On Van Jones
He had to go, no question. And it wasn't just that he signed a "truther" petition, which suggested--ridiculously--active Bush Administration complicity in the events of September 11, 2001. (I believe there was Bush culpability, but it was passive--a consequence of Dick Cheney's inability to understand or credit the Al Qaeda threat, despite vehement warnings from outgoing Clinton Administration officials like Sandy Berger.)
Anyway, Jones: He has, in recent years, done some valuable work trying to steer green jobs into poor communities...but there is a bright line in American political life: Self-proclaimed "communists" need not apply. Communism is too odious and foolish a philosophy for anyone reasonable to believe in, or even to use as red-flag hyperbole, as Jones did after the Rodney King riots of the early 1990s, when he said that he'd been a [black] nationalist, but was now a communist. It's sort of like a Republican President appointing someone who had said, "I used to be a white supremacist, but now I'm a Nazi."
So, good riddance. The work of this presidency is too important to be side-tracked by a too-angry blowhard spouting foolish radicalism. The American people voted to give liberalism a chance in the 2008 elections, after 30 years of conservative dominance. If the liberal project is to succeed, it needs to build trust in a populace that--as we've seen this summer--can easily be manipulated by right-wing demagogues. That means the President's personal small-c conservatism is an absolute necessity. It also means that left-extremists have to be clearly rejected. It also means that, even with a Democratic Congress, major policy changes like health care reform have to be implemented carefully--incrementally, if necessary. If the first steps are solid, the pace of reform can pick up over time. There will be missteps along the way; there are in any Administration. A Van Jones or two will slip through the cracks and be given jobs. But if the President can keep his eyes on the prize--at the moment, the moral imperative to provide health care for all Americans--he will probably succeed.
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1
Ok. So, now if you are a communist right out of college, 20 years later you are exempt from public life.
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Equating collegiate communism to white supremacist Nazism is extremely offensive as well. Shame on you, ya putz.
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Dick Cheney has hundreds of thousands of bodies on his hands, but people like you just throw your hands up in exasperation. People like David Broder suggest that it would be uncivil to even investigate it.
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But Van Jones is beyond the pale. F U Joe. Seriously, F U.-
1.1
"Ok. So, now if you are a communist right out of college, 20 years later you are exempt from public life."
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Actually, 10 years ago. He didn't make his "I am a communist" statement until after he graduated from Yale Law School in 1993. In 1996, he went to work at the Ella Baker Center. Ella Baker a renoun Black Nationalist in the San Francisco Bay area. It wasn't until 1996 that "Van" took on the philosophy of Communism as his creed and formed his current beliefs.
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Van Jones – Career Milestones:
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1993 – Jones set up the Bay Area PoliceWatch, which included a community hotline that took complaints about police misconduct and a lawyer-referral service for victims of police brutality.
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1996 – Jones founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a nonprofit “strategy and action” organization that works for “justice, opportunity and peace in urban America.”
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2008 – Jones launches Green For All, a national program that “fights both poverty and pollution” by placing people from impoverished areas in green collar jobs.
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2008 – Jones' book, “The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems,” was published and became a national bestseller.
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You see, not until 2008 did he take up the "Green" mantel to his identity.
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And actually, Van is not his real name. It is Anthony Jones. He chose "Van", Van Jones' parents named him Anthony. He took the name Van during his freshman year of college. He thought Anthony Jones sounded dull, and he decided he needed a new identity.
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Just this year, The New Yorker Magazine questioned him on his name change;
In a 2009 interview with The New Yorker, Jones told writer Elizabeth Kolbert that he chose the name Van because “it has a little touch of nobility, but at the same time it's not overboard.”.
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1.2
It wasn't until 1996 that "Van" took on the philosophy of Communism as his creed and formed his current beliefs.
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And what are his current beliefs, Rusty? What beliefs do you think are communist? -
1.3
Well for starters, nathan. He does believe that folks like me are A-holes. But, I'm just saying that is just one of his beliefs.
