Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The New Boogeyman!


Glenn Beck was on the television crying the other night. Yeah, he was crying crocodile tears while talking that spiel about Obama and his administration having a secret communist agenda and begging like-minded individuals to "take our country back". Back to what?

One of the reasons he was saying this is because of a man in President Obama's administration named Van Jones... a talented young brother who was a civil rights activist before he became the president's advisor on all things green. Thanks to a campaign of misinformation, the nation has lost a very talented young man who might have done it some good. I certainly wished that Van Jones had reconsidered before announcing his resignation today.

The White House environmental adviser, who was under fire for inflammatory statements made before he joined President Obama's administration, resigned on the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy because opponents of reform have mounted what he calls "a vicious smear campaign" against him. Further, Jones said in his resignation statement that "they (Republicans) are using lies and distortions to distract and divide." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Sunday that Van Jones understood that he was going to get in the way of President Barack Obama's agenda. The resignation was disclosed without advance notice by the White House in a dead-of-the-night email on a holiday weekend. It came as President Obama is working to regain his footing in the contentious health care debate.

Jones, who specialized in environmentally friendly "green jobs" with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, was linked to efforts suggesting a government role in the September 11 attacks and to derogatory comments about Republicans. Of course, this means that if I ever wanted a job in President Obama's Administration, I would probably have to not only discontinue this blog but, wipe it out altogether. I could just see Glenn Beck now, reading this blog and having a stroke. Especially, since I talk about him and his buddies, Sean Hannity and Rush "I never saw a truth, I couldn't distort" Limbaugh, in such a God-awful way.

Recent news reports cited a derogatory comment Jones made in the past about Republicans, and separately, of Jones's name appearing on a petition connected to the events surrounding the September 11 attacks. The 2004 petition asked for congressional hearings and other investigations into whether high-level government officials had "allowed" the attacks to occur... something I have more than hinted about myself a few times.

Van Jones said, "They (Republicans) are using lies and distortions to distract and divide." Yes, they are doing what they do best... distorting the truth. Oh, and let's just call it what it is... outright lying. They made a Master's Degree thesis out of this during the Clinton Administration and have elevated the science of the smear campaign to a Ph.D. level during President Obama's Administration.

Howard Dean, former head of the Democratic National Committee, told Fox News Sunday that he thought Jones "was brought down" and that his resignation was "a loss to the country." Jones said he has been "inundated with calls from across the political spectrum urging me to stay and fight." But, he said he could not in good conscience ask his colleagues to spend time and energy defending or explaining his past.

Jones said in an earlier statement that he did not agree with the petition's stand on the September 11 attacks and that "it certainly does not reflect my views, now or ever." As for his other comments made before joining President Obama's team, Jones said, "If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize."

Despite his apologies, Republicans demanded Jones to quit. "Extremist views" Republican Senator Mike Pence of Indiana said in a statement, "His extremist views and coarse rhetoric have no place in this administration or the public debate." Republican Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri said congress should investigate Jones's fitness for the job. Why do we always have to apologize for things said or done in the past. I haven't heard Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh, or that harpy, Ann Coulter apologize for anything they have said or done, ever. I just wish the Democrats would grow a pair and fight back sometimes and give the "Rethugs" a taste of their own medicine.

Fox News channel host, Glenn Beck, repeatedly denounced Jones after a group the adviser co-founded, ColorofChange.org, led an advertising boycott against Beck's show to protest his claim that President Obama is a racist.

The president of Beck's media organization, Christopher J. Balfe, said the commentator had begun focusing on Jones' "radical beliefs" on July 16, before the group started taking on Beck... but James Rucker, the organization's executive director, has said that Jones had nothing to do with ColorofChange.org now and didn't even know about the campaign before it started. Jones is well-known in the environmental movement for laying out a broad vision of a green economy. Conservatives have harshly criticized him for having left-wing political views. So, what if he did have left wing views? Is that a crime? Nancy Sutley, who heads the White House Environmental Council, said Jones "had been a strong voice for creating jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources."

