Jones Resigns as Obama Aide, Citing ‘Vicious Smear Campaign’

[bemildred]

Source: Bloomberg

Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Van Jones, an environmental adviser to President Barack Obama, resigned, citing a “vicious smear campaign” by opponents of health care and energy plans focused on comments he made before joining the administration.

“They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide,” Jones said in a resignation letter to Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, released yesterday. “I came here to fight for others, not for myself,” he wrote. “I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past.”

Jones, appointed by Obama to advise on the creation of “green jobs” in March, was an environmental activist in California before joining the administration. In 2004, he signed a petition asking for investigations into whether high-level officials allowed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to happen.

Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators seized upon that petition to argue that Jones should resign. They also focused on his affiliation with ColorofChange.org, a group he co-founded in 2005 that is leading an advertising boycott against Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a7E...

[jeffbr]

1. First they came for Van Jones...

[HowHasItComeToThis]

8. THEY ARE RACKETEERS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE

[SteveM]

296. And they're getting their way. Easily. (nt)

[SteveM]

297. This may be offensive...

The Democratic Party is like a drunken whore lying on a pool table in the back of a seedy bar full of ex-cons.

Pretty soon, you know what's gonna happen. Over and over.

[wordpix]

314. The Dems continue to turn the other cheek and play nicey-nice

[EFerrari]

2. I can't believe his resignation was accepted over THIS BULLSHIT.

[tsuki]

5. This is the same thing that McCarthy did to General Marshall that

forced his resignation.

FOX NEWS - We smear. You jeer.

[Psephos]

10. It wasn't accepted, it was solicited. Count on it. nt

[Lorien]

298. No spine. None.

it's pathetic.

[donheld]

3. I wish Obama would not accept the resignation

[Blandocyte]

293. Indeed. He should be the decider.

But let's get van da man his own show on MSNBC! I'd definitely watch that.

[Political Heretic]

4. And so, one of the only truly left leaning voice in the administration is gone.

[man4allcats]

6. The presidential adviser who wasn't afraid to tell it like it is.

"Republicans are assholes."

Thanks, Van! You da Man!

[DrZeeLit]

7. McCarthyism. Glen Beck wouldn't know a communist if one walked up and kissed him.

He's an idiot.
He's been going on and on about Rockefeller. Rockefeller! A communist? Geez... the guy had more money than God. Talk about your Capitalist saints.

And now this nonsense. Going after a decent human being and smearing him.
The lessons of McCarthy were meant to be learned FOREVER.

It is NOT a crime to be a member of the communist party.
Not. A. Crime.

Let he who has not flirted with all sorts of ideas as a youth cast the first stone.

As I said in another thread, THIS resignation and acceptance of it by Obama has made me more sad and disappointed than other stupid move by this admin so far. So far.
They must be aware that they are losing their progressive supports in leagues.
Sad sad sad.

[ngant17]

302. there's probably a pattern to be observed here

IMHO most of the people who are outraged at the thought that the official story of 9-11 was a whitewash or an outright deception, these same people will religiously believe in the government as long as it reeks of rightwing propaganda, i.e., Warren Commission, Oswald as the lone nut, ect.

Independent, critical thinking is a hallmark of intelligence, and Van Jones deserves all the praise in the world for his courageous stance wrt the 9-11 attacks. Republicans and their minions do not have sufficient brain processing neurons to engage in any sort of critical thinking, what passes for critical thinking for them, it is to echo the Republican own party line.

Rush Limbaugh makes millions of dollars a year for doing this sort of thing. He is a true corporate shill, the best that money can buy!

I'm pretty sure I would have already signed the same document questioning the veracity of the official story of 9-11 (911truth.org), and if I didn't, I will sign onto it anytime.

[Apollo11]

9. So it turns out that Glenn BecKKK is more powerful that our President ...

Who knew?

[marshall]

288. It wasn't as simple as Jones's letter makes it sound

It wasn't just lies and distortions, it was also audio and video recordings of his own sayings.

His only other recourse would have been to embrace what he said--either say he changed his mind or say that's what he believes, and move on. But the administration didn't seem ready to take that step.

