Aw, Lloyd Have Mercy … Right-Winger Attacks NAACP Over Image Awards, Van Jones

Black far-right commentator Lloyd Marcus is back at it trying to score points with conservatives (including Tea Party extremists) through his latest attack on something representing black people.

The saddest part of Marcus's attack (an opinion piece titled "NAACP Image Award Reaches New Low") is that he strangely attempts to use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a weapon to take shots at the NAACP, organization president Benjamin Todd Jealous and NAACP Image Award recipient Van Jones, the victim of a vicious smear campaign led by right-wing extremist Glenn Beck and other on-air personalities at Fox News and on the radio airwaves.

Here is a portion of what Marcus wrote in his attempt to smear the NAACP and take another shot at Jones:

Dr. King's once-great NAACP has become a negative, shameful tool of the left: overseers committed to keeping their fellow blacks dependent and subservient to the Democrat party. Including once-self-proclaimed Communist Van Jones [pictured] among the honorees at this year's NAACP Image Award show last night epitomizes the organization's descent into liberal Hades. Jones was forced to resign as the Obama administration's green czar due to his radical, far-left ideas, which include believing the Bush administration blew up the towers on 9/11. Jones has spouted extremely vicious and vulgar comments about political opponents. NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous called Jones 'an American treasure.' Is Jones the 'image' that the NAACP wishes to present to young black America while treating black U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and black former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice like dirt? Utterly outrageous and shameful.

I am not sure I totally get the connection Marcus is attempting to draw to link the NAACP to Dr. King. That doesn't seem to make sense to me. I don't know that Dr. King really had a particularly strong affiliation or relationship with the NAACP. Contrary to popular belief, not all activists during the Civil Rights Era were directly involved with the NAACP.

Marcus's column sounds like more right-wing hate targeted at Van Jones, a man conservatives have tried to portray as an extremist, as a communist and as someone who is anti-American (primarily to attack President Barack Obama through his association with Jones).

Right wingers are upset because Jones called Republicans "assholes" at some point in his life. To those who are upset about it, I say, "quit crying."

Come up with your own awards if you don't like the ones the NAACP Image Awards are handing out.

As for the comments about former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, I see a split decision. I don't have a huge problem with Rice (I probably do not agree with her on a whole lot in terms of politics, and that is OK), but Thomas is a completely different story. Sorry, but there is not a whole lot of love over here for Justice Thomas.

As for Jones linking Bush to 9/11, that is disputed. Here is Jones, account of the controversial issue.

Whether people like Lloyd Marcus like it or not, people are not going to throw a talented and bright man like Van Jones under the bus.

I applaud the NAACP for recognizing a man who has given a lot to this country and has much more to give in the years to come.

UPDATE ON VAN JONES: Jones also holds a joint appointment at Princeton University, as a distinguished visiting fellow in both the Center for African American Studies and in the Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Think Progress Explores Glenn Beck And “The White Culture” Comment

I had wondered what Fox News far right wing hater Glenn Beck meant when he talked about “the white culture” during a rant on the conservative network when he basically called President Obama a racist (ignorantly ignoring the fact that Barack Obama is half white).

Here is an excerpt of what Think Progress has about Beck’s comments about “white culture” as NBC’s Katie Couric tries to figure out exactly what he meant by his “white culture” wording.

In July, Fox News’ radical host Glenn Beck called President Obama a “racist,” saying that he “has a deap-seated hatred for white people, or white culture” — a comment that sparked a successful advertising boycott of his Fox News program. This week in an interview with CBS News’ Katie Couric, Beck said he was “sorry” for the way he “phrased” the claim, but still contended that it’s a “serious question” as to whether Obama is a racist.

During the interview, Couric posed a question from a Twitter user who wanted to know what Beck meant by “white culture” in his attack on Obama. Beck responded by stuttering: “Ummmmm, I don’t know.” He then suggested that he had already answered the criticism on his website, and therefore didn’t want to “make news” by responding to Couric.

“Can you explain what you mean by the white culture?” Couric insisted, “because some people say that sounds kind of racist.” Beck complained that he shouldn’t be the “target” for “asking” if Obama is a racist. Then he turned snarky as Couric persisted with her line of questioning:

COURIC: People just want to know. What is white culture?

BECK: I’m going to see if I can play your game. People just want to know.

COURIC: You know, well, [Twitter questioner] Adrian wants to know.

