Van Jones: building an “everybody movement.”
Photograph by Phil Toledano.
In the January 12, 2009 edition of The New Yorker Glenn Beck could have learned months ago about this Generation X visionary, Van Jones, what continues to cause tremendous controvesy in the media and around watercoolers everywhere. Jones realizes his philosphy can be considered radical by part of America. However, the conversation continues around America, as it has since our primary election season began two long years ago, what kind of change does America want or need?
The Obama White House has been very quiet the last few days in regard to its newest administration member. And it seems that once again the country has been split, but the numbers deciding might be very close in the end. Jones was caught in more scandal this week when it was revealed that he publicly called Republicans "a**holes". It becomes irony that in the same speech he calls himself an a**hole too. When did politics get primary school rules? Do they not consider the names "communist", "rascist", or "socialist", equally insulting? Certainly with our history of McCarthy-ism, the word "communist" was a much more loaded word and ruined many a liberal's career. The idea that Van Jones is qualified has not been addressed. The spin has adequately removed this factor from the equation. Partly because the answer would be an overwhelming yes! They have used the same tactics they tried to use with the presidential election, appeal to a part of white America that has a paranoia about blacks secretly plotting to have a revolution.
But it seems that there are some that are not taking Beck's side of the argument. In an article for The Huffington Post, James Rucker, Founder of ColorOfChange.org posts his progress with getting companies to stop advertising during Fox's mouthbox's show. To date 57 companies have complied with his petition and have committed to withdraw the ads from the show.
Free speech is one of the pillars of our society. But when a person's speech is inciteful it should be disavowed by its citizens. And if one does not think that saying our first black president hates white people and their culture isn't inciteful, when we have racially motivated threats against this man, then what planet are you from? This country already has in its history assassination against presidents over race issues, why in 2009 would anyone think this type of speech is publicly acceptable?
They are the ones who will end up on the wrong side of history.
Comments
All I had to do was see your picture and I didn't even have to read your article, although I did. The racism of the black community continues to astound me. You all want to march in streets and burn down your cities and claim that it is all your right to free speech and protest. But just let someone call your precious Obasasiah the racist that he is and you all want to shut down the voice and call for boycotts. sigh
I will be glad when in three years we can vote that socialist out.
NOBAMA!
I didn't see your picture, and still haven't, but I did notice that you omitted to mention Van Jones' signing of the 9/11 Truther petition in 2004, and his vacuous repudiation of it now.
Obviously, Jones' transgressions are more problematic that you've presented, or failed to present, here. And, his difficulty is more self-inflicted, than Beck-created.
You're setting up straw-arguments, and deflecting responsibility.
"All I had to do was see your picture and I didn't even have to read your article, although I did. The racism of the black community continues to astound me." Rob
So who is the racist now?
obama is a fascist racist clown the rev wright now van jones ...america is waking up...for the first time in my adult life i am scared for america.....except are republic is strong and we will overcome......this over his head phoney clown
The guy's a Mumia supporter and 9/11 wacko, for crying out loud.
The "scandal" has nothing to do with what he called Republicans. It has to do with how extreme and fringe his political record is.
Americans don't want to trust cop-killer cult devotees and truthers with responsibilities in a presidential admistration.
Isn't that simple? Why do you have to make it a racial issues, when far more obvious reasons are so evident.
One imagines you have a compulsion to find racists behind every bush, to avoid such simple rationales for why Jones must go.
Seriously, you should see how your remarks sound outside your own head.
lol... I'm not the Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters, Van Jones, Reverend Wright, or David Pattersons always using race to justify their anti-American, anti-White, socialist/fascist agenda...
"Raaaaaaaacist"... the cry of the liberal loon.
NOBAMA!
It's a shame that the first black president has surrounded himself with racist/radical/extremists such as Van Jones. The impact of this will be felt for years. It is logical to assume that Obama shares the same beliefs. I know that if I made statements like Van Jones made at work, I would be fired instantly and rightfully so. Van Jones has no business working for the federal government, much less advising the President regardless of his qualifications.
Van Jones:
1) Signed a petition that called for an investigation of the Bush administration for deliberately causing the 911 terrorist attack in order to start a war.
2) Is a self proclaimed communist.
3) Said that white polluters deliberately contaminate black communities.
4) Explained that the reason that Republicans get their agenda through congress while Democrats have problems is because Republicans are "ass holes".
5) Said that "the President of the United States (Bush) sounded like a crack head" when Bush talked about his oil policies. He continued that Bush "like a crack head trying to lick the crack pipe to get a fix." [In 2008 to the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.]
6) Sees racism everywhere he looks. He said in regard to student problems "You've never seen a Columbine done by a black child." According to Jones, only suburban white kids shoot up a whole school.
Of course the author sees Jones as "uniquely quali
A.S. Watson,
You poor misled child!
God help you, honey, when you wake up from your koolaid induced stupor.
Jones/Beck 2012
Watson, Have you been drinking too much kool-aid? I suggest you research before you start writing an article. Wow just another narrow-minded left wing blogger.