[NecklyTyler]

11. The right wing needs to realize who won the election

Cry babies like Beck and Limbaugh are getting their way by whipping a small segment of the people into a vocal froth

[Vattel]

12. I'm not a big fan of Van Jones's attempt to link green jobs

to fighting poverty. "Gee, what if we could fight poverty and help the environment at the same time? What a concept. Let's promote that." I prefer evidence-based approaches to fighting poverty. But I don't see why people like Beck should be appeased by being given Van Jones's head on a platter. Van Jones says that he never agreed with the statement on the petition. End the story there. Move on.

[cal04]

13. Breaking News: Van Jones resigns as Obama environmental adviser over controversial statements

Source: Associated Press

The White House says President Barack Obama's adviser Van Jones is resigning amid controversy over past inflammatory statements.

Van Jones, an administration official specializing in environmentally friendly "green jobs," is linked to efforts suggesting a governmental role in the 2001 terror attacks and to derogatory comments about Republicans.

Jones issued an apology on Thursday. When asked the next day whether Obama still had confidence in him, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones "continues to work in the administration."

The White House issued a statement early Sunday saying Jones had quit the administration.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_adviser_resigns

---

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/06/van_jone...
rest at link


"I am resigning my post at the Council on Environmental Quality, effective today," Jones said in a resignation letter released by the CEQ late Saturday.

(snip)
"I have been inundated with calls -- from across the political spectrum -- urging me to 'stay and fight,'" he continued. "But I came here to fight for others, not for myself. I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. We need all hands on deck, fighting for the future.


(Sure wish you would have)

[Cassandra]

14. Repukes being assholes...

is hardly controversial.

[mcollier]

209. Al GORE Step Up!!! We Need You

This would be a good time for Al Gore to lead in this vacant role...

[harvey007]

233. Yes -- Get Al Gore In There

It is truly sickening that Van Jones was drummed out of his position.
He's been doing great work advocating for green jobs. See video:
http://vimeo.com/5299479

Yes, get Al Gore in there to carry on his work.

[Apollo11]

285. Most definitely

Al Gore has a new book coming out on November 3rd

Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis


Available to pre-order from all the corporate bookstores:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Our-Choice/Al-Gore/e/9...

www.amazon.com/Our-Choice-Solve-Climate-Crisis/dp/15948...

www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1594867348

[beachmom]

15. That's too bad. He's a good man.

I saw him speak at Netroots Nation a year ago. He was very impressive.

[Name removed]

180. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wetzelbill]

184. no just Republicans

and that one is true.

[Syntheto]

186. Surely you should know by now....

...that this is not the place for a different point of view than the orthodox one... Some thinking people might conclude after reading Jones' past statements that it was idiotic to put him forth for anything at the Federal level... too much documented baggage... it was a big misstep for the administration to do so to begin with... However, try telling the faithful here that some of his words could be construed as racist, etc, and might come back to haunt him, and you will soon learn that it's the Republicans, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, et al, and of course, the lapdog media that derailed him. Get ready to be flamed on, or get in line with the herd.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

215. so why aren't you outraged that republicans get free passes for far worse baggage?

Republican orthodoxy, "It's OK when we do it"

[tabatha]

16. BreakingNews has:

CNN: White House green jobs czar Van Jones resigns, blames lies and "vicious smear campaign" against him.

[rwheeler31]

17. Oh no this is disgusting.

[Name removed]

182. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[valerief]

18. No, no, no!!!!! That bites. nt

[SeattleGirl]

19. Looks like the right-wing thugs won another round.

Bastards!

[snake in the grass]

57. And they will continue to win...

...until the Dems stand up to them. I really liked Van Jones and am disappointed that he felt it necessary to go. I find it curious that although the GOP has the attractiveness of a bucket of fresh shit, they still determine what goes on in D.C. Disgusting.

[DWilliamsamh]

235. Lets get it strait...Jones din't "feel it necessary to go." He was fired by cowards.

[snake in the grass]

251. You're right.

The spinelessness of our representatives makes me want to scream.

[mbperrin]

20. So it really is against policy to tell the simple truth about Republicans.

I was afraid so, and this only confirms it.

