Van Jones is Glenn Beck's newest demon from the Obama administration.
As I wrote in an earlier piece Glenn Beck's attacks on Van Jones made little sense if you do not also accept equally damaging attacks on Glenn Beck. I do not believe we should judge someone based upon their distant past or remote associations. However, if we do then we must also condemn Beck for his past and associations with known substance abusers.
Instead, what we should do is analyze people such as Van Jones based on facts. While Glenn Beck says he uses only facts in reality he distorts facts in crafty fashion. Most importantly, Beck leaves out crucial facts that would help his audience to better understand an issue. Here are some of the facts Beck never mentioned in his attack on Van Jones.
#1: As the video below demonstrates Van Jones was the co-founder of Color of Change. Color of Change just happens to be the leading organization behind a boycott of Glenn Beck. The boycott has had a real and substantial effect leading thirty-six companies to end their advertising with Beck. This has left Beck with a very small and partisan sponsor list. Could it be that Beck is attacking Van Jones for personal reasons and not based on any real concern about Van Jone's policies?
Since Beck is so fond of "questions" recently let me pose a question for Beck.
Why, Glenn Beck, did you fail to mention to millions in your audience that Van Jones co-founded the organization behind a boycott of your program? Why would you not fairly inform your readers of a potential bias you have against Van Jones when you devote nearly half your show to attacking the man?
#2: Glenn Beck also points out that Van Jones was a member of the Apollo Alliance. Beck further claims that the Apollo Group is a radical organization full of environmental leftists and social justice leaders. What Beck neglected to mention was that the Apollo Alliance also includes such "radical" socialist companies as Google and PG&E.
Why, Glenn Beck, would you not inform your audience of the seemingly normal business influences on the Apollo Alliance? Is it possible in an attempt to demonize organizations and individuals you leave out positive information and only emphasize that which makes them seem evil?
#3: Glenn Beck loves to mention the fact that Van Jones was arrested twice. Again though Beck never tells his audience that in neither case was Van Jones actually charged with any crime. Furthermore, Beck neglects to mention the fact that Van Jones actually won a lawsuit based on the illegality of his arrest in one case.
Why, Glenn Beck, would you tell your audience that someone has been arrested without also being fair by pointing out the proven illegality of their arrest? Could it be that you are trying to mislead people in to believing someone is a radical when they are not?
#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?
Comments
I don't support you or Obama or Jones... but I do support Beck. So keep crying... the Obamasiah is wearing no clothes and America is waking up.
NOBAMA!
I trust Glenn because unlike Jones, "Nobama" and the entire liberal news media (yourself included), he is honest enough to admit his faults. He is not attacking Jones because of his ratings, believing that is absurd, Glenn creates awareness to the facts and states CONSTANTLY that he couldn't care less if he made money or had a show, the guy loves his country. But it was nice of you to stand up for your fellow leftist, God knows he would never do it himself, in fact, Glenn BEGGED him to do so, we'll see....
Why has Obama not answered any of the legitimate questions asked? Why all the secrecy? I thought his was to be the most "transparent" of all administrations? Why did you not mention Jeff Jones in your article? You know he co-founded The Apollo Alliance, and another group called...The Weather Underground. A radical group that bombed the capitol in DC, government buildings in NYC. Explain to us "dummies" how a terrorist against America is now advising the president. None of these people would never get vetted by the FBI to hold government positions because of one questions asked by the FBI: Are you now or have you ever bene affiliated wiht any group or organization which advocates the overthrow of the United States Government or the government of any State of the United States by unlawful means? If so, state the facts:"
Jones & Jones have in fact been part of these types of groups. They have no place in government! They are trators and should be treated as such! God bell America & Glen
Every argument Beck made has been disavowed here, yet these people don't want truth. They want their country back -- you know, before we had a black president.
I hope the Secret Service monitors all the pro-Beck bloggers.
Oh My...where do I start with all this nonsense. Why don't YOU tell your viewers that the boycott came into effect AFTER his first couple of episodes on Van Jones. Looks like Van Jones is sending out his troops to attack Beck.....did he strike a nerve with the our radical buddy Mr. Jones? And Van Jones disavowing any radical associations......how convenient?! You actually take this man on his word? Oh my....if these are the best arguments you have.....I'm thinking Beck is spot on. Libtardism at its finest here lol.
