September 6, 2009 12:40 AM

Van Jones Resigns as White House Advisor

By
Charles Cooper
Topics
In The News
(You Tube)
Van Jones took a bullet for his boss.

After more than a week of withering criticism for past comments, Jones has resigned as an advisor to the White House on green jobs.

The White House announced the news in the early hours of Sunday morning. In a statement, Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, thanked Jones "for his valuable contributions to the Council on Environmental Quality. Over the last six months he has been a strong voice for creating 21st century jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources. We appreciate his hard work and wish him the best moving forward."

But Jones had turned into a political liability for President Obama after statements he made prior to joining the White House came to light. Last week Jones apologized for a six-year-old petition he signed, alleging government complicity in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He also issued an apology for recorded comments from a February public meeting where Jones referred to Republicans as "a**holes" for not supporting administration efforts.

On Saturday, Jones came under more fire after Verum Serum posted an excerpt for an anti-war CD that Jones appeared in which also featured Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of shooting to death a Philadelphia police officer in 1981. But that case has turned into an international cause celebre with critics arguing that Jamal's death row sentence should be overturned.

Whether that was the proverbial straw remains unclear but as conservative criticism ratcheted up, the White House did not go out of its way to defend Jones. On Friday, press secretary Robert Gibbs responded to questions by declaring that Jones "continues to work for the administration." He referred all other questions about Jones to the environmental council.

In a statement, Jones, who had worked at the White House as special advisor for green jobs since March, acknowledged that he had become a lightning rod for criticism. With the administration's hands full trying to push through controversial legislation on health care and energy, Jones said that opponents of reform had decided to launch "a vicious smear campaign" against him.

"They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide," he said. "I have been inundated with calls -- from across the political spectrum -- urging me to 'stay and fight.' 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."

  • Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.

Add a Comment See all 317 Comments
by mylvsr3 September 12, 2009 4:40 PM EDT
This is the internet blogs- how about TOP breaking NEWS stories?? You know... The president knows this man & all his past! You've done down hill.
Reply to this comment
by cyby September 8, 2009 8:46 PM EDT
Wow! Can't you guys take it easy on the paid liberal bloggers? They are starting to run out of strength to call you names anymore. Communists in the Whitehouse....nice. I am SO embarassed I used to be a Democrat. I wanted Government out of my body and now they want to take away my choice of healthcare. I studied to be a reporter and look what lapdogs they have become. I am waiting for that shining moment when those with their hands out realize they have been purposely made weak while those who are well intentioned realize they have become the oppressors.
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by pasmalltown September 8, 2009 9:45 PM EDT
by cyby September 8, 2009 8:46 PM EDT
"I studied to be a reporter..." and hopefully you chose a different career......Your English is worse than mine and that's really saying something.
by mckbuckeye September 8, 2009 7:24 PM EDT
I have 1 question.... Why did it take Van Jones' resignation for CBS, NBC etc. to bring out that he is a self proclaimed Communist? Shouldn't it be nes that anyone that gets into a high gov. position that proclaims himself to be a communist be ALL OVER EVERY NEWS CHANNEL!!!!! True news organizations present all the truth to the people - not just what THEY think is news!
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown September 8, 2009 10:01 PM EDT
by mckbuckeye September 8, 2009 7:24 PM EDT
"I have 1 question...."
______________

I have one question, if "CBS, NBC, etc." was so lax, why waste your time reading this article and posting on this blog? If you can "get it all" from other sources, why bother with CBS,NBC etc.??? Now I'll go out on a limb and bet it was FOX aka BeckTV that you first viewed this apalling controversy, right? Just listen to them, they "ALWAYS present all the truth", all the time. I understand the need to listen to various media outlets, so you can get a "rounded" view of the "truth", so read/listen to what you want, but please don't try to say that CBS and NBC, etc. are picking and choosing want stories they cover and when. This implication you're making is false and overly critical. If you already have the "truth", you should be above all that.
by mylvsr3 September 8, 2009 5:50 PM EDT
I am so disappointed in your bias coverage of Van Jones. Or should I say NO coverage to this important story. You are suppose to be a place where we can get information good or bad on any subject. WHY haven't you been covering this story.? There are more czars- will we be able to count on you to do ivestigative reporting & tell the truth about anything you already know (and hiding)OR be a NEWs organization that we can trust. Right now you've lost many Americans who ONCE trusted you to bring them all the news.
Please be honest and let us know now, so we can move on.....
Reply to this comment
by debbieinga September 8, 2009 5:47 PM EDT
Fox has been reporting on the Van Jones mess since July.Where have you been CBS? Why did you wait all this time to report on it? Shame on you CBS for your lack of reporting on such a serious issue. What else have you been keeping from the American public? Goodbye CBS....hello Fox News!
Reply to this comment
by mav547166 September 8, 2009 5:41 PM EDT
Its funny what a little bit of sunlight does to marxist, I mean Liberals.
Reply to this comment
by rexrox2 September 8, 2009 1:07 PM EDT
Mr. Cooper, is it against some CBS CODE to do any research? Where is your reasearch on Mr. Jones? You are but a blogger, like the rest of us. All of his adult years have been lived as a Marxist, and most recently a communist, who has railed against capitalism. His job was to create green jobs. He's never created a job in his life. He's just following through on what we all were given in college, business bad government good. Some recover from MARINATING IN A MARXIST SOUP, DUTIFULLY STIRRED BY THE 25 YEAR OLD TA, IN EVERYONE'S SOCIOLOGY, POLY SCI, AND HISTORY CLASSES,and still others never will. The Obama administration, was given many opportunities to denounce this mans politics, Gibbs and Axelrod, to name two. They refused to do so. Get a pen, a pad and go to each of the individuals who are charged with huge responsibilities in the Obama Administration who don't need Senate Cofirmation and find out who they are. This is what drives people NUTS,to use your word. Who's helping the people to stay informed. Are each one of these revelations to come from the public?? This is the main cause of the people's MISTRUST OF THIS GOVERNMENT. What else is there, to fall from the sky?? Do some work, and spread the word.
Reply to this comment
by crwietharn September 8, 2009 12:41 PM EDT
The issue isn't just Van Jones. Van Jones epitomizes the fact that we have governmental employees called czars, who are unvetted by the FBI or Congress, and presumably who are being paid a handsome salary. Why doesn't Congress, CBS, or other watchdogs, sound an alarm bell, or at least call for an investigation? Is it because the powers that be are so accustomed to seeing the federal government waste money that it doesn't seem odd, or merit a expose. Aren't the czars simply duplicating that which the duly vetted cabinet members are supposed to be doing? What is the goal of a shadow cabinet? Is it the same goofy reason that our President thinks we need a civilian army --- Haven't heard Congress or CBS raise any alarm bells about that comment either.
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by Petepilot62 September 8, 2009 12:38 PM EDT
Sounds like Jones is an honest intelligent man.....there is no doubt that some part of the government is complicit in the 911 debacle.
Reply to this comment
by Save-us September 8, 2009 12:09 PM EDT
This story hardly tells what Van Jones is all about. It's not a left or right issue, it's about changing this country in way no one imagined when they voted for Obama. If you want to destroy this country I suggest you just leave. There are places where his ideals flourish, but the people do not.
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