Why do they get to carry guns to rallies, wave signs calling for death, but when we call them assholes, it's the end of the world.

Here, I'll say it: They are ASSHOLES!

[Name removed]

181. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mbperrin]

187. You mean like AIG, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, and the rest of the "in"

crowd who have been running this country since Reagan at least?

Luckily, I was raised in a home which knew that insurance and banking are shell games and all their minions thieves and con people, so we're still intact on the direct contact front, but the Treasury has been a piggy bank for these plus Halliburton and other war profiteers for some time.

I hate that.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

216. +1000

exactly! UNBELIEVABLE!!

they are worse than assholes.

[totodeinhere]

21. OK, they got Van Jones. I wonder who is next. This is disgusting. n/t

[S_B_Jackson]

96. Next targets are likely

Cass Sunstein and John Holdren.......That fuckwad, Glenn Beck's been smearing them with the same slime that he was slinging at Van Jones. This is out-fucking-rageous!!!!!!!! And none of out elected leaders in the administration, the House, or the Senate lifted a damned finger in protest at this vile character assassination.... They just laid down for fuck's sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gopiscrap]

22. Jesus Fucking Christ

Obama is being the biggest wuss..he should have told the right wing...we won the election eat shit and die!!!!

[Flyover John]

23. Dang

I wonder who's next?

[d_b]

24. chickenshit whitehouse is chickenshit

it's going to be a hilarious four years.

[Name removed]

159. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RufusTFirefly]

25. Figures. He was probably my favorite Obama appointee

Many of us in the San Francisco Bay Area have known about Jones for quite some time. He was definitely a rising star. No wonder the Rethugs had to hound him out of office.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

62. Mine too. A great American.

[Bluenorthwest]

148. Hands down my favorite appointee

Van was known outside the Bay Area as well, he's been on my list of good people doing good work for several years now. I learned more from a few emails exchanged with Van than I have from some entire courses of work. He's got natural skills and well honed talents, along with much of that awful flaw, empathy.

[Name removed]

179. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Anakin Skywalker]

26. The RW Hypocrisy is Stunning!

Let me get this straight, those @$$clown RWers (MANY ARE CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS) can be birthers, deathers and whatever, but this guy can't be a "truther"? WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD? Why don't all those Republican officials who said ridiculous things about Obama and the Democrats RESIGN too? WTF?

[treestar]

39. And then why didn't Cheney resign when he said go f-- yourself to someone?

[wpelb]

47. You can't be serious

Former Vice Pres. Cheney and the Republicans, at least under Pres. Bush, made little or no pretense of "bipartisanship." So when Cheney f-bombed Sen. Leahy, it was no big deal, at least to Republicans. But as long as the Democrats talk about "bipartisanship," instead of saying, "We won, you lost, deal with it!" they'll have to muzzle anyone who makes strong partisan comments. Mr. Jones did just that, so he had to go.

Politics is a dirty business. It always has been, and it probably always will be.

[No Elephants]

119. IMO, the difference is that cheney used an expletive to one person, while

this guy smeared a large group of people. Temper versus stereotyping. Really not similar at all, though they may, on the surface, seem similar because both incidents involve vulgar language.

Substitute a racial or ethnic minority in this guy's statment and you'll see the issue more clearly. (BTW, you cannot do that substitution with "Go fuck yourself" said to a single individual.)

Now, it is not exactly like calling a racial or ethnic minority assholes because you cannot change what you are born and you can change your political views. But, the statement was still closer to that than to telling one person to f--K himself.

BTW, your memory seems short. Before Obama ran, in part, on bipartisanship, Dummya ran, in part, on being "a uniter, not a divider." And Cheney was Dummya's V.P., not just someone in his administration. So, using your logic, Cheney's statement was much more of a sore thumb than this guy's.

[The Wizard]

191. The fallacy in your argument is

race and ethnicity are not voluntary, joining a party of ignorant bigots is an option.

[wpelb]

221. Cheney v. Jones

Before Obama ran, in part, on bipartisanship, Dummya ran, in part, on being "a uniter, not a divider." And Cheney was Dummya's V.P., not just someone in his administration. So, using your logic, Cheney's statement was much more of a sore thumb than this guy's.