I heard that Obama was gonna eat my unborn child if I didn't convert to Islam.
The person who told me was going to write a book about it, and advertise it on his new TV show.
God bless America
"I hope the Secret Service monitors all the pro-Beck bloggers."
FASCISM. The Left loves it when they're behind it. Afterall, Fascism is a Leftist ideology. And I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist, so don't play your silly Right vs. Left games.
As for Beck, he is rightfully exposing the Socialist Obama for what he is. He surrounds himself with people who in the past claimed to be Communists and Black Nationalists. Funny this blog leaves that out of the story. Kind of typical from the Progressives/Socialists of our day.
Funny, you don't tell your readers Van Jones said he was a Black nationalist. Real funny. :)
"Oh My...where do I start with all this nonsense. Why don't YOU tell your viewers that the boycott came into effect AFTER his first couple of episodes on Van Jones. Looks like Van Jones is sending out his troops to attack Beck.."
By the way-- It's funny how MSNBC openly said Conservatives want to kill Obama, Town hallers are Neo-Nazis, referred to tea party members as "teabaggers", and called town hallers "political terroists." But theres no boycott!
The Leftists can't stand Glenn Beck and apparently think facts aren't important. I don't blame them, if I was a Socialist/Fascist, I would be pretty annoyed at someone exposing my views to the world aswell.
By the way, the author of this article is copying from CNN, who recently ran a hit-peice on Glenn Beck concerning the Van Jones incident. Except they left out the fact that Van Jones really DID call himself a Communist and really DID call himself a Black Nationalist. Oh no, that is too much for the Progressives to handle.
"Every argument Beck made has been disavowed here, yet these people don't want truth. They want their country back -- you know, before we had a black president."
LesLIE, the Fascist, name on arguement that was disavowed. Was Van Jones NOT a black nationalist? Was he NOT a communist? Help me understand the logic.
Oh, and, I was against Bush & the Neo-Cons & Neo-Liberals in Congress who voted for the Iraqi war for Israel's sake. But it seems like you Progressives on the Left abandoned the Anti-War effort once Obama took office. Just ask Cindy Sheehan. Hypocritical much?
PS: The reason I called her a Fascist was for her claim that we Cosnervatives should be spied upon by the Secret Service.
The Secret Service should monitor these comments because they make threats against the President, which you should know is illegal --nothing FACIST about that.
Beck was once a dirt bag -- now he's not. Van Jones was once a communist -- now he's not. Works both ways. Unless you're a hypocrite.
Mr. Witt, you too should get your facts straight. Mr. Beck's expose of Mr. Jones RECENT communist ties took place before Mr. Jones's gang ColorofChange.org took on Glenn Beck. It's documented. A simple internet search would prove that to be.
The Apollo Alliance, like Jesse Jackson's Operation Push is able to intimidate and extort companies. Many companies find it's better to play the game with these extortionists than to fight them in court.
Look at Mr. Jones arrest record. Cleaned up or not, it's not something the people generally accept as being eligible for federal pay as an advisor to a president.
AS to your last point, I guess you didn't realize Jones was tied up with the Apollo Alliance, Storm and the Ella Baker community agitation project most recently. He's a radical. His actions are race-based.
Mr. Witt, you're a great excuse maker. Many of these same excuses were made for fellow radical Barack Obama landing him the highest office in the land.
"Beck was once a dirt bag -- now he's not. Van Jones was once a communist -- now he's not. Works both ways. Unless you're a hypocrite."
Ah, the clownish moral relativism of the looney left.
Beck's "crime" was alcohol abuse. It's funny watching the lefties put that on the same moral plane with a racist communist revolutionary.
Mean carniverous crows ALWAYS pick at the best fruit. Stay strong in support of our President and his chosen advisor, scholar Van Jones.
"Ah, the clownish moral relativism of the looney left."
No, it's about forgiveness. If you can forgive one person who has repented, you should be able to forgive another who has as well.
I would think a doctor would understand the concept of being a hypocrite.
But then again, if you believe all this Beck nonsense, you're probably not really a doctor... just saying.
Look up the term lunatic fringe. You belong there.
Leslie,
Do you not see a difference in forgiving a guy who abused alcohol, mostly harming only himself, that made it back to sobriety and forgiving a guy that just two years ago was attempting to undermine this country? And while we're talking about it, can you point me to his apology? You say he has disavowed all his radical past, please point me to it.