BECK: That’s good for Adrian.

Conservatives are always so quick to accuse black people of playing the mythical “race card” but so quick to use that against racial flamethrowers like Glenn Beck who use race to strike fear in older, conservative whites. Then, the elitist Beck finishes this portion of the interview by showing a complete lack of respect and disregard not only for Katie Couric, but also for a questioner who just wanted to have this point clarified. Beck is an immature coward who was called out for his comments and did not have the guts to explain himself and his bigoted comments that could be reasonably viewed as racist (particularly with no explanation or any kind of sufficient context).

Imagine if a high-profile black television show host had accused George W. Bush of being racist and said he had a deep-seated hatred for black people or the black culture. People like Beck would have been all over such a person … charging such an individual with playing the so-called race card. Look how viciously Beck and others attacked Van Jones, who said nothing even remotely as controversial as Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh regularly bark out on their shows. Yet, Jones was attacked and demonized by the conservative media (Beck, Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and others).

Good for Katie Couric to challenge Glenn Beck. It’s a shame he didn’t have the character to stand by his hateful comment and instead covered up like a coward.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/24/beck-white-culture/

More Shots Being Taken At Van Jones … This Time From Booker Rising

I always attempt to give black conservatives the benefit of the doubt for a few reasons (among others): (1) People have a right to their opinion, (2) it’s difficult to be a black conservative since you are going against the grain and (3) I used to be a black conservative/moderate and not that long ago. Still, I am always amazed at how some black conservatives turn a blind eye to the use of racial politics against black progressives. Yet, many of these same black conservatives are lightning quick to follow the conservative herd that demands blacks are accused of ”playing the race card” whenever most issues of race come up (particularly related to controversial issues of varying degrees). As I’ve written several times before, “playing the race card” is a shield used by many conservatives to deflect people off the disguised and more subtle racism being used by far too many hardcore conservatives (obviously not all, but far too many).

With that as the backdrop, let me mention this blog I stumbled across posted on Booker Rising:

I commented last week in one of the threads that Van Jones, the now-former green jobs czar for the Obama administration, was an Eldridge Cleaveresque black nationalist. Mr. Jones reminds Duane Brayboy, a conservative blogger, of the “talk black, sleep white” black nationalist character in “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988): “Just some closing point on Van Jones~

# Jones said that he was a victim of a ‘vicious smear campaign’ against him. So now it is considered a ’smear’ if your past comments and actions are repeated to the public.

# I, we, all expected, Van Jones’ departure is being blamed on race. The left is gonna burn up all their race cards – and we have not completed one year of Obama’s Presidency. Seriously, all this race card business is shaping up into a live version of the boy who cried ‘wolf’. More sooner than later, the race card is going to lose its effectiveness.

# I have no problem at all with interracial marriages. But all I could do was laugh when I saw the following picture. Van Jones is ‘Kalinga’.”

This is a picture of Van Jones and his family. Apparently it bothered a few ignorant people that he has a white wife and biracial kids.

A few points I will make:

• I am always amazed at how people love to try and pain someone with a broad brush based on knowing very little about a person. More and more people are trying to paint Van Jones as this angry black radical who is highly militant (note the reference above to Eldridge Cleaver). Then, sadly, the writer’s point heads downhill thanks to attempts to make fun of Jones by comparing him to a character in the comedy movie “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” It’s an interesting comparison, but it seems you first (to a greater or lesser degree) accept the premise that Jones is an angry and black radical for the comparison to the character in the movie to work.
• The smear is based on Glenn Beck who was angry that ColorOfChange targeted him for his vicious attack on President Obama. Beck targeted Van Jones (I believe) because he was once affiliated on a high leve with the group. Beck used his platform on Fox News and on the radio to wage a campaign against Jones. There is nothing wrong with people having to answer for their words and deeds of the past, but when someone initiates a campaign to smear you (even using your own words and deeds) that is a smear campaign. Beck set out at nearly every turn to attempt to take down Jones using the truth at times, stretching the truth at times and being dishonest at times.
• I mentioned earlier about conservatives using race (for example … Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh almost every day of their lives) to attack blacks and then accusing blacks and other liberals of “playing the race card” when race comes back at them.
• It’s interesting to have no problem with interracial marriages but to then turn around and laugh at the picture of an interracial family and make fun of the family by negatively comparing it to characters in a comedy. It’s almost like saying, “I’m not racist … I have black friends.” Then, you proceed to say something racist or you say that after you’ve said something racist.
• As far as “playing the race card” some would argue you can only play the hand your dealt.

