A 20 Year Ago Thesis Is Bigger News Than Van Jones, According to Washington Post (barf alert)

RedState.com ^ | September 4, 2009 | Erick Erickson

[khnyny]

We now have definitive proof that the Washington Post is intentionally generating in-kind contributions to the Creigh Deeds campaign in Virginia.

Having taken out George Allen over his macaca comment, the Washington Post intends to politically assassinate Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell for his college thesis written over 20 years ago.

How do we know? Because of their coverage of Green Jobs Czar Van Jones. The Washington Post has written exactly zero stories on Van Jones despite the very real and serious story — Barack Obama has hired, without congressional oversight, a man designated to spend $80 billion in tax payer dollars who has a very questionable recent past.

Compare that to the Washington Post’s treatment of Bob McDonnell. The Virginia gubernatorial candidate and present Attorney General for the Commonwealth wrote a college thesis over 20 years ago. Instead of focusing on McDonnell’s record in office or present events on the campaign trail, the Washington Post has written nine articles about Bob McDonnell in five days.

[khnyny]

The count is up to TEN articles now - the WP just published another frontpage article (above the fold) bashing Bob McDonnell TODAY (Saturday, 9/5). Another leftist attack machine to try and destroy a conservative candidate.

The WP has lost any journalistic integrity and simultaneously wonder why they are losing readership.

[ETL]

From David Horowitz's
FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org
PROFILE: VAN JONES

• Became a Communist in the aftermath of the 1992 "Rodney King riots" in Los Angeles
• Founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in 1996
• Was active in the anti-Iraq War demonstrations organized by International ANSWER
• Served as a board member of the Rainforest Action Network and Free Press
• In March 2009, President Barack Obama named Jones to be his so-called "Green Jobs Czar."

Born in 1968 in rural West Tennessee, Van Jones earned a B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin and then attended Yale Law School. During his years at Yale, Jones served as an intern with the San Francisco-based Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR), which views the United States as an irredeemably racist nation and "champions the legal rights of people of color, poor people, immigrants and refugees, with a special commitment to African-Americans."

Jones says that he first became politically radicalized in the aftermath of the deadly April 1992 Los Angeles riots which erupted shortly after four L.A. police officers who had beaten the infamous Rodney King were exonerated in court. "I was a rowdy nationalist on April 28th," says Jones, who is black, "and then the verdicts came down on April 29th. By August, I was a communist."

Jones was arrested during the L.A. riots and spent a short time in jail. "I met all these young radical people of color," he recalls, "I mean really radical: communists and anarchists. And it was, like, 'This is what I need to be a part of.' I spent the next ten years of my life working with a lot of those people I met in jail, trying to be a revolutionary."

After earning his Juris Doctorate from Yale in 1993, Jones relocated to San Francisco, where he helped establish Bay Area PoliceWatch, a hotline and lawyer-referral service that began as a project of LCCR. In 1996 he founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, which, claiming that the American criminal-justice system is infested with racism, seeks to promote alternatives to incarceration. According to the Baker Center:

"Decades of disinvestment in our cities have led to despair and hopelessness. For poor communities and communities of color it's even worse, as excessive, racist policing and over-incarceration have left people even further behind."

By the late 1990s, Jones was a committed Marxist-Leninist-Maoist who viewed police officers as the arch-enemies of black people, and who loathed capitalism for allegedly exploiting nonwhite minorities worldwide. He became a leading member of Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM), a now-defunct Bay Area Marxist-Maoist collective that was staffed by members of various local nonprofits, a number of whom had ties to the Ella Baker Center.

In the early 2000s, Jones and STORM were active in the anti-Iraq War demonstrations organized by International ANSWER, a front group for the Marxist-Leninist Workers World Party. STORM also had ties to the South African Communist Party and it revered Amilcar Cabral, the late Marxist revolutionary leader (of Guinea-Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands) who lauded Lenin as "the greatest champion of the national liberation of the peoples." (In 2006 Van Jones would name his own newborn son "Cabral" -- in Amilcar Cabral's honor.)

During his tenure with STORM, Jones collaborated on numerous projects (including antiwar demonstrations) with local activist Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez, who served as a "mentor" for members of the Ella Baker Center. Martinez was a longtime Maoist who went on to join the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS), a Communist Party USA splinter group, in the early 1990s. To this day, Martinez continues to sit on the CCDS advisory board alongside such luminaries as Angela Davis, Timuel Black (who served on Barack Obama's 2004 Senate campaign committee), and musician Pete Seeger. Martinez is also a board member of the Movement for a Democratic Society, the parent organization of Progressives for Obama. Martinez and Van Jones together attended a "Challenging White Supremacy" workshop which advanced the theme that "all too often, the unconscious racism of white activists stands in the way of any effective, worthwhile collaboration" with blacks.