Obama never had to disavow his radical past, he just denied it, maybe Jones is different. Show me.
So by Leslie's reasoning, if George Bush apologized for being mean to terrorists, we'd accept it and move on. What a riot!!
Dr:
Please don't be lazy. Just google Van Jones for your info like I did. As much as you won't admit the truth, you'll discover that he is now a widely acclaimed green energy expert who has won numerous awards in the industry, proof positive people can change.
Besides, he never hurt America other than study communism, just as Ronald Reagan did after the Depression. And he went on to become President -- imagine a former Communist!
Bush on the other hand has not offered any sort of repentance for torturing people against America's principles and the Geneva Convention that was signed by us. Why should we forgive him? Is Cheney sorry? No, he's out there trying to cover his ass.
And please explain why 47 advertisers have deemed Beck's programming too dangerous to associate their products with any longer. Does that not tell you something right there? Do you think they made this decision lightly?
Where did Beck's advertisers go? And why?
Leslie,
ColorofChange has taken the playbook of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton - extorting companies whose CEOs wish to protect company assets.
It means nothing.
I'll go see if I can find that info on Van Jones and post it here.
Another widely acclaimed green expert. ROFLMAO!
Sorry Leslie, I can't find anything at all on Google News related to Van Jones disavowing, regretting or apologizing for his communist past. Maybe it's just not on the internet, huh?
glenn beck and the fox people are not the ones bankrupting america. george bush will go down in history as our worst president it took him eight years to destroy the economy, looks like president obama is going to destroy the country in eight month,
Ah, Dr. Fields. He/She/It speaks of "the clownish moral relativism of the looney left," all the while blissfully unware of his/her/its own display of the stereotypical obnoxiously arrogant, fatally-flawed moral absolutism of the retarded right.
Nice job!
Like my mamma always told me, "don't try to argue with insane people."
47 lost advertisers and you blame it on Jesse and Al -- not the hundreds of thousands of people who signed the petitions. I see you just hate black people in general.
Have a nice life, Dr. It sounds like a very dark, ugly, scary place!
Me? I'll continue to bask in the glory of a landslide win -- a president who cares about people, not big oil companies. Good luck finding a candidate who can beat him in 2012!!!!!
Gotta go!
Actually you might want to check your own facts better. Or put a disclaimer. Beck was on Van Jones long before the comments about Pres Obama. Might THAT be the real reason color of change started the boycott? As to Jones himself, when did he disavow communism? Show me the link please. He is a "respected" green economy advocate but also has said he saw the green movement as a means to social justice. Another way to say taking from one group and giving to another through the government.
As to Mr Jones not having been charged on his arrests, I absolutely agree. If that is the case then Beck should have pointed it out.
It seems to me that you are doing exactly in this article what you are accusing Beck of doing. You made one valid point and 3 that were less than honest
Beck started publically exposing Van Jones long before the Color of Change organized a boycott of Glenn Beck. So much for the premise of this post. Back to the drawing board LOL.
I heave read where Van Jones renounced his Black nationalism, haven't heard him renounce communism.
All this talk about Nazis is based on Van Jones, who took an interest in communism in his past, then decided capitalism was a better way to go. He has developed expertise to bring green energy and green jobs to America. He should be applauded and has earned his job.
If you held everyone to the same standard -- that they cannot change -- Beck would still be a alcoholic, drug-addict dirtbag who left his wife and disabled child with MS. Reagan would still be a communist, like he was when he was young. McCain would be known for spilling the beans to his captors and leaving his ill wife to marry a tycoon.
But since this is America -- we give people a second chance. Beck has a show. Reagan was president. McCain is a senator. Van Jones is a green energy expert working for Obama.
Make sense? Or do you just want to keep talking about Nazis and looking like kooks?
Of course, it had to be CNN to pick it all apart. I was expecting GE and NBC to be the first. You Commies just dont get it. If you can't find fault with the facts you attack the messenger about his personal looks or delivery. A year from now, you'll be the first ones to cry, Where did our Country go?All the men and women who have died to keep America free frosocilaism and communism will all have died in vain if we let this monster and his team of terrorist to follow thur on their plans.GOD BLESS AMERICA. AMERICA, STAND UP AND FIGHT WHILE WE STILL CAN. THAT 250,000 CIVILIAN ARMY IS COMMING AFTER US..