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1.4
He does believe that folks like me are A-holes.
So anyone that thinks you are an a-hole is automatically a communist? Is that rational?
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Seriously, though. What beliefs of his do you think are communist? -
1.5
Well for starters, nathan. He does believe that folks like me are A-holes.
rustyreturns
September 7, 2009
at 1:50 pmIn other words, Van Jones can see the obvious, as can the rest of the decent Americans on here.
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1.6
Joke Line
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It has now become apparent to me that your biggest problem is that u are ignorant. Ignorant meaning you generally don't know the facts about which you speak. But you are also stupid in that you refuse to ever admit you don't know what the hell you are talking about which makes it worse. Here is an article describinig Van Jones' flirtation with communism. Communism not at all related to the communism of foreign countries. And it also talks about his transformation away from that culture and all the hell he got from the people he was breaking away from because he saw a better way to effect change.
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http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/the_new_face_of_environmentalism/Content?oid=290098&showFullText=true
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Now you can still be stupid and claim ignorance about Van Jones and pat yourself on the back for coming out strong for the Village against the "scourge of communism". Or you can actually read the piece, do more research and admit you were all the way wrong about Van Jones in your post. Either way you won't have ignorance as an excuse anymore for not telling the truth. All you will be left is the stupidity of a small man who can't admit he was wrong.
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It is what it is. -
1.7
I don't believe that Joe himself was drumming all current and former Communists out of public life. I believe that he was making the practical point that in American politics, whether appropriately or not, Communism (now socialism?) raised a red flag that certain groups can't see past. He was making the point that Jones "had to go" because he was yet another diversion that threatened the administration's efforts. We do have to recognize our surroundings, yes?
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It's too bad Jones hadn't helped lie the country into war, or went around calling liberals nazis, because then Klein would have his back.
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"A Van Jones or two will slip through the cracks and be given jobs".
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Slip through? Apparently you do not do much research on these types of posts, do you Joe?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud_yNFnfrSI
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(Hopefully the video will be visible to you all of Valerie Jarrett, if not the link above will take you to it)
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But, back to Joe's "slipping through the cracks" comment.
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This is totally nuts to put it plainly, Joe. To pass this off as some type of low level appointee, who was not even known by Obama until now?
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Please excuse me, but you are either naive as hell, or simply providing cover for Obama. My bet is on the latter.
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Jones was WELL known to Obama and Valarie Jarrett. They simply believed that no one would investigate it.
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But, Jones is gone thankfully. Now the real question is, who else has been appointed to other important positions within this Administration? What are their views and ideals? What plans do they have for us in America, and how will that affect us all?
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Ever think to ask those questions, Joe? Ever think to do any REAL journalism?-
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TeresaKopec pointed out on Twitter that 42 Bush Admin appointees resigned under a cloud of controversy over 8 years -we can spare one:
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And, what trifecta said.
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"It also means that, even with a Democratic Congress, major policy changes like health care reform have to be implemented carefully--incrementally, if necessary."
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Translation: They need to implement a health plan that only benefits the private insurance companies and drives their profits up, because trying to provide cost competition is a radical, communist plot. -
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Congratulations, Joe. You've outdone yourself with this sanctimonious, prissy insider-shock! post. Who wrote this shameless pro-bama screed? Gibbs? Is this your bid to become an FOB (Friend of Barack)?
Jones' firing (and it was a firing) was a totally uncalled-for bow to a racist, right-wing extremist campaign that not only deprives Americans of a fine advocate for the environment, it substantially weakens the President & elevates his lunatic critics. Now the nut jobs know by simply screaming loud enough & long enough (like a whole week or so) about nothing they can get what they want. Firing Jones was a shocking miscalculation, a horrendous over-reaction & a self-inflicted wound to the President.
Joe, if you called for Dubya's impeachment when he called Adam Clymer "a major-league a55hole," & if you called for the impeachment of Dick Cheney when he told Patrick Leahy to go F himself, please post a link to those columns. I'd really, really like to see them.