You know, Glenn Beck is an idiot! He calls himself a journalist and even occasionally calls himself a comedian (I kid you not... he has a comedy DVD out). When he used to have a show on CNN, I must admit that I found him mildly amusing. Now, I think he's an outright jackass with all the crying and hysterics about people out to destroy his livelihood and communist boogeymen trying to take over the country. He has said some pretty extreme things on his television show and he has yet to "apologize" to the American people for "his misleading statements".

The Republicans turned Rev. Jeremiah Wright into a black boogeyman when Obama was running for election (I called it the second coming of Willie Horton). Now, they've turned Van Jones into the new black boogeyman, while turning Michael Steele into the new "Stepin' Fetchit". This Republican magic show is pretty good. Maybe Glenn Beck ought to take that show on the road. Ooops! I forgot... he's doing that every night when he comes on television.

21 comments:

Sean said...

The enemies of change are always going to need a boogeyman Keith!

James Perkins said...

I'm with you...That brother did not have to step down.. Glenn Beck is an idiot and he should not feel as though he has that much power.

Vanessa said...

That brother aint no boogeyman..He's Fine...lolol

Simon Bastion said...

American Politics is a strange game. Fascinating and funny all at once!

Brenda said...

Great post as usual Keith! The Rethugs take another victim!

Sunflower said...

I knew you would take this on eventually. So glad you did.

Angie B. said...

@ Ditto Vanessa, Brother is fine!

Cheryl said...

Good points made..First Willie Horton, then Reverend Wright ,Now Van Jones...See a pattern here???

Rich Fitzgerald said...

These white boys can't stand being "out of power". That's what it boils down to. They can't push their agenda the way they would like so they have to find a way to out the roadblocks. They are trying to pick Obama apart one "bone" at a time. They know he is playing by a different set of rules as it is, so they keep hammering hoping to catch him holding something they can profit from.

Arlene said...

I agree with you and with Rich. These folks are trying to tell the president, "You're not the boss of me!" Like little children, these are their tantrums. We have to be the adults and stay the course. Little Glenn Beck will soon be gone from FOX because of lack of audience the same way he was shuttled out of CNN. Beck was accepted at FOX because he promised to appeal to the idiot fringe, a group of middle and lower income people afraid of their shadows and their neighbors(fear and ignorance combined.) Rupert Murdoch is a moneyman and when sponsors pull out of Glenn's show, so will the network. ColorofChange.org must keep the pressure on sponsors, as do we, the viewing public, so we can hasten that day. Karen watches the show so she can know what the idiot says. I don't care! But I'm going to watch tonight just so I can make a list of the sponsors and send them emails tomorrow about why I won't buy their product. I let you know who I discover so your millions of readers can help get rid of Beck.

Lisa said...

Glenn Beck is an idiot,just like you said.
But I agree with my girls, Van Jones is fine!!!lolol.

Halo said...

There is a lot of phony rage over everything Obama does...We can't get caught up in it.

12kyle said...

it's funny how these clowns want barack to perform miracles and walk on water. where was this concern over the past 8 yrs? it's bs.

van jones should know the golden rule by now...protect ya neck and cover ya ass.

Toni said...

Can't believe I'm getting here this late Keith. Great post. If you're angry about this...wait till you hear about the President's Speech to school children earlier today and how some parents pulled their kids from school.

Keith said...

@Toni- I already did...I'm just finishing up a post on that as we speak!

Jazzy said...

Another good read fam!

Swaggie said...

The powers that used to be will do and say anything to bring President Obama down!

Captain Jack said...

American Politics has become a circus..so mean spirited and smarmy!

Tate2 said...

Like You said..Obama's people have got to start fighting these folks back or else he's not going to be able to get a thing passed.

Grover Tha Playboy said...

Another Good Brother Bites the Dust! Where does it all end fam??
why do we kep letting this type of thing happen?

The F_Uitlist said...

I was disappointed when Van Jones stepped down, Hell we all know the white house had some knowledge of the 911 attacks, and the republicants are assholes so what did he say that was a lie? NOTHING!




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