up with a decision they deem appropriate.
Call Beck all the names you want but at the end of the day he did the job that the former free press refuses to do.
You make a poor argument, mjprocko, in regard to you statement that people are blinded by partisan ideals when you go right ahead and reveal yours in a repugnant fashion.
1. Van Jones' position was not one of a high ranking official, it stands to reason he did not require the extensive vetting you claim he should have had. That also disproves your statement that a "back door" process was granted him. You provide false information to make a very partisan point indeed.
2. Your leap to defend McDonnell is laughable to say the least, of course, since he is running for Governor, there will be an election. As far as the press corps of the WaPo, the Post always gives extensive coverage to area politics, this is nothing out of the ordinary, and they have been in business for a long time. Very misleading to say the least.
Why do you bother to post this type of blather, do you think everyone is as easily manipulated as you?
Hmmmm...., noticed the Post was mute until 2 days ago about the avowed communist, cop-killing Abu Jamal defender, elitist Harvard graduate who didn't seem to know that he was signing.the 9/11 truther document. All his racist speeches are documented so how does he deny any of them? Have not heard Obama say he knew nothing about this guy's past ---- maybe because he totally agreed with his stand on just about everything. Valerie Jarrett maybe should make a statement about his background ----- they were proud as hell about hiring him.
while you might believe I am "easily manipulated" your not smart enough to realize that your "blather" made my point.
0bama's Czars are there specifically because they needed to subvert the vetting process for someone such as Jones who could never pass the smell test. The only reason we know that 0bama gave a Marxist, cop killer supporting racist a job as a Czar because some Right wing blow hard did the work that the press should have done.
If you actually read my post you'd see there was no nod of approval or disapproval for McDonnell, Just a statement of fact the the people will decide his worthiness for the post. I realize that this offends you that people not so "enlightened" as yourself actually have freedom of choice to decide who should represent them. Maybe 0bama can create a Czar for each state so he can bypass the will of the people.
Why do you bother to post this type of blather? Did your local co-op run out of tin foil?
Gee, peppermint-
Guess you breezed by the answer to the question you asked in your post above, not what you wanted to hear obviously. Glad it doesn't stop you from pursuing your own agenda. Go for it peppermint, too bad you have something to prove even when you are called out.
mjprocoko--
Pitiful response.
Also guess peppermint, Glenn Beck demands attention, and finally got it. He made the news, but so did Charles Manson.
chenthere - mjprocko was correct in his post. As to your points.
1. I want a job as a non high ranking official who gets to decide how 30 Billion dollars is going to be spent. ANYONE who works in the WH need to be totally vetted no matter the position.
2. His statement about WaPo is correct. At the same time so is yours, they cover DC, MD, & VA. I didn't see the leap to defend that you referred to though. He simply stated, correctly his view. Yours response seems to be the leap here. The leap to attack a very mildly stated post.
Manipulating through intimidation in a forum never works. Everyone is hiding behind a keyboard. It's easy to be 10 ' tall and bold as hell that way. If we all had to meet face to face things would probably be a lot different, and a lot more civil.
Glenn Beck did not hide behind a keyboard,did he? Timbo. And no, the poster I answered is not correct.
When Barack Obama was elected to the Presidency of this country the Republicans, and many other inadequate species of person, soiled their pants and to this day they are still wallowing in their excrement. Sticky, smelly and very uncomfortable.
This is why they are so miserable and against anything and everything that is happening in this country.Or needs to happen.
It is not the health care system, it is not the economy, it is not really Obama's speech to the students...it is nothing but their terrified condition as to the profound change in this country, and their inability to adjust or handle life's changes in an intelligent and productive way.
Before Barack Obma even took over George Bushs position these were the people who immediately declared it their fervent hope that the new presidency fail, the ones who cheered when that idiot Texas Governor raised the specter of secession, the same idiot Governor that is now taking stimulus money so that teachers do not have to be laid off. The ones who waste their time on silly posters and pictures of watermelons.
When you really stop to think about all this you realize just how in pain these people are. You must also realize how dangerous they are. This madness has to stop.
These poor individuals, when the election happened last fall, not only lost their minds but any pretense of enlightenment.They run around in our communities with spittle on their chins , in the Texas heat you can smell them a block away.
Something is really frightening when you see a small child, maybe three or four, carrying a sign saying "I hate Obama" We need to watch our backs... it is ceasing to be funny!
So, every day, day after day, they flounder in their soiled pants. squeeking here, squeeking there. Loading their guns, unloading their guns, screaming about "death panels" Silly fools, screaming each day about "socialism" never ever realizing that our schools, our libraries, our fire departments, our police departments are all "socialized".
In the meantime these fools abstain from any moral responsibility in the eternal debate.
MOZART
2 things.
Go back a couple of years and you just described the left and democrats.
I didn't think people were still using LSD man, Hmmm.