Let's face it, by your standard, there isn't a black man alive who can get a job in any presidential administration, because most of them actually use some of Carlin's words you can't say on the air (and so do most of the rest of us), & many of them take a turn at radicalism (& so do many of the rest of us).
Please apologize to Van Jones & to your readers. This post is abhorrent to thinking Americans.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
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Joe Klein:
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No doubt there is a bright line in American political life fastidiously maintained by the likes of you, Joe Klein --and now by Glenn Beck as well, thanks so much.
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Next up on the chopping block after we're done purging all those who have ever said anything construed by Glenn Beck to be indicative of Stalinist sympathies...those who sound like communists.
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After that? Those who espouse programs that sound like the people who were purged for sounding like communists.
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I hate communists, Joe Klein. As someone who has had to argue against them in public settings, I can tell you that their philosophy inures many of them against moral weakness. Having fought against them when organizing on the left, I know exactly what kind of duplicity and manipulation comes with Bolshevist and Maoist activism.
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My wife is from Slovakia, Joe Klein, and was raised during the last phase of communist domination of that country. I have more than enough information about what life under communism was really like at my disposal to form an opinion about the acceptability of such a system --or the people who advocate for it.
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Yes, I literally hate communists. But legitimately keeping the Red Menace out of the Obama Administration isn't what this episode is about at all, Joe Klein, and you would know that if you weren't so busy protesting your disavowal. It's about the success you are letting the entertainment-right enjoy right now by lending the campaign to create the appearance of a communist-infiltrated Obama Administration legitimacy by your knee-jerk condemnation.
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You just don't think these things through anymore, do you, Joe Klein?
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And exactly how does your courageous, inspiring rejection of communists segue into an admonition that "major policy changes like health care reform have to be implemented carefully--incrementally"? Glenn Beck is apparently instructing you on more than the acceptability of political appointees, Joe Klein. I guess it's giving you too much credit to expect that you wouldn't take the opportunity to imply that opponents of the health insurance industry bailout are similarly left-wing extremists "to be clearly rejected". How revolting that you could not restrain yourself in the midst of such righteous chest-beating from sneaking that shot in.
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But let's clear one thing up, shall we?
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You mention that you have some prescriptions to be taken "If the liberal project is to succeed".
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Are you saying that you, yourself are a liberal, Joe Klein? Or is it that you support "the liberal project" of some Democrats at the current moment?
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Which is it, Joe Klein? Are you a liberal, or are you a passing sympathizer? Can you be honest about this for once?
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Your readers deserve to know these facts about you, Joe Klein, instead of being treated to oblique references to "the project" by someone who won't hesitate to call all liberals "left-extremists" when it's politically expedient to do so --such as when they oppose the Democratic establishment's consensus on health care reform by calling it what it currently is: an "insurance industry bailout". -
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How "passive" is this, Mr. Klein?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2009/04/11/the-rest-is-silence/
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I join the FU chorus. Van Jones is no more a "too-angry blowhard spouting foolish radicalism" than you are a journalist. In both cases, you used to be those things. But Van Jones moved from foolish radicalism to brilliant, inspiring pragmatist, and you moved on to self-absorbed wanker.
I know, I am usually the nice one. But this was really too much. Van Jones was targeted and lynched by a gleeful right-wing mob and Joe Klein thinks it's a good thing? Please.
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11
And before some bright light from Beckistan says Van Jones brought on his own demise by doing "stupid" things, let me point out the short distance to that argument from to one that blamed Emmit Till for his death because he actually DID whistle at a white girl. Clearly, the things Van Jones did are only "fatal errors" when seen from a certain perspective.
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12
Joe:
You are always pointing out what a great job is done at Time with fact checkers and this site is always calling everyone of a conservative bent a liar. Well Fire your fact checker and you are added to the list of liars.
