# "Green Jobs Czar" Van Jones Resigns **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 6, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100 "2009-09-06T22:19:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/21 "2009-09-07T02:17:44Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, I completely disregard his acknowledged abandonment of that mindset and his disavowal of the truther nonsense, because he only disavowed it when his job became threatened. > > You guys have way more tolerance for this stuff when it comes from lefties. I can imagine how you’d react If Bush had appointed a Klansman to such a position and, once the guy started taking heat, said, “Oh, I don’t believe any of that Klan stuff any more. Honest. And yes, I did in fact swear a blood oath to keep America white and pure of race, but I didn’t really agree with it.” > > I’m sure you’d be cool with that. After all, he renounced it all. So, nothing to see here. Move along. [Eh hem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_byrd) ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/22 "2009-09-07T02:24:31Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Oh yea, it was that interview with ? where he faced ANY tough questioning…hmmm, I’m still trying to recall… [Bill O’Reilly on Sept. 4th, 2008](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_753sLQQ8q8). But I’m sure that, for some reason, you wouldn’t count an interview with one of the icons of right-wing media to be “tough questioning” ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/23 "2009-09-07T02:38:14Z")
[QUOTE] > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, I completely disregard his acknowledged abandonment of that mindset and his disavowal of the truther nonsense, because he only disavowed it when his job became threatened. I’ll have to ask fort a cite. According to [Eva Paterson](http://www.alternet.org/story/142310/glenn_beck's_crazy_lies_about_van_jones/) that’s not so. > [@](#): > > Upon investigation, it turns out that Beck is quoting (out of context) an article that in fact makes the OPPOSITE point. > > The 2005 profile that Beck is flogging actually makes it crystal clear – even in the headline – that Jones has “renounced” his earlier views, matured and moved on. Van’s transformation is the entire point of the piece, and it is impossible that Beck does not know this. When exactly was he hired by this admin? After 2005? > [@](#): > > You guys have way more tolerance for this stuff when it comes from lefties. I can imagine how you’d react If Bush had appointed a Klansman to such a position and, once the guy started taking heat, said, “Oh, I don’t believe any of that Klan stuff any more. Honest. And yes, I did in fact swear a blood oath to keep America white and pure of race, but I didn’t really agree with it.” > > I’m sure you’d be cool with that. After all, he renounced it all. So, nothing to see here. Move along. Well, there is that Democratic Senator from W Virginia who was a member of the Klan. So yeah, I guess we’re willing to judge somebody by their more recent words and the actions reflecting them. Beck confesses to being a reformed alcoholic and I’m willing to take him at his word until I see evidence to the contrary. What I judge him on is his eagerness to distort the facts while touting the importance of facts. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/24 "2009-09-07T03:23:07Z")
I have a lot of sympathy for people who have overcome chemical dependence, some of the finest people I’ve known have been tempered in that. But sometimes a very bad person gives up a crippling vice and only succeeds in becoming a worse person, one without the hindrance that limited thier capacity to do evil. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/25 "2009-09-07T04:31:43Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Obama was never held accountable for his relationship with radicals in the past, why should he have thought adding Van Jones to his administration would be an issue now. Yes indeed. When the Weathermen were bombing, Obama was 9 or 10 years old and living in Hawaii. He was probably a pen pal with Ayres then. How he got away with long distance palling around with radicals, i will never know. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/26 "2009-09-07T06:08:39Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Yes indeed. When the Weathermen were bombing, Obama was 9 or 10 years old and living in Hawaii. He was probably a pen pal with Ayres then. How he got away with long distance palling around with radicals, i will never know. Your defense is that he wasn’t hanging around with them at the time they were doing the bombing. You may want to think about that. ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/27 "2009-09-07T06:40:40Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Well, there is that Democratic Senator from W Virginia who was a member of the Klan. So yeah, I guess we’re willing to judge somebody by their more recent words and the actions reflecting them. Hahaha. You have to be kidding. Politicians are only forgiven for their past sins if they are on the left. Don’t you remember David Duke? How about Strom Thurmond? For some reason you leftists think that, if you are a Dem, all your past transgressions are forgiven simply because they are on the left. If, on the other hand, you are on the right, you are hiding your true beliefs. I mean…C’mon! ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/28 "2009-09-07T06:57:34Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan;11526545 Well, there is that Democratic Senator from W Virginia who was a member of the Klan. So yeah, I guess we’re willing to judge somebody by their more recent words and the actions reflecting them…[/QUOTE] Haha…don’t you remember David Duke? Or how about Strom Thurmond? You Leftists are always willing to forgive anything said by a Lib. But if someone on the right says ANYTHING racist then, well, they must mean it. I mean…C’mon! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/29 "2009-09-07T07:17:51Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I thought the handling of the “assholes” quote was too defensive. > > All he had to say was he meant it as a term of begrudged respect for what savy political fighters republicans can be. Except that he then went on to contrast them with Obama by saying “Obama’s not an asshole.” It would be difficult to try to claim you meant Republicans are savvy fighters when in the next breath you are contrasting that assholiness with your guy. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/30 "2009-09-07T08:49:08Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, that’s right. The righties are scared of a ‘word’. Keep telling yourself nonsense like that - it helps with the ability to dismiss any point of view other than your own. Yeah, pretty much like hurling “socialist” as an epithet or lies such as “death panels.” There is such a deep desire to discuss issues and engage other viewpoints among the authors of such blather. If someone has evidence that Jones actively worked toward the overthrow of the government, it would be interesting to see. Otherwise, it has no more bearing on the job he was doing for the last couple of months than accusations of racism or Klan membership or any of the other slurs that get hurled at people for actions or beliefs dating back to their college years or some other earlier time. ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/31 "2009-09-07T10:09:23Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Hahaha. You have to be kidding. Politicians are only forgiven for their past sins if they are on the left. Don’t you remember David Duke? How about Strom Thurmond? For some reason you leftists think that, if you are a Dem, all your past transgressions are forgiven simply because they are on the left. If, on the other hand, you are on the right, you are hiding your true beliefs. I mean…C’mon! The difference is that Strom Thurmond never fully renounced his segregationist viewpoint, unlike Robert Byrd. Instead, he continually just tried to play apologist for it by saying it was a states’ rights issue at the time. David Duke continues to support “voluntary” racial segregation and white separatism. Again, unlike Robert Byrd. See, if the people who committed the past transgressions don’t actually renounce and seek forgiveness for their past transgressions, they generally don’t get forgiven. And that’s regardless of political affiliations. If you’re looking for politicians or political figures on the right who have apparently been forgiven for past sins, look no further than Richard Nixon. In his last few years, he was somehow looked upon as an elder statesmen by both Republicans and Democrats alike. As for non-politicians (but political figures), Iran-Contra seems to be in Oliver North’s distant past, just like Watergate is for G. Gordon Liddy. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/32 "2009-09-07T11:06:33Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Your defense is that he wasn’t hanging around with them at the time they were doing the bombing. > > You may want to think about that. The point is that Ayers himself was long removed from those actions when he met Obama and their association had nothing to do with Ayers distant past. Oh my God he palled around with a guy who did something we can call terrorism over 30 freakin’ years ago. Let’s try to make it relevant. How’d that work out? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/33 "2009-09-07T11:26:50Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Hahaha. You have to be kidding. Politicians are only forgiven for their past sins if they are on the left. Don’t you remember David Duke? How about Strom Thurmond? For some reason you leftists think that, if you are a Dem, all your past transgressions are forgiven simply because they are on the left. If, on the other hand, you are on the right, you are hiding your true beliefs. I mean…C’mon! Um,… yeah good point :rolleyes: I’m just not sure what the hell it is. Duke first ran for office as a Democrat and lost. When he ran as a republican in 92 it was the republicans that tried to block him. Strom _won_ as a Democrat but served as a Republican after he switched parties in 64. