Obama adviser Van Jones resigns amid controversy - Sept. 06, 2009 -
WASHINGTON President Barack Obama’s adviser Van Jones has resigned amid controversy over past inflammatory statements, the White House said early Sunday.
Van Jones, an administration official specializing in environmentally friendly “green jobs” with the White House Council on Environmental Quality was linked to efforts suggesting a government role in the 2001 terror attacks and to derogatory comments about Republicans.
The resignation comes as Obama is working to regain his footing in the contentious health care debate.
Jones issued an apology on Thursday for his past statements. When asked the next day whether Obama still had confidence in him, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones “continues to work in the administration.”
The matter surfaced after news reports of a derogatory comment Jones made in the past about Republicans, and separately, of Jones’ name appearing on a petition connected to the events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. That 2004 petition had asked for congressional hearings and other investigations into whether high-level government officers had allowed the attacks to occur.
“On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me,” Jones said in his resignation statement. “They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide.”
Jones said he has been “inundated with calls from across the political spectrum urging me to stay and fight.”
But he said he cannot in good conscience ask his colleagues to spend time and energy defending or explaining his past.
Jones flatly said in an earlier statement that he did not agree with the petition’s stand on the 9/11 attacks and that “it certainly does not reflect my views, now or ever.”
As for his other comments he made before joining Obama’s team, Jones said, “If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize.”
His apologies did little to quiet Republican demands that the resign.
Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana called for Jones to quit, saying in a statement, “His extremist views and coarse rhetoric have no place in this administration or the public debate.”
Missouri Sen. Christopher Bonds urged Congress to investigate Jones’s fitness for his White House position.
Nancy Sutley chair of the council, said in a statement released early Sunday that she accepts Jones resignation and thanked him for his service.
“Over the last six months, he had been a strong voice for creating jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources,” she said. “We appreciate his hard work and wish him the best moving forward.”
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September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
She only s …
She only s anarchists.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
that one is …
that one is finer than a motherucker
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
van jones past did …
van jones past did in van jones. No one else did.
his communist past. calling Republicans holes and other things were his downfall.
Good riddance to bad rubbish
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
PREACH IT!!!!!
PREACH IT!!!!!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
WE need a FREE …
WE need a FREE AMERICA…..NOT a RACIST AMERICA….as the obamas KLAN IS……I DIDNT VOTE FOR HIM…..THANKS to the A…HOLES that did….PITIFUL!!!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Unfortunately, …
Unfortunately, Obama has made it nearly impossible for a qualified black man to run for president ever again.
We are grateful that through his posturing, America has galvanized against the forces of stupidity and arrogance and perhaps real capitalism will be able to flourish to take us out of this economic and political mess.
He doesn’t even have the brains, character, or morality to run a bake sale.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Is there still …
Is there still anyone out there that believes Obama is not a communist?
If there is, I highly suggest that that person look up the definition….and precursors to.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Gee one could argue …
Gee one could argue had our former pres not launched 2 wars in the ME then the conditions which permitted someone such as Obama to win election would not have existed!!!! Blame yourselves as well please. My choice would have been maybe Mike Gravel or Ron Paul though neither of them had a chance in of winning.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
This is some funny …
This is some funny stuff.Wonder what other cans of repellent Beck has to use on the rest of the czars?
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
what about this …
what about this racist sucker Obama hired?? Plus the was not qualifie d for the postion! pick the cotton and shut up!!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Everyone at FOX is …
Everyone at FOX is giving high-fives, Glen Beck got out a can of nig-be-gone and made Van Jones disappear, now a bunch of Obama appointees are ting their pants wondering if they’ll get the FOX spotlight next LOLOL.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
just think what the …
just think what the backlash would have been if bush had done this……would have had anarchy! glad this communist hole is gone. the problem is that the truth just slapped liberals in the face, and they still cant see it….i dont know what else needs to be done to make them wake the up!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I cant wait until …
I cant wait until 2012, this will be a historic reminder of how absolutely inept President Obama is. He won the lottery by being able to read a teleprompter very well and during a low point in the American economy and during an unpopular war, which I opposed by the way. Good bye Obama, can`t wait until 2012 when we watch that historic Air Force Helicopter fly you away while a Republican President waves politely good bye. Until Blacks are 60% of the population this will never happen again.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
dr.john holden next
dr.john holden next
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
minor victory. …
minor victory. Obama rubs him off like the last assination attempt. Hitler survived more than this!!!!!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
van jones got owned …
van jones got owned. lol
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
What other 33 czars?
What other 33 czars?
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Obama surrounds …
Obama surrounds himself with Fedeal Reserve criminals and Wall Street crooks by the dozen- oh yes, and of course the military industry, since he let Gates continue as defense sectretary.. a cabinet of horror..
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
aaaw. At least he …
aaaw. At least he created ONE job, ha
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Andrea Tantaros is …
Andrea Tantaros is so hot.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Dittoheads. Enough …
Dittoheads. Enough said.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Van Jones resigned …
Van Jones resigned from what? A made up position or a real job title? Does this mean Van Jones will go away, or stay in a less meaningful, but still influential role. Please don’t let em out of your sites to fast. And please don’t sit back in the easy chair just yet… We are still in the first quarter. Peace
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Get a Haircut,
…
Get a Haircut,
And GET A REAL JOB!!!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Hasta la vista, …
Hasta la vista, baby.
Get a real job, Van Jones. Go flop some burgers, go open a real business.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Thats not the Van …
Thats not the Van Jones I knew. Bye Van don’t let the door hit you on the way out!