First," after 30 years of conservative rule the voters opted for liberals". Either you have completely lost it or just suck at math. From Kennedy through Ford, the Democrats had complete control of the House and Senate During the Reagan years the demos controlled the House (led by that well known conservative Tip O'Neill) and 2 of the 8 years of the Senate. GHW Bush faced a democratic Senate and House and was Split during the years oif Clinton and Bush.
Second, your comment about doing incremental change is as equally dishonest. The reason, as we have seen from the health care plan, when the public becomes aware of the liberals full plan they revolt. And the reason? The plans run counter to every fiber of being that has made this country over the past 200 years.
Third, Van Jones did not slip through the cracks as you euphemistically say. Valerie Garrett is on tape say the Administration was well aware of him and knew him for years. That is equivalent to Obama sitting in a pew listening to the Rev Wright for years and not knowing he was spouting racist views. A the dirty little secret that is becoming more apparent to the public is that these radical views are closer to Obama than was presented by the media in the campaign. In his book (Dreams from My Father) he talks about how he carefully chose his friends in college: Socialists, Marxists and radicals". It continued with Rev Wright, Bill Ayers and Van Jones. To conclude that while Obama surrounds himself with these radicals that he remains a moderate is the height of dishonesty.
And your final attempt at spin comes from your discussion of the 9/11 proceedings. Quick to blame Bush and Cheney but nary a mention of Clinton except that Bush ignored the warnings of Berger. The same Berger who stole and destroyed classified documents about terrorists and the 9/11 events? What could possibly be in those papers? And let's not forget the 9/11 commission contained Richard Ben-Veniste whose sole job was to assure that nothing to implicate the Clinton administration came to light. The committee also had Jamie Gorelick who was the author of the famous memo that eliminated the co-operation between agencies that could have stopped any terroist act.
Is your next article about how the media has been conservative for the past 30 years too?
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12.1
Because working to make sure the green revolution includes the inner city working class is way out there in left field. It's so radical it's disgusting. How can someone truly care about the plight of American cities? That's so communist.
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12.2
After reading so many postings by radicals, I was happy to read yours. You are correct in your analysis of the events around Van Jones and your comments about Joe Klein. Joe is totally in the tank for President Obama and slants his writings to promote Obama's agenda.
Anyone who thinks Van Jones should have continued as an Advisor to the President doesn't understand the word democracy.
Thanks for your posting
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13
The work of this presidency is too important to be side-tracked by a too-angry blowhard spouting foolish radicalism.
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Wow. You've just bought into everything the Republicans have been saying about this guy. A too-angry blowhard spouting foolish radicalism? If you are going to exempt someone for being angry about the Rodney King riots, then you might as well disqualify every African-American in this country. It's offensive that you would equate the anger at the Rodney King trials with white supremacy and Nazism. You know which side is right.
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But I get it, Joe. This isn't about "left wing extremism". This is about white people being uncomfortable with the fiery rhetoric of a black man. It's the same reason why the country couldn't handle Rev. Wright. Van Jones was a tireless crusader for the poor and forgotten in this country, of which too many are minorities. His real passion was elevating the status of the inner city working class, making sure they were not forgotten amidst the green revolution. If it takes a couple inflammatory speeches to make people aware of the horrendous conditions in the cities of this country, then so be it. But I guess looking after poor inner city Americans is just way too far left for the rest of the country.
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And your comments about small-c conservatism being necessary are ridiculous. Roll over why don't you. Liberalism can stand on it's own merits and successes. Comments like yours are what's going to destroy this presidency. You are tucking tail, Joe. Tucking tail. -
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How "ridiculous" is this question, Mr. Klein?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/movers-and-shakers/
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I don't think "passive" begins to describe President Bush's behavior at Booker Elementary, do you, Mr. Klein?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/the-protection-racket/
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15.1
Look, spamming the commentary of this blog with links to your own isn't terribly good sport around here, ok, michaelfury?
