Van Jones: Two Conservative Perspectives

Harry Jackson Jr.: "Van Jones: Black, Red And Green"

The conservative commentator discusses U.S. President Barack Obama's former green jobs czar, who resigned over the weekend after controversy arose about his communist background, as well as his views about the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks, whites, and Republicans: "Now that he is gone, the average person may think that the controversy should be over. Not so. The ideological bias he brought to his job - not simply Jones’ past problems - are a part of my ongoing concerns. His official title was Special Adviser for Green Jobs at the Council on Environmental Quality. Jones’ unofficial, personal mission seemed to be to recast the 'extreme green' movement as a 'people’s revolution' instead of the elitist movement that it is. In his book, The Green Collar Economy, he admits that it is 'not yet fashionable' to be concerned about social justice and equity in the radical green movement. Nonetheless, seeks to cast a vision that mixes Marxism with green consciousness. As he preaches a new green gospel, he distorts his movement’s elitist roots by attempting to shroud his agenda in civil rights imagery."

He continues: "Once one discovers that the book has a major Marxist agenda, it becomes fascinating to discover who is the target of the book. The Green Collar Economy paints the 'new green movement' as full of virtue, while actually attacking large, Bible-believing churches. Specifically he stated, 'Mega-church pastors with mega-white teeth assured their far-flung flocks that, with the right amount of prayer and right mental attitude, great abundance, tons of wealth, and high profits were sure to be enjoyed by all…So we ordinary people…ran after every solo solution we could find. We worked longer hours. We worked extra jobs. We hocked our homes. We bought lottery tickets. We sought shelter under a house of credit cards.' I have no idea what churches Jones observed or how he decided that mega-churches contributed to the economic problems of the nation. One thing is sure - Van Jones’ work is socialistic in its leanings and seeks to rewrite history. The book ends with an interesting call to action. Jones asks the reader to lobby his/her mayor to sign a local government green job pledge. As I started this article, I asked the question, 'Who helped this community organizer move from community activism to a New York Times Best Seller?' Although I cannot specifically name Van Jones’ mentors and sponsors at this time, it’s obvious that Jones was groomed to be a new green spokesperson. His job was to change his movement’s elitist image, while promoting its new manifesto."

Clifton B.: "Arianna Huffington 'Thanks' Glenn Beck"

The conservative blogger responds to Ms. Huffington thanking the libertarian-conservative talk-TV host for leading the charge to get Mr. Jones fired, arguing that the green jobs czar job wasn't the best use of Mr. Jones: "Best person for the job? With unemployment at 9.7% and rising, did Van Jones create a single 'green job' or a job of any color during the time he was with the White House? Since the answer is no, I would say good riddance. Our national debt is immorally high; we cannot afford to pay posers to push their radical agendas. This seems to be lost on Arianna. Then again she has her millions, so why should she care about us little people being taxed to death to pay for all these useless Czars. Arianna does do us a favor and reminds us something that we may have all forgotten after hearing about Jones’ resignation:

Now, thanks to Glenn Beck, we've got that voice back. No longer tied to his desk with a sock in his mouth, Van is now freed to do what he does best: inspire and energize groups around the country. Student groups and labor groups and small business groups and middle class Americans everywhere who are losing jobs and losing homes and losing hope. He's free to push with all his might and insight for the vision tens of millions of Americans tirelessly worked for during the presidential campaign -- the vision they voted for in November -- but which is now in danger of being drowned in the fetid political swamps of Washington.

Mr. B. continues his commentary about Ms. Huffington's views on Mr. Jones: "That is right, Van Jones is now free to rabble-rouse, stir the racial pot and push his conspiracy theories all over the place. If I had to guess what his first order of business would be, I would say it is to try to bring down Glenn Beck. After that, Jones will no doubt return to his radical ways and when your read about the future trouble he causes, please do not forget Arianna’s praise."