Then there were these two responses to the article:

Robin Martin, a conservative Republican blogger, writes: “On yesterday I decided to see if Van Jones had a Facebook page so that I could read the words of encouragement offered to him by his supporters and I happened upon this picture of Van Jones and his family….Now please understand that I have absolutely no problem with interracial marriage (especially for the sistahs – but that’s another blog post) but I hardly expected to see Van Jones in an interracial marriage. I had to scratch my head. This morning as I read my daily dose of the BlackInformant, I noticed that Duane had the same reaction and related it to a scene from ‘I’m Gonna Git You Sucka”….Ah come on, can’t you take a joke…lol”.

Booker Rising response: Yeah, that’s why you almost never see his wife near Mr. Jones when he’s giving one of his fiery “power to black people; down with whitey” speeches. Very, very few photos of them posing together as well. Mr. Jones practically hides his family. Then again, how ya gonna build a black nation/black unity/you name it when your wife is white? Negro, please…

Being in an interracial relationship does not mean you can’t fight for the rights of people of color. People act as if you sign away your blackness if you get into an interracial relationship. People act like you can’t be down for black causes if you are married to a white person. This is just plain ignorant.

By the way, check out this video to see how “Mr. Jones practically hides his family.”
http://bravenation.com/carl_pope_van_jones.php

Booker Rising:
http://www.bookerrising.net/2009/09/van-jones-kalinga.html

Benjamin Todd Jealous Statement On Van Jones’ Resignation

Van Jones made a tough decision to step aside so that the nation’s reform agenda will not be sidetracked by those who spin lies for profit.

Mr. Jones was on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world before he entered the White House. He was a bestselling author before he entered the White House. He was someone who made the leap from the public schools of Jackson, Tennessee to Yale University long before he entered the White House.

Now that he has chosen to leave the White House, we fully expect Mr. Jones to continue to help lead our nation out of its dual crises of environmental degradation and mass unemployment.

On a personal note, I have known Van Jones for more than 15 years. In that time he, as is characteristic of great public servants, has continuously grown and increased his capacity for improving the condition of humanity. Throughout, he has been guided by a powerful sense of patriotism and love for all.

–Ben Jealous, President and CEO, NAACP

Hilary O. Shelton’s Statement On Van Jones

Hilary O. Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy:

“The tactics being deployed by right wing extremist commentators to divert the American people’s attention away from very important issues of our nation such as sustainable energy, lack of dependence on foreign fuel sources, and the creation of living wage jobs are not only unethical but dangerous to the future of our country. Most recently, television commentator Glenn Beck of FOX News attempted to besmirch the character and integrity of President Obama’s administration officials such as White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs Van Jones. This feeble, mean spirited attack is little more than a desperate attempt to derail the adminstration’s priority of clean sustainable energy while working to end our nation’s dependency on foreign energy sources.

“In an economy where unemployment is leaning toward 10 percent, and African-American unemployment lies at over 15 percent, the creation of employment opportunities for all Americans, including African-American and low-income communities, is a critical necessity. It is our experience that Mr. Jones’ plan to reinvigorate urban areas through the creation of green jobs not only demonstrates a constructive vision to invest in our communities, but also recognizes that climate change is indeed a civil rights issue. That is why we support his implementation of this very thoughtful plan.”

NAACP President And CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous On Van Jones

NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous:

“It is sad and unfortunate that our nation’s precious airwaves and cable television time are being occupied with the unscrupulous, diversionary tactics launched by right wing extremists such as Glenn Beck. These desperate tactics divert America’s attention and intellectual resources away from issues affecting our families and communities. These life-and-death concerns are being overshadowed by employing ruthless attacks against Van Jones, White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs and dedicated advocate for safe, clean and healthy communities.

Van Jones has established himself through his many years in public service as a hardworking advocate for positive, progressive change. He is a devoted husband and father. Mr. Beck and the other news services’ portrayal of Mr. Jones to the contrary is not only distracting and disingenuous but harmful and destructive.