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Leave real, substantial commentary that adds to the debate here, if you're going to comment, and then link to yourself as a signature to your thoughts if you'd like us to read more.
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Otherwise it's just self-serving, thread-hijacking traffic-harlotry, if you get my meaning.
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Thanks so much in advance for understanding the difference between commentary and spam, michaelfury. -
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sz, I always thought that was called "blogwhoring". And yeah, it's annoying. I've started just blowing on past michaelfury entries; sort of like B.O.B. entries over at balloon-juice.
Similar to youtube links, if there's no information in the offering comment as tow what's going to be seen, why would anyone waste the time to click on the link ?
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Joe Klein + Michael Scherer + Spooge + Rustytheclown = Swampland really blows these days.
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Saul Alinsky, William Ayers, Rev Jeremiah Wright, and now "Van" Jones.
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Who are the rest of "Obama's Friends"?
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When will you investigate the rest of Obama's associates, Joe Klein?
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I believe the pattern of radical associates are very clear.
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As stuart attempted to point out solely on "the appearence of Communist infiltration", when in fact it is a radical, far left liberal / progressive infiltration, but I shall term it INFESTATION into the Obama Administration.
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While Obama is not alone in recent years to "appoint" people to these "Czar" roles, we as American citizens do not know about their backgrounds until it is way too late to stop them, or to discover their identies and agendas.
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Fortunately, Glenn Beck DID investigate, and expose Van Jones and Obama. Now we want to know about all the rest of the rats who have crawled out of the shadows and into the light.
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Valerie Jarrett? George Soros, famed financier and MOVEON.Org major contributor? Phil Angelides (Chairman of Apollo Alliance) Kathleen McGinty, former Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection? Gerald Hudson, International Executive Vice President, John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American ProgressService Employees International? Union? Jim Johnson, former Fannie Mae Exec? Gregory Galluzzo Gamaliel Foundation, community organiser? John L McKinght Gamaliel Foundation, National People's Action?
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And this is just the "short-list" of Obama's past and present associates.-
17.1
rusty
Careful, after the left throws the race card at you, they will label you a conspiracy theorist like well, a 9/11er.
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17.2
Rustydog:
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I need to make certain that I'm understanding you correctly...
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Is Glenn Beck saying that...I'm struggling here, hold on...is he really saying that "John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress" is a radical, left-wing, revolutionary extremist?
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Is that common knowledge amongst rightists, Rustydog? ...That John Podesta is in the same class as Van Jones, I mean?
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When Joe Klein gets done condemning Van Jones, are you saying that Beck expects establishment pundits to similarly distance themselves from left-wing extremists like John Podesta?
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http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/PodestaJohn.html -
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No stuart, Glenn Beck did not allude to Podesta's beliefs and values, I myself am questioning those beliefs.
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I will use this 2008 statement as an example:
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"What's the difference between liberalism and progressivism? According to John Podesta, it is the “fire of social justice” that is often born from faith or a belief in a communitarian approach to the common good—as opposed to an individualistic approach."
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Communitarian - Central to the communitarian philosophy is the concept of positive rights, which are rights or guarantees to certain things. These may include state subsidized education, state-subsidized housing, a safe and clean environment, universal health care, and even the right to a job with the concomitant obligation of the government or individuals to provide one. To this end, communitarians generally support social security programs, public works programs, and laws limiting such things as pollution.
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In my mind it is simply Communism, but on an individual basis for the benefit of a Socialist Society. IE: It is the marriage of Communism and Socialism, taking parts of which are workable (not as confrontational) from both of these economic/social systems. In general, I like to call it "Progressiveism", "Neo-Liberal" or simply Neo-Communist/Socialist.
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The liberal ideals, are simply evolving, and ever changing. I wrote a rather lengthly discourse last weekend to Exiled/Neorationalist about Progressives. Perhaps you read it stuart?