Ryan Witt makes a few potentially valid points, but his frequent grammatical errors cause me to question the overall credibility of this news source. Cannot the Indianapolis Examiner afford to hire educated editors? Witt apparently cannot discern the remarkably disperate meanings of simple words like "distance" and "distant." His comma usage is seemingly arbitrary, and his redundancies are a journalistic nightmare. Who hired Ryan Witt and why is he allowed to publically embarrass himself with such shoddy writing? Witt's logic is also rather weak, but I am assuming that is more the result of religiously faithful partisanship than an inherent cognitive deficit. Still, I wonder why the Examiner does not expect their writers to know how to write. Just wondering...
Yeah, the grammar in the article is bad, but not nearly as embarrassing as when Glenn built up to his big climax -- and spelled oligarchy wrong. Ooops. Stupid is as stupid does.
Suzanne
Since you're such a stickler for grammar, "disperate" is not a word. I guess you meant "disparate." Just saying ...
Sorry Leslie, I can't find anything at all on Google News related to Van Jones disavowing, regretting or apologizing for his communist past. Maybe it's just not on the internet, huh?
Some changes made. I apologize for any confusion caused by the errors. I write as I speak but I acknowledge the need to correct usage problems that get in the way of understanding. To Hart I would not call myself a journalist but a commentator and certainly as qualified to comment as Beck. As for your personal attack on me, I think Spellchecker pointed out how you manage to disregard your own strict adherence to spelling and grammar while lambasting me for my mistakes. Perhaps you should just "distance" yourself from the emotion involved in criticizing me. Just saying...
Ryan Witt
Thanks for your article. It explains how Van Jones evolved to become a valuable member of society. Unfortunately, that will never sink in to Fox viewers. They hate Obama and will attack him non-stop for the next 7 1/2 years.
Keep up the great work!
Glenn Beck spoke out about Van Jones before ColorofChange decided to take on the sponsors of his show.
It would appear that your whole article is based on incorrect information and in turn, is pointless. If you want to be taken seriously as a journalist, do some homework before offering your bias up for viewing.
The entire premise is not built upon who fired first. The point is Beck never informs his viewers of the very relevant and significant boycott when devoting nearly entire show to Van Jones AFTER the boycott took effect.
Keep crying... Beck has you liberal dopes on the ropes. I don't support you or Obama or Jones, but I do support Mr. Beck!
NOBAMA!
this author is ill-informed, not to mention a total idiot. BECK went after Van Jones LONG AGO. FIRST. Glenn exposed Van, and THEN colorofchange.org decided to launch their flaccid, weeny attack. lefty author dude, learn YOUR facts before you go on your liberal whine attack. You are totally wrong.
Ryan Witt--get a clue. Beck works for a network. The network has asked him not to mention the boycott. If you knew anything about Beck, you might do research into what he talks about on the radio. He HAS talked about it. the FOX show is a different story. He's not "obliged" to talk about a fringe group's attempt at a baby boycott. GET SOME FACTS, DUDE! Read a blog or two. Nothing affected Beck's show, and the advertisers were just reorganized to other shows on the network. Beck, with his ratings, commands one of the most expensive ad slots at his hour.
Well, here is another example of why Glenn Beck is continuing to gain in popularity.
Comparing "Beck for his past and associations with known substance abusers." to what I have seen with my own eyes in regards to van jones statements is a specious argument at best and those who read with an open mind will understand that.
This article pays no attention to what is right, only the authors own political preference.
The people behind Glenn Beck are just that "The People".
As to Color of Change, they may say the support all, but once you view their actions you can tell that THEY and not Glenn Beck are the racists.
After all, if one is a racist for calling another a racist, which were not Glenn Becks words by the way, then Jesse Jackson would have to be considered one of the biggest racists ever to exist.
The time has come to end the radical influence on the US government on both sides. If you do not see this as a necessity then I am happy to leave you in your dumbness.
Oh and for those who don't understand the word... This comes from websters!
spe?cious??/?spi??s/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [spee-shuhs] Show IPA
Use specious in a Sentence
See web results for specious
See images of specious
–adjective 1. apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
2. pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
3. Obsolete. pleasing to the eye; fair.
Mixelstick
Comparing a dirt bag like Glenn Beck to Van Jones is totally appropriate. Comparing Van Jones to Ronald Reagan is totally appropriate. Address that issue, please. Why is one forgiven and the other not? Is it because one is black? Van Jones and Reagan did the same exact thing.