“The only thing more outrageous than Mr. Beck’s attack on Van Jones is the fact that there are sponsors that continue to pay him to provide this type of offensive commentary. I can only assume hat this is the very reason that several dozen organizations throughout our country have gone on record stating they will boycott FOX News (the television network home of Glenn Beck). While we defend the right to free speech for all Americans, we expect news outlets throughout our country to uphold civility in their portrayal of the President of the United States as well as members of his administration and others who have wrongfully come under scrutiny. America’s news outlets have the responsibility to uphold accuracy and integrity in their reporting.”

Van Jones Resigns

It’s no big surprise that Van Jones resigned from his post with the Council on Environmental Quality. Conservatives did a number on him using the politics of the past, the politics of distorting statements and the politics of guilt by association to smear him. But, I think Jones will be OK and will survive this minor hurdle in his life and career. When you read his resignation letter I think you will see a man who stepped aside to be unselfish and not do damage to what is really important (working on health care, clean energy and more). He could have stayed and fought, and probably would have survived, but he wanted to take himself away as a distraction and a weapon used by conservatives to paint the president as an angry, black radical.

Here is Jones’ letter:

I am resigning my post at the Council on Environmental Quality, effective today.

On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide.

I have been inundated with calls – from across the political spectrum – urging me to “stay and fight.”

But I came here to fight for others, not for myself. I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. We need all hands on deck, fighting for the future.

It has been a great honor to serve my country and my President in this capacity. I thank everyone who has offered support and encouragement. I am proud to have been able to make a contribution to the clean energy future. I will continue to do so, in the months and years ahead.

There are some who believe he should have stayed and fought and not let the far-right nuts use the politics of fear and smear.

If some of these conservative nuts, like the integrity-challenged Glenn Beck, showed even a fraction of Jones’ class and unselfishness … the world would be a lot better place.

This is certainly a battle that in some ways the idiotic Beck (who made the outrageous, illogical and stupid charge of President Obama being a racist) has won (although I still think Van Jones can be more effective away from President Obama than by his side). But, if Beck chooses to fight this way then he should not complain when others fight him in a similar way.

Is Van Jones Stronger In The White House Or Out Of It?

Blogger Kate Sheppard has an interesting take on the manufactured controversy (led by far-right Fox News nut Glenn Beck) over Van Jones. As many of you know, the right has been attempting for more than a year now to try and portray Barack Obama as some kind of an angry black radical (almost exclusively through people he is connected to – so-called “associations”). The latest person targeted by Beck is Jones (although Beck has been dishonest about not admitting that there appears to be another motivation behind his all-out assault on a relatively low-level member of President Obama’s administration in a role few people would otherwise care about).

But, is Jones more powerful in the Obama administration or out of it?

Here is a part of Sheppard’s take:

Those fears have, to some extent, panned out. Jones’s most public appearance in the past few months may have been when he stood up at a White House press conference to ask the gathered reporters to silence their cell phones (he had no further remarks to make). Instead of playing a leading role in drumming up support for clean-energy polices—something he was extremely effective at—he’s now a relatively low-level bureaucrat trying to steer stimulus funding toward green-job programs. In all honesty, Glenn Beck may have more to worry about with Jones outside the White House than in it.

There may be some truth to that last sentence. Maybe Beck’s efforts (if successful) could turn Jones into something of a political martyr who could be a greater factor outside the Obama administration.

But, Beck’s motives seem to be more about: (1) smearing Barack Obama and portraying him as an angry black radical and (2) marginalizing the somewhat successful ColorOfChange boycott against him by smearing someone who helped start the group.

CNN’s Howard Kurtz Properly Points Out Dishonesty Of Glenn Beck, Hidden Agenda

ox News far-right talk show host Glenn Beck has been trashing a man named Van Jones. Media Matters for America has a clip of CNN’s Howard Kurtz posted on its Web site. In the clip, Kurtz points out, however, that Beck is being irresponsible and abusing his platform by not admitting his own hidden agenda in his attack of Jones. Beck has been targeted for boycott by a group (ColorOfChange) that Jones once was affiliated with as co-founder. Beck has been angry about the success of the ColorOfChange boycott and has used his anger to attack Van Jonesand attack President Obama (by attacking Jones and trying to portray him as a black radical). Not to demean Jones, but he serves in a position few people would have much interest in if not for the efforts of Beck who is attempting to again use racial politics to (1) save himself, (2) attack President Obama and (3) portray himself as being attacked by black radicals to appeal to his mostly conservative audience. Beck’s efforts are probably meeting with success since he knows what appeals to his audience at Fox News and on the radio.