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It started out like this: "Oh I do not doubt the liberal philosophy in America is to consolidate the governmental powers under an all powerful and despotic Federal Government, with the current existing States being neutered. But, the new wave of NeoSocialist (Progressives), which both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton adhere to are simply the tactics and teachings of Saul Alinsky. Alinsky an avowed Socialist / Communist. Even today, Hillary Clinton's Senior thesis from Yale is kept under lock and key, and forbidden from public review. The title: "There Is Only the Fight..: An Analysis of the Alinsky Model." -
17.4
Fortunately, Glenn Beck DID investigate, and expose Van Jones and Obama. Now we want to know about all the rest of the rats who have crawled out of the shadows and into the light.
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Thanks GOD for Glen Beck, because without Glenn Beck, we'd all be stuck with that commie Van Jones running the country. Because, you know, Van Jones was President and all. Obama is just a puppet. Van Jones basically determined every policy position of the Obama Administration, right down to his socialist take-over of health care. Yup. Van Jones wrote those health care bills. Him and all his commie friends.
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Sorry, if someone signs a truther petition, they're out. Doesn't matter if I agree with their politics, if they're on my team, if they say the right things about people I don't like. It's embarrassing.
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"As stuart attempted to point out solely on "the appearence of Communist infiltration", when in fact it is a radical, far left liberal / progressive infiltration, but I shall term it INFESTATION into the Obama Administration."
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What else would an idiot do but name it something that is evil? Insult is the only weapon at the an idiot's disposal. It is the curtain they use to hide their ignorance.-
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Oh how about calling them a racist. That seems to work pretty well for the idiots on the left
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19.2
"Oh how about calling them a racist. That seems to work pretty well for the idiots on the left".
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Any insult is worth as much as the next as an argument. It has zero value. However, there are cases when calling someone an idiot or a racist can be given the status of a phenomenological description, because of the mountain of empirical evidence idiots often leave in their wake. -
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Yes it does. And the left as demonstrated here time and time again proves my "insult"
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19.4
freeinpa I can understand why the right has such a big problem with socialists, given that they were fighting the Nazis so early, they probably prevented them from killing all the Jews. That is something that drives the right crazy.
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19.5
freeinpa:
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how about calling them a racist. That seems to work pretty well for the idiots on the left
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It seemed to work pretty well for entertainer/rightist Glenn Beck when he stated that "This guy [the President of the United States ] is, I believe, a racist.", and also revealed that the President is "a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." in late July of this year.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/fox-host-glenn-beck-obama_n_246310.html -
19.6
stuartzechman
So is Beck correct? It seems that Trent Lott was labeled a racist when he supported Strom Thurmond. So by liberal logic, it seems not only support for Jones (and others) Beck may be correct. Or does that only work against conservatives as so many liberal tirades do?
And Derek but war didn't succeed until the capitalists sacrificing here in this country brought the full force of their resources to the war.
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19.7
So is Beck correct?
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No. Are you supposing he is? -
19.8
"And Derek but war didn't succeed until the capitalists sacrificing here in this country brought the full force of their resources to the war."
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Forces that included both left-wing liberals and conservatives, who fought along with the socialists, and constitutional monarchists of Europe, to defeat the Fascists. The very same fascists that members of your side, including Klein, have now come to equate with the liberals of this country. Although they keep bouncing back and forth between Hitler and Stalin, so I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to be today, a nazi, or a communist.Socialism may be the 9th degree of liberalism, but then, fascism is the same for conservatism. I'd rather be on the socialist side, even if I consider myself a liberal, rather than a socialist, or communist. Unlike Klein I can also provide a philosophical argument against Marxism, as opposed to ignorant fear mongering, or believing that simply mentioning the word is some proof of it's evil. For example, that guy over there is a socialist.
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19.9
nathan7777
That may be an open question. The left refuses to address it honestly and the right gets cowered as it has been demonstrated here. When anyone disagrees with an Obama policy the race card flies out.