Bob Mc Donnell...
now Regent University under the tutelage of Rev. Pat Roberston, evangelical preacher-man, leader in the Christian Coalition, and current mentor/close friend to Mr. McDonnell. ****** well, now I know where this creep came from.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
Somehow, I just can see Jones as being any nuttier than the things I hear from the Republican Right every day of the week.
Nor has he ever been allowed to tell his side of the story, but that's not unusual in American politics any more. Everybody just does a hatchet job on everybody else, and calls it good.
The right wing is accusing Van Jones of some kind of name calling and extremism?
Pot, meet kettle.
Fuck Glenn.
Again. Above = Bullshit.
I miss actual news. With one side it did not have to be skewed.
I'm a 62 year old white guy. I call Republicans "assholes" all the time. "Stupid assholes," to be specific. Also "liars" and "traitors." The Republican Party has spent the past three or four decades selling out the national interest to international corporations, lying this country's way into ridiculous wars, playing the racism/homophobia/family values cards, and being, practically without exception, hypocrites. Their bible colleges are nothing but Christian fundamentalist madrassas and the diplomas these "universities" award shouldn't even qualify as toilet paper. The Democrats are a bunch of feckless, corrupt, cowardly nobodies and the Obama Administration doesn't even have the stones to call out some weeping pathetic loonytoons like Glenn Beck. The lot of them are a worthless as a pitcher of spit.
Here here to robwriter. I hope Obama gets his stones back and provides some leadership. We've been without for decades, caught between true believers and entertainers.
"pitcher of spit"....priceless.
I don't remember anybody vetting any of Bush's appointments.
Funny, from the right and left all we heard was things he's done like praising/denouncing his radical past, racist views, conspiracy theories etc. But we almost never heard anything that would have made him qualified for the "Green Job" Czar.
From what I can find, he's a recent convet from radical race baiter to enviromentally friendly hero. Could the conversion be because he saw what AlGore and other high priests of the green religion saw, that with tofu shitting lefties taking over the goverment that is where the money will be.... When you get right down to it he's just another money grubbing capitalist pig disguised as a do-gooder leftie willing to fleece American citizens for "their own good." Thanks AlGore......
How can anyone who fell for the marxist crap be capable of an original idea, or even clear thinking
mjprocko - wow - a leftist with good analytical skills - I'm impressed - a very rare species.
neverlate--
How astute you are. HaHaHaHa.
Can someone explain why we Americans use the word czars,please?????We are US citizens is there no american word we can use. Leaders, examples,heads of something, did we always have czars????Please do not insult me, it is a genuine question. And every person I ask in real life, wealthy,politicians,business, my beautician no one knows what I am trying to understand.
anapola101-
It is a name made up by the press and other media. They think it is funny. It has been going on in this country for a long time, under many Presidents. It is nothing new and nothing to be concerned about. Some people use it as ammunition against those they disagree with politically.
cheenthere,thank you.So it is not a position. Understood.!!!Have a great day.No concern at all. I come from communism,but that is not something I am paranoid in this great country of ours. You know I have my anger with politicians,(the bad ones ofcourse) etc. And I do not believe,that one party is perfect.But that we are socialist,heading for communism, Is not my worry. I understand we might be trying to much,too many changes,but for the better and to help. thank you.We have to agree to disagree this country and work together. For the life of me for people to be angry that a Prsident wants to tell the children to study,and go to school,and that is endoctrination?Coo-coo
amapola101
Some of the correct terms for the people identified as czars would be : Director and Adviser are two I can think of right now.
finally, i can appreciate an article of yours, mr. s.
debate broke down after wwii.
if you want to discover new ideas, you have to do so in a vacuum.
it doesnt help that there is no protection for achievers and their families in this country like a peerage.....id be duke of california then ... or beheaded by some jumped-up pretender.
the united states has morphed into people who feel the need to have opinions, but no need to have thought them through.
good ol st. thomas a. proved the existence of god, but to do that, he first made proofs that he DID NOT EXIST.
if you cannot successfully argue the other side, most likely youre holding onto bromides cause youre lazy.
maybe we need a literacy test for voters.
maybe public funded campaigns.
maybe all the people who think reagan was perfect need to get stoned and look at reality.
but regardless, there needs to be some way to trust the words of people, some sort of "because i say so" group of intelligencia.
my roman catholic excorcist priest friend tells me that some people in italy are trying just that.
I miss Walter Cronkite, i have seen his videos,ja,ja.andTom Brokoff,and anyone who reported,who did not do a Loonie Toon show. It is big buss reporting,it is entertaiment now.!!!!!
amapola101: Me too. But I doubt he would make in on the networks these days. Too much has changed. (I'm showing my age, aren't I?)
You are right.AlanD2,it is entertainment,hyping and 24 hours talking of so many persons,who are called reporters.Im of that age also.AH !!!and Peter Jennings,I remembered.!!!
Thank you.
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