I wanted the Obama Administration to succeed, to help our country. The last thing I wanted from Obama was racial racketeering. This is what we have. It is to weep.
African Americans such as yourself, Van Jones, J. Jackson, Al Sharpton and yes Obama need to take a good look in the mirror. The only racism that is obvious to me is their black on white hatred. Pay attention to facts...not your victim theory of he gets a pass because he is black to make up for past injustice. Van Jones shouldn't be any where near a president. Unfortunately Obama is as radical as Van Jones. At least Jones was honest about it at one time. Now they are both pretending to be something they are not.
It is hard to argue with this article for the simple reason it makes very little sense at all. There are so many grammatical, logical, and historical errors in it. The author should get herself a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the schools that graduated her on the basis of educational malpractice. "The idea that Van Jones is unqualified has not been addressed...the answer would be an overwhelming yes!" Agreed, Mr. Jones is unqualified.
P.S. The word "communist" never ruined any liberal's career. It only ruined the careers of Communists such as Alger Hiss who were, we now know from the opened Soviet archives, Communist agents. True liberals had no reason to be afraid because they were patriotic. Until the 1970s, almost all liberals were anti-Communist because they understood the diabolical and evil nature of Communism, e.g. RFK was an anti-Communist who helped MaCarthy.
i guess elizabeth gurley flynn (aclu) was indicted rightly too, huh? she did after all believe in civil liberties! foolish woman!
WOW! Learn correct grammar before writing an article like this. The mistakes are many. It just goes to show that the ignorant support the ignorant.
Wow, I don't have to say much, most of the people here ripped you a new one quite nicely.
Don't you see what a hypocrite you are, you said and I quote, "But when a person's speech is inciteful it should be disavowed by its citizens."
What do you consider saying that white people deliberately contaminate black communities?
At least Beck's comments are more credible than the ones made by Van Jones. If Obama surrounds himself with racists, its not much of a stretch to assume he shares their views.
Voltaire, perhaps the greatest liberal who ever lived, once said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." If you disagree with the speech you hate and think is wrong, instead of trying to muzzle it, you should show and prove why it is wrong and untrue. Truth is always the best response, not a fascist attempt to shut people up.
It's nice that your quoting Voltaire, but whose trying to muzzle anyone here? Van Jones can say all he wants, but at the same time we have a right to make sure he doesn't work at the White House.
Last but not least, Elizabet Gurley Flynn was a self-avowed Communist! In 1961, she became chairperson of the Communist Party of the USA. Also, she wasn't merely indicted. She was convicted! A conviction which was upheld by the Supreme Court. She ended up dying in her beloved Soviet Union where she was given a state funeral by the Soviets. She was one of their own and always loyal to them and they acknowleged that accordingly. Thankfully, the Soviet Union is now dead too!
admittedly flynn was definitely wrong example. but web dubois, arthur miller, j robert oppenheimer, and paul robeson are beautiful examples of my point. in 2009 why would anyone be defending mccarthy?
Van Jones can say and believe anything he wishes.
David Duke can say and believe anything he wishes.
Karl Marx, if still alive, could believe and say anything he wishes.
But that does'nt mean I would want them in any position of power.
Americans needs to demand that Van Jones be ousted. What is a communist doing in a US Government position ... in the White House administration no less? This speaks volumes about that clown Obama and his choice. Americans had better wake up and start kicking these liberals and socialists to the curb.
This individual obviously as received a massive 'kool-aid' infusion. Her situation is dire.
W.E.B. Dubois was an official member of the Communist party! Robeson was also a staunch supporter of the Soviet Union. These are facts. Miller and Elia Kazan were also at loggerheads over their affiliation and participation with Communists in Hollywood. See e.g, "On the Waterfront" (Kazan) and "Red Star Over Hollywood" by Ronald Radosh. Could go on and on... But that is all past history which is recorded. But why, today, in 2009, is someone defending a Communist like Van Jones? huh.
We are a great nation of fools for allowing the progressive sickness to spread like cancer through our goverment. One day liberals will wake up from their liberal wet dream and realize they were played. We are broke and the new administration plans to advance the goverment spending bubble untill they can create a crisis of epic proportions. Only then will they6 have a reason to controll everything. The democratic party has been hijacked and a radical agenda and it is in play now. Conservatives are blinded by their hatred of the left just as the left spews lies and hate about the right. All these circumstances help Obama and his minions to advance their power grab in america. they have no intentions of solving any problems. The endgame in obama's america is to break the camels back. asa lama lakam "bro"
A.S., Could you find a clue in a clue field??
One Czar down 35 to go. That's change we can believe in.
I believe we need another Whitehouse Lawn 'A-hole' Summit.
Van Jones can take a prominent place at the table.
Barrack is bringing the Kool-Aid!
Why aren't the American news media attacking communists in the administration?
From the Communist manifesto: "In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."
Communists (collectivists) oppose the individual's right to absolutely own land, houses, chattels, and everything else.
The Constitution specifically protects private property:
Amendment V, US Constitution 1789
"... nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
To give communists tax money taken under the authority of the U.S. constitution is like paying salaries to the burglars who ransack your house.
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