Barack Obama’s “Green Czar” Van Jones resigned early this  morning citing a “vicious smear campaign against me.” In recent days and weeks statements and associations from Jones’ past have been brought to light, primarily by Fox News, and Glenn Beck.

One of the most controversial of those associations came in reports that Jones had signed a petition supporting the “911 Truthers Movement”.  911Truth.org is an organization that claims that 9-11 was a U.S. government planned attack on its own people.  Jones’ signed the document back in 2004. 

Jones' comment on signing the document was, "it certainly does not reflect my views, now or ever."  He made no explanation for how his signature made its way onto the document.

Additionally, it has been learned that Jones and the STORM movement ("Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement”) a group that Jones founded, held a candle light vigil on 9/12/2001 “mourning the victim of U.S. imperialism around the world.”

Other comments from Jones’ past wherein he describes himself as a “communist” (following his arrest during the Rodney King protests) and a “rowdy black nationalist” have surfaced in the past few weeks.

A YouTube video wherein Jones in February of 2009,  prior to President Obama appointing Jones as the Green Czar in March of 2009, calls Republicans an expletive.    

As for that and other comments Jones made before joining Obama's team, Jones said in a prepared statement to the press, "If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize."

But what of the "smear campaign" allegations that Jones made upon resigning this morning?  Is there any truth to that statement? 

From “Media Research Center”, this report shows that CBS, NBC and ABC largely ignored the Van Jones’ story  as late as this past Friday, September 4, 2009. 

“All three (Network) morning shows on Friday skipped any reference to the developing controversy over Obama administration Green Jobs Czar Van Jones and his connection to the 9/11 Truther movement. CBS’s Early Show, NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America totally ignored the story, although ABC’s Jake Tapper did file an online report over the subject."

“And although Fox News on Thursday covered the revelation that Jones signed a 911truth.org statement in 2004 urging an investigation into whether or not George W. Bush had prior knowledge about 9/11 ("people within the current administration may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext for war"), none of the nightly news programs highlighted this potential problem for the Obama administration. “

The report goes on to say, “So, while Good Morning America found no time for this incendiary topic, co-anchor Robin Roberts did host a segment on testing name brand versus store brand pizza. Early Show’s Harry Smith explained to viewers how to keep your lawn in top condition this autumn. And Today’s co-hosts thrilled over the must-have fashions for the fall season.”

CNN didn’t come to the story until 9/04 –and largely covered the story not from the angle of seeking the facts, but rather from the angle of saying this is what Fox is reporting.

There is no doubt that Van Jones’ is an accomplished man.  Wikipedia notes the following in Jones’ bio:  “Jones is an environmental advocate, civil rights activist, attorney and author. He founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in 1996, a California NGO working for alternatives to violence. In 2005, Jones co-founded Color of Change, an advocacy group for African Americans.^[3] Formerly based in Oakland, California, Jones founded Green For All in 2007, a national NGO dedicated to "building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty."^[4] His first book, The Green Collar Economy, was released on October 7, 2008, and reached number 12 on the New York Times bestseller list.”

The Van Jones issue runs far deeper than Jones’ statement, beliefs, and communist ties.  The story here is really centered on these questions, “How does someone with Van Jones’ radical past, and communist associations come to be a member of the White House staff?” 

"How does a man who accuses the United States Government of being a conspirator in the 9-11 attacks comes to work for that government and specifically for the President of The United States?”

Logically, there are only a few conclusions that can be drawn:

·         The Obama people did not fully explore Van Jones’ background, and/or they have no access to “Google”

·         The Obama people did fully vet Jones’ and decided since they were in charge that the American people would just have to deal with Jones’ radical past – like it or not.

So either the Obama Administration is completely incompetent in vetting Presidential appointees, or the Obama Administration is completely arrogant in their appointments and expect you to shut up and deal with it? 

It does seem to be the latter rather than the former, particularly when you consider that Jones was appointed as a “Czar” and therefore circumvented any scrutiny by the U.S. Senate.

Only you can decide what you believe. 

If you have an opinion on this matter, The Cypress Times invites your Op/Ed Piece or commentary.  Anything submitted to The Cypress Times containing profanity will not be published.  If you can make your point using references and no profanity, we will publish your submissions.

Jones on "White Polluters" -