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/34 "2009-09-07T11:27:48Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Good riddance. While I can appreciate someone taking a look at things from a grander, or even a novel perspective, that doesn’t mean the person should be part of the administration. He’s the perfect example. I also don’t think an avowed communist should be part of a U.S. President’s administration, as it conflicts with the founding of this country. And if he is going to be invited in, the administration has to accept any flak they rightfully get. You’re surprised that a man who’s career was launched out of the living room of a Communist/una-bomber would hire another communist? Jones was a Liberal Arts Major/Lawyer with no industry background at all and he was the Green **Jobs** Czar. When I see tax dodgers and communists in Obama’s inner circle I have to wonder if he should think in terms of creating a Vetting Czar. Good riddance to Comrade Jones. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/35 "2009-09-07T11:33:29Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Except that he then went on to contrast them with Obama by saying “Obama’s not an asshole.” > > It would be difficult to try to claim you meant Republicans are savvy fighters when in the next breath you are contrasting that assholiness with your guy. I thought of that. It would be difficult but not impossible within the context of the question. He could explain that Obama is hoping to actually persuade politicians rather than merely using political pressure. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/36 "2009-09-07T12:01:02Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You’re surprised that a man who’s career was launched out of the living room of a Communist/una-bomber would hire another communist? Jones was a Liberal Arts Major/Lawyer with no industry background at all and he was the Green **Jobs** Czar. > > When I see tax dodgers and communists in Obama’s inner circle I have to wonder if he should think in terms of creating a Vetting Czar. > > Good riddance to Comrade Jones. I like the chicken little quality of how communist and communism is being thrown around. It’s as if social change and community organizer were code words for Satan’s spawn. Does it seem impossible for you for people who are passionate about social justice and actively working to make society better might change their youthful more revolutionary stance to something more realistic and useful? How many people could actually hold office if we scrutinized their lives in such an unrealistic manner? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/37 "2009-09-07T12:10:14Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Good riddance. While I can appreciate someone taking a look at things from a grander, or even a novel perspective, that doesn’t mean the person should be part of the administration. He’s the perfect example. I also don’t think an avowed communist should be part of a U.S. President’s administration, as it conflicts with the founding of this country. And if he is going to be invited in, the administration has to accept any flak they rightfully get. This absolutely amazes me. Conflicts with the founding of the country? Wasn’t the founding of the US all about freedom? Shouldn’t someone have the right to their own political views? How can being a communist be against the founding of the country when communism itself was born long after the US became an independent nation? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/38 "2009-09-07T16:31:24Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > This absolutely amazes me. Conflicts with the founding of the country? Wasn’t the founding of the US all about freedom? Shouldn’t someone have the right to their own political views? > > How can being a communist be against the founding of the country when communism itself was born long after the US became an independent nation? Your first paragraph asks legitimate questions. The answer is that communism is in direct and irredeemable conflict with personal freedom. It makes a mockery of “…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” You’re second paragraph is simply absurd. Think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/39 "2009-09-07T16:35:58Z")
> [@](#): > > How can being a communist be against the founding of the country when communism itself was born long after the US became an independent nation? So was Nazism. Would you like to have a Nazi in the American government? How about an apartheid segregationist? Is there ANY political philosophy you’d say was incompatible with the principles the U.S. was founded on? Communism has caused more misery than any ideology in history. It holds as basic tenets that individuals do not have rights, and that relationships between humans are all part of a large class struggle. Communists would strip everyone of their property rights, seize the means of production from private individuals, and control the lives of the population from a central authority. Communism in practice is totalitarian. I would seriously question the morals, judgment, and fitness to hold office of anyone who seriously believed in Communism as the correct form of government. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100/40 "2009-09-07T17:15:35Z")
It makes a lot more sense than the ridiculous libertarian claim that all rights derive from property. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-jobs-czar-van-jones-resigns/509100.md?page=3)