The retort by Vice Pres. Cheney also occurred at the end of an argument on the Senate floor, not in a speech or a Q&A with a sympathetic audience. More importantly, it came in 2004, near the end of Pres. Bush's first term, long after the "uniter-divider" contrast had either been formally or informally discarded. This mess has come up during the first few months of Pres. Obama's administration, presumably before cynicism (or is it political reality?) should have set in.

In any event, it's too bad Jones wasn't given an opportunity to apologize and/or explain his comment. He might have been able to wriggle off the hook. I was surprised that he resigned so quickly. Not only does it show the Obama administration is willing to cave in to criticism from those who would never vote for him anyway (does anyone believe that any of Glenn Beck's loyal listeners actually voted for this administration?), but it also shows that the President may have quite a bit of opposition within the ranks of his own party, perhaps even in his own administration.

[jmodden]

48. Fascist fuck Cheney

called Adam Clymer (NYT) an asshole and nothing happened.

[jmodden]

49. It was Bush

http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/09/04/cu...

[pnorman]

126. Thanks for that Salon article! I just used it in another venue.

That incident had come to mind when I first heard about Van Jones being pressured out. But my memory was hazy, and it would have been a difficult web-search.

pnorman

[NewJeffCT]

152. Democrats and the so-called liberal media

didn't demand Cheney resign and didn't puff it up into a mock controversy.

[howmad1]

270. And that's because:

the democratic party has become the left wing of the rethuglican party.

[24601]

158. Constitutional Officer verses non-Senate Confirmed WH Staff

No one seriously suggests Joe Biden needs to resign for an occasional misstatement....

[RamboLiberal]

281. You got that right

The assholes are saying crap that's near traitorous. Right on the edge of calling for Obama to be killed. Yet they are never hounded out of office. It's only the Dems & right now this administration who are chickenshit and reward this crap every time.

Time for Dems and this White House to grow a spine!

[treestar]

301. It's not a lack of spine, it's the media not covering it or not making

as big a deal out of it.

If the media were neutral, it would have forced Cheney into resignation for his comment.

[Libertas1776]

27. Typical

Rethugs continue to control the spotlight and the talking points even when they're not fucking in power.

[earcandle]

30. that is because money is considered more valuable than human life. and that is a distortion.

supposed we insisted that human life is more important than
the market?

And how would we show that? By showing up at funerals and not
at work? 

Got your garden, or trading system worked out yet for the
general strike?

[earcandle]

34. Anyone ever organized a general strike? Who do we ask how to do it? The French?

[happyslug]

177. General strikes are called by Labor Leaders, and this is NOT a labor issue.

Remember this is an environmental issue, labor may be supportive of the environment but it is NOT an issue a labor leader gets elected on (Unless it affects a lot of workers such as the eight hour day, minimum wage etc.).

When the French went out it was over pensions and labor regulations in general NOT anything else.

For example see the following:
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50S1MX2...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-01-29-france-st...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=ax_...

[glitch]

258. Ain't no law about it. Anyone can call a general strike, it doesn't have to be about labor. nt

[happyslug]

260. But you need labor to make it work.

And to get Labor, you have to get the Labor Leadership. Now at time Labor can force their leadership to lead, but even in those situation you need the support of labor. Someone has to lead, and that is labor and their show their leadership through their labor leaders.

[wpelb]

56. And whose fault is that?

If they're able to do things like this while they're not in power, how? Are they given power by the majority Democrats? Are there large number of "majority" Democrats ("Blue Dogs," but maybe others, even some most of us here think of as staunch liberals) who are willing to let controversial outspoken Democrats and other supporters of Pres. Obama to be thrown under the bus?

I'm not asking these questions rhetorically. I'd really like to know the answer. Because it is clear that the Republicans, from ex-Gov. Sarah "Death Panels" Palin to Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, despite being minorities (even minorities of minorities), are able to shape the debate in such a way that Pres. Obama and other prominent Democrats are frequently left floundering--or so it seems.

[The_Casual_Observer]

28. Bipartisan means that good guys like this get thrown under the bus

to appease glen beck.