Glenn Beck hurt people by his actions, including his own disabled child. I'd like one of you drones to come up with one single thing Van Jones did that was so destructive to America. Name one thing!!! And please be specific so I can hate him too!
You call it a baby boycott? 47 advertisers can't be wrong. Get a clue!
Never mind the fact that a good many of the "advertisers" admit that they never actually advertised on the Glenn Beck program anyway! Talk about telling a one-sided story!
Can you list the many advertisers that admitted this? No, because it's not true!
Spellchecker,
Well fisrt of all, since you changed my screen name to be something insulting, I see you come at this from a position of anger.... Stop the hate man.
Comparing a dirt bag like Glenn Beck to Van Jones is totally appropriate. Comparing Van Jones to Ronald Reagan is totally appropriate. Address that issue, please. Why is one forgiven and the other not? Is it because one is black? Van Jones and Reagan did the same exact thing.
What are you asking here, What did Reagan and Jones do that are the "exact same thing"?
Please try to have a discorse, not just spew hate.
Pixie Sticks
You call me a hater? Look at all these entries. Calling the president a nazi? Please! Go back to your history books and read about FDR, who was called a communist too by people just like you who couldn't recognize positive change. There's nothing Nazi about it.
And by the way, Both Van Jones and Reagan were communists at one time. One was obviously forgiven -- and became president. Why can't the same be true for Van Jones?
jones wrote a book called the green collar economy which advocates a future market based solution for a clean energy economy. Hardly a communist. Beck only mentioned this on the Oreilly factor, where as usual they had their unfair and unbalanced discussion. He doesnt tell the lemmings that watch his show. Glenn whines to high hell about left wing groups attacking him. Ive watched his show for a long time all he does is make baseless and proof lacking accusations, along with various conspiracy theories, reparations, the fed, left wing paramilitary armies. Insane stuff! There is a strong market out there for obama haters, and Beck is playing into that. Not a crime but when you float the idea of 'OBAMA IS CREATING AN SS DIVISION TO COME AND SILENCE ALL CONSERVATIVE THOUGHT, u need a reprimand!
i hope all you cons can take a note. What goes around comes around. Saying that the left was nothing more than america haters and labeling everyone who disagreed as unpatriotic. All the Bush hatred (yes i can admit that there were ALOT of haters) that exists is only being amplified by times 10 by the right. Your Limbaughs, becks, Levins, Hannitys are quality fearmongers pure through and through. Just wish more intelligent conservatives would come to the table and engage in real quality discussion. The fact that alot of the rightwing believes that Obama is a socialist/marxist speaks volumes!
Why would anyone compare Beck's past problems with drinking to those of Van Jones? Beck is not in a goverment office. There is no parllel. Jones served jail time for his radical activism. Jones in his own words announced he was an anarchist and a communist. Admittedly this was in the past but it disqualifies him under the vetting process. Presidential appointments are supposed to be investigated because they have SECURTY CLEARNACE and access to large budgets. The reason the FBI does not allow former self avowed communists and anarchists into the goverment is because maybe they still are. This is why Obama went around the sytem and appointed Jones a czar. If Van Jones was examined by the FBI he would be automatically denied approval. By law Jones could not be a cabinet advisor to Obama. In fact most of the czars he has appointed would have trouble with the FBI. This is why Obama has figured a way around the vetting process and this is why he uses it so much
I also would like to say Van Jones does have some good ideas. He wants to use green jobs to forward his agenda to lift up the getto by mobilizing goverment "solar/green incentives" into good paying affermative action jobs. I watched an interview he did and it was clear he sees green energy as a vehicle to drive economic corrections to what he percieves as social injustice directed at minorities and the black community. I don't agree with his bias but I like that he is using a real growing industry to bring poor people up instead of the failed dependencies created by a welfare state. Lets hope he uses his power to benefit all Americans not just the ones he shares the same skin color with.
Chris
I read where Van Jones was vetted, including an interview with someone who was contacted by the FBI regarding this job. You'd probably find out the same thing, if you bothered. Or just get all your news from Beck.
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