Coop's Corner
September 3, 2009 7:50 PM

For Van Jones, A Week Already Feels Like A Year

By
Charles Cooper
Topics
In The News
(CBS/iStockphoto)
For President Obama's green jobs advisor, Van Jones, Labor Day can't come soon enough.

The Washington Independent has turned up a six-year-old petition Jones signed alleging government complicity in the September 11 terror attacks. This comes just one day after The Hill reported the existence of a video clip recorded in February in which Jones referred to Republicans - and himself - as "a**holes."

Jones joined the Obama administration in May. He was the founder of a green jobs advocacy organization based in Oakland, Ca.

The online petition, issued in October 2004, demanded an "immediate inquiry into evidence that suggests high-level government officials may have deliberately allowed the September 11th attacks to occur." The signatories called for an investigation into "incriminating evidence" they said either was ignored or not sufficiently considered by the Kean Commission, which was set up to look into the circumstances surrounding the attacks.

In the video which made the rounds yesterday, Jones is seen responding to a question why Congressional Democrats were not as successful as Republicans in pushing through their legislative agenda. (See below.)



He said:

"Well, the answer to that is, they're a**holes," Jones said. "And Barack Obama is not an a**hole. Now, I will say this: I can be an a**hole, and some of us who are not Barack Hussein Obama, are going to have to start getting a little bit uppity [to get things done]."

In a statement subsequently sent over to Politico by his office, Jones expressed contrition for his recorded remarks. "These comments, made before I joined the administration, were clearly inappropriate and I apologize for the offensive words I chose to use during that speech. They do not reflect the views of this administration, which has made every effort to work in a bipartisan fashion, and they do not reflect the experience I have had since I joined the administration."

Conservatives were already clamoring for Jones head - especially after Fox News host Glenn Beck devoted Monday and Tuesday segments of his nightly broadcast portraying Jones as a radical linked in some way, shape or form to the worldviews of Hugo Chavez, Jeremiah Wright, and, of course, Barack Obama. Right wing bloggers have since demanded that the president fire Jones, who they depict as a subversive bent on fomenting revolution. (For more, check out the Van Jones thread on Twitter.)

...

UPDATE:

Tonight Jake Tapper is reporting that Jones has issued a statement that he did not agree with the petition "and it certainly does not reflect my views now or ever."

At the same time, Jones said that "in recent days some in the news media have reported on past statements I made before I joined the administration – some of which were made years ago. If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize."

  • 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 105 Comments
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Reply to this comment
by MessySam November 15, 2010 10:45 AM EST
Well, it's never a good thing to come out and publicly call someone or a group of people a**holes - it seems to me that this was a bit more than a simple slip up. For example, I saw small lawn care business driving down the street, and on their <a href="http://www.trailersplus.com">flatbed trailer</a> they had a bumper sticker that had some obscene content -- not a good message to be sending potential customers for their business.
by citizen55 September 7, 2009 6:48 PM EDT
CBS should begin to investigate and actually report on the czars, as well as Obama's other associations and activities past and present. I believe that if we Americans would have been informed with the radical truths surrounding him before the election we would not have entrusted him with the highest office of our country. Most Americans cherish Freedom and Truth, something that between mainstream media and this administration is being stolen out from under us.
Reply to this comment
by SavvyVoter September 7, 2009 1:53 PM EDT
Dems controlled congress and the house for over two years during the last of Bush's presidency. That swamp needed to be drained. And are you proud of Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and Chris Dodd? The whole situation literally tied the administration's hands. Bush is to blame for a lot, but the dems are, too.
Reply to this comment
by tismeinaz September 7, 2009 12:14 AM EDT
I'd like to know why people have this idiotic belief that anyone who stands up and says that something is wrong with this country, the last administration or Republicans is anti-American? Expressing your opinion in this country is American. It is as American as it gets. Read the constitution. I'm also getting sick of people who throw labels like. Liberal, Fascist, Socialist, Communist and Nationalist around like epithets. They are political views and parties. Nothing more, nothing less. Labeling someone in this way just because they signed a petition or gave a speech to a group just makes the labeler out to be mean spirited and discriminatory. It is nothing less than an attempt to destroy someone's reputation and validity to strengthen your own. I am getting sick of right wingers thinking that it is ok for Dick Cheney to tell Senator Leahey to F**k off but it's not all right for Van Jones to call close minded republicans a** holes. Courtesy is a two way street. You can't go around treating people, who don't agree with you, like crap and expect them to be polite in turn. Obama won the election fair and square, unlike Bush in 2000. Sorry some of you don't like that - get over it. Obama is trying to be bi-partisan and a president for everyone, unlike Bush and Cheney. They were only there for their big business friends like Haliburton. The Bush Administration lied, cheated, kidnapped and tortured. They are CRIMINALS and should be in jail for what they did. I didn't see any of you complaining then. Even though you were who they lied to. You are gullible, racist fools and I am ashamed of you.
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by SallyE1947 September 6, 2009 6:50 PM EDT
Isn't it interesting how the Left blames Glenn Beck for the downfall of Jones? Beck didn't force Jones to join a communist organization or sign the petition blaming our government for 9/11. The Left always tries to deflect the blame. Howard Dean has said the Jones resignation is a "loss" to the nation. The press is not covering Jones' long standing affiliation with communist organizations. This is really the heart of the story but no news outlet has the guts to report it. Beck just did his homework unlike those of us who got all caught up in "hope" and "change" and didn't bother to look deeper.
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by USAMom September 6, 2009 3:21 PM EDT
Hoorah for Glenn Beck and folks like him! I thought that even with all the solid facts that Beck revealed about Jones that nothing would happen. I just found out that Jones has quit. Of course, he denies any wrongdoing, apologizes for any offense that might have been taken and that 'many' wanted him to stay. Showing how he continues to be a liar the end so let him say what he wants; the important thins is he's out of there. I hope that we can continue getting more folks like him out! Great work Glenn...thanks for being there for us!!
Reply to this comment
by chloe1540 September 6, 2009 10:14 AM EDT
Jones' resignation means he was told to do so. He is only one of 37 Czars in this administration, answerable ONLY to the president, with no congressional approval or vetting. (wonder why) There are two other Czars that are Communists, and still remain unchallenged. Jones was recruited by Pres. Obama and his chief white house advisor, Valerie Jarrett who fully knew his background and political ambitions/goals; 'to fundamentally change the structure of our government'.... their words! So, wake up America, where do you think they intend to take us?
Reply to this comment
by didserve September 6, 2009 7:04 AM EDT
Yes lets see what actionable intelligence was there!

bin laden planning to attack inside the united states using aircraft!

only a dim wit from crawford texas would not take action on this brief!

they should be tried for gross neglect of duty resulting in lives lost!

this guy just said what all of america has been thinking!
Reply to this comment
by jetgraphics September 6, 2009 5:46 AM EDT
Socialists / progressives / collectivists / communists share the ideology of predation upon the people.

Whenever they trot out their slogans, aimed to wring our hearts, just add this prefix:

NO ONE SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO LABOR FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANOTHER SO THAT (...socialist slogan of the day...)

Slavery / involuntary servitude is never excused by expediency. And the Van Jones' of the world, who are descendants of slaves, should be sternly chastised for advocating socialist slavery.
Reply to this comment
by indytex September 6, 2009 2:55 AM EDT
Oviously the mainstream media is taking marching orders from this Adminsitration, the only way we are going to get accurate and timely information is through blogs and other sources. What a shame. Well at least they can stop spending so much on their news organizations. They will not need reporters since they only report what they are told to report.
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