[movonne]

29. Our party is becoming a joke...the repugs say anything they want

and wouldn't think of quitting...this administration better wake up soon..we are starting to look very weak...

[juajen]

31. So Bush can keep lying, filfthy crooks and murderers, but

Obama can't keep a man who tells the truth? Gimme a break!

[high density]

32. This WH throws its hands up in surrender a lot

They definitely don't got the backs of their employees.

[IndianaGreen]

269. Neville Chamberlain is alive and well

Appeasement has become our war cry!

[Freddie Stubbs]

33. Did anyone really believe that this guy would last past the labor Day weekend?

[Pirate Smile]

37. I thought he would resign early evening Friday but I guess this may be the best time - too late for

Sunday papers, Holiday weekend, Monday off with lots of big stuff coming up so it will barely be a blurb.

I'm sorry he had to go but I don't think anyone should be surprised at all.

[No Elephants]

122. Really? Why? Have all the birthers resigned? How about all the ones calling Democrats looney?

It's frickin' ridiculous that this guy has to resign while no one considers demanding resignations from Senators who talk of death panels and will not disavow birthers.

Republican broadcasters, who are even a much smaller minority than Republicans in general, should not be controlling our government.

Even if calling Republican assholes was termperate, it was one sentence. (And that was the reason because his truther statements were made long ago) An apology was given promptly and should have sufficed.

[marshall]

286. How many of those has Obama assigned or nominated?

Hopefully not any!

[GoCubsGo]

162. There is no best time.

I guarantee you that Glenn Dreck will be crowing about his "victory" the first moment he next goes on the air.

[liberal N proud]

236. He has to resign while Glenn Beck continues to be allowed to spout

racism on the air.

Whats wrong with this picture?

[No Elephants]

120. He certainly should have.

[Raineyb]

224. No he shouldn't have. He shouldn't have resigned at all.

I am sick and tired of Democrats apologizing for nonsense. All this bending over backwards and jettisoning people because the Republicans are acting like a bunch of whiny titty babies is NOT going to get these assholes to work with this White House.

[Freddie Stubbs]

318. If he did not resign, he would have been fired

[rwheeler31]

35. What a stand up guy he will be back.

[earcandle]

36. Just stop making excuses and become intolerant of asshats. And vocal about it. And black listy and

all.  

[pink-o]

38. Funny how Van gets advertisers to flee from little Glennie

then next thing you know, Kyl and Hatch are making sanctimonious rumblings in the Senate about Van's resume. How fucking blatant is it that Faux News owns the Repigs??

WTF is WRONG with a society that shouts down truth 90 percent of the time???

[treestar]

40. "defending my past" sounds like there is more to it than just calling

the repukes assholes.

[BP2]

63. I cannot believe who I am more angry at

the fucking repubs, or fucking Barack!

I am so fucking pissed off I can barely see straihgt. Good I can't or I'd throw this damn laptop thru the window!!

Goddammit! Barack could have refused the resignation. Instead, he sits and waits to announce it so Van gets to tell Jana over a 3-day weekend - real classy, Barack, real fucking classy.

[Delphinus]

130. Thanks for posting the picture.

I've been kind of out of it for a time, and have no clue what he did, but I think I saw a video of him speaking at a UU GA to the youth - he was AMAZING!

[AlphaCentauri]

41. Yes The Truth Hurts

[ro1942]

42. this administration

is as weak as water, i can't listen to them anymore,they are so full of it. this guy was great to bad.

[ihavenobias]

43. Cenk set the line at 2 weeks that he would resign and hoped he was wrong.

He was right unfortunately (skip to 3:33 in):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLUW4QED2-0

[Mithreal]

44. People who call out Republicans are unwelcome in the Obama admin? nt

[Turborama]

45. OH FFS!! Faux News has won, this was all about the Glenn BecKKK boycott

As I summarized in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

I can't believe that they actually won this. Obama should have rejected his resignation. What really disgusts me, apart from losing a great advocate for REAL change, is that now this has happened Faux must feel like they're calling the shots.

This has actually pushed me over the tipping point and I've lost all faith in this administration being strong enough to fight for anything we were looking forward to and excited about after the election.