If someone looks at some of the friends Obama has established they can be charitably described as race rabble rousers. You have the Rev Wright. You also have his reaction to the incident with Prof. Gates. You also have his AG dismissing counts against a Black Panther despite evidence to the contrary and recommendation by career DOJ lawyers. At the same time his AG is hiring 50 lawyers to target his perceived violations of civil rights. Now you have Van Jones. Maybe all just a misunderstanding. History would tell us that similar actions by a conservative would have the liberals here with exploding heads. There has been no honest debate or inquiry as to what this President is or believes.
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19.10
Supposing that Obama is a racist, or even hinting at the possibility that he is a racist, is doing exactly what you are accusing the left of doing: playing the race card.
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Racism is ugly. By definition it is believing that a certain race is inherently superior or inferior to others. Too often people conflate a prejudiced thought with a racist thought. If you can't see the distinction between the two, you have no business using either of them.
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And spare me your "Obama is an other and should be feared" crap. It gets old.
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I was really disappointed with this column. Instead of treating us like adults, the Obama administration assumes we can't be reasoned with, and you applaud this!? The word "communist" has been applied to so many different positions that it has no objective meaning anymore, if it ever really did. It's used purely for shock value. Why should someone be ineligible for public service just because they made some deliberately provocative statements in the past? The only issue should be whether they can contribute: if they can, then they should be allowed to serve. Seriously Joe, this article is downright McCarthy-ist. Suppose you had written it in the 1950's, saying that it is right to can someone because they were at one time a member of the communist party. I thought we had moved past this crap.
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Joe, I know you'd never defend McCarthy. I just know that, I think too highly of you to believe otherwise. I know you don't think that entertainers, lawyers and professors should have been blacklisted during that era of federal paranoia.
But then you really have to rethink your "bright line in American politics."
I'd have a hard time ever taking an apologist for Stalin seriously. But when a smart guy, after something as traumatic as the LA riots questions the underpinnings of our politics and economy... I can take that guy seriously, especially 16 years later.
And don't you think that the elected president should be able to choose his advisers without Glenn Beck trying to railroad them out of D.C.?
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[...] (and, no, I don’t blame the netroots or CAP or anyone else for not standing up for him more), this is such unbelievable bullsh*t (from Joe Klein, [...]
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22.1
And to my wondering eyes, John Podesta of CAP did stand up for Van Jones, the only big shot insider politico who has done so, as far as I know.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
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Although I'm personally NOT a 9/11 Truther, I will say that there's far more evidence for that movement than the Birther movement. A view that happens to be completely acceptable to the republican party, and perhaps even subtly encouraged.
And look who we're talking about here! Glenn Beck's whole schtick is his paranoia about the secret war on the white man, the Manchurian candidate Obama is now putting communists in the White House. How can this media be liberal when it doesn't even have the power to take down utter lunacy?
Van Jones is the right man for the job. Someone who proclaimed to be a communist and black nationalist during his formative years, (and yes, those years are still formative) should be more easily forgiven. Now we're kowtowing as we send him out the door.
You want to hold Jones accountable for what he once believed? I'll show you a slew of conservatives whose feet need to be held to the fire. Drug addicts, bigots, racists, and even a few murderers.
Your reasoning is most likely the same as Obama's. But sometimes you gotta bear your teeth and show some backbone.
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Irving Kristol and his friends were avowed Trotskyites and you've been kissing their a$$es for 30 years, Joe. How do you defend that? They were white, so it was okay? Is that it?
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25
What an ugly and ignorant post.
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25.1
Oh please, it was completely factual, except for the part about incremental health care reform. It has to be be done holistically in order for it to work, including a public option.
My guess is that if your post had any validity, you would have rebutted Klein's. But you didn't, probably because you can't.
The vetting process failed. End of story.
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25.2
"The vetting process failed. End of story". It sounds pretty arrogant and absolute. Un-American for sure.
What's about: balanced vetting process. Pro and con. Past vs present. Present wins. Jones is hired.
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