In 2005 Jones and the Ella Baker Center produced the "Social Equity Track" for the United Nations' World Environment Day celebration, a project that eventually would evolve into the Baker Center's Green-Collar Jobs Campaign -- "a job-training and employment pipeline providing 'green pathways out of poverty' for low-income adults in Oakland."

Soon after attending the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2007, Jones launched "Green For All," a non-governmental organization "dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty … advocating for local, state and federal commitment to job creation, job training, and entrepreneurial opportunities in the emerging green economy - especially for people from disadvantaged communities."

In 2008 Jones published his first book, The Green Collar Economy, which focused on environmental and economic issues. The book received favorable reviews from such notables as Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Laurie David, Winona LaDuke, environmentalist Paul Hawken, and NAACP President/CEO Ben Jealous.

Jones has served as a board member of numerous environmental and nonprofit organizations, including the Rainforest Action Network; Free Press; Bioneers (which accepts the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Report's warning that "[h]uman activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted"); the National Apollo Alliance (which seeks "to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs"); the Social Venture Network (which aims "to build a just economy and sustainable planet"); and Julia Butterfly Hill's "Circle of Life" environmental foundation.

Jones was also a Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress and a Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

In March 2009, President Barack Obama named Jones to be his so-called "Green Jobs Czar." Jones' formal title is "Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation" for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

In a July 2009 interview with Newsweek magazine, Jones said he could not explain exactly what a "green job" is:

"Well, we still don't have a unified definition, and that's not unusual in a democracy. It takes a while for all the states and the federal government to come to some agreement. But the Department of Labor is working on it very diligently. Fundamentally, it's getting there, but we haven't crossed the finish line yet."

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2406

[fishingking]

These news papers and networks don't wonder why they are losing viewership/readership. They don't care. The agenda trumps all

[ETL]

Obama and the case of the missing 'thesis'
By Jim Popkin, NBC News Senior Investigative Producer
July 24, 2008

excerpt:

The hunt for Obama’s senior “thesis” began with a throwaway line in a newspaper article last October. The New York Times story, on Obama’s early New York years, mentioned in passing that the presidential contender had majored in political science at Columbia and had spent his time “writing his thesis on Soviet nuclear disarmament.”

Journalists began hounding Columbia University for copies of the musty document. Conservative bloggers began wondering if the young Obama had written a no-nukes screed that he might come to regret. And David Bossie, the former congressional investigator and “right-wing hit man,” as one newspaper described him, took out classified newspaper ads in Columbia University’s newspaper and the Chicago Tribune in March searching for the term paper.

Bossie came up dry, but said the effort was well worth it:

“A thesis entitled Soviet Nuclear Disarmament, written at the height of The Cold War in 1983, might shed some light upon what Barack Obama thought about our most pressing foreign policy issue for 40-plus years (U.S.-Soviet Relations),” he wrote in an e-mail to NBC News.

http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/24/1219454.aspx
_________________________________________________

Here is the passage from the New York Times that the above article refers to:

"He barely mentions Columbia, training ground for the elite, where he transferred in his junior year, majoring in political science and international relations and writing his thesis on Soviet nuclear disarmament. He dismisses in one sentence his first community organizing job — work he went on to do in Chicago — though a former supervisor remembers him as 'a star performer.'"

[snip]

"he [Obama] declined repeated requests to talk about his New York years, release his Columbia transcript or identify even a single fellow student, co-worker, roommate or friend from those years.

'He doesn’t remember the names of a lot of people in his life,' said Ben LaBolt, a campaign spokesman."

Obama’s Account of New York Years Often Differs From What Others Say
By JANNY SCOTT, October 30, 2007:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html?ex=1351396800&en=631bf83f428647f9&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
_________________________________________________

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
Profile: Institute For Policy Studies (IPS)

IPS’s [Institute For Policy Studies] Washington, DC headquarters quickly became a resource center for national reporters and a place for KGB agents from the nearby Soviet embassy to convene and strategize. Cora Weiss headed one of the IPS's most successful forays -- into Riverside Church in Manhattan. She was invited there in 1978 by the Reverend William Sloane Coffin to run the church's Disarmament Program, which sought to consolidate Soviet nuclear superiority in Europe -- in the name of "peace." In 1982 Weiss helped organize the largest pro-disarmament demonstration ever held. Staged in New York City, the rally was attended by a coalition of communist organizations. During her decade-long tenure at Riverside, which became home to the National Council of Churches, Weiss regularly received Russian KGB agents, Sandinista friends, and Cuban intelligence agents. Weiss became infamous for her role in the psychological warfare conducted against U.S. prisoners of war held in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War.

The Liberation News Service, which is a news source for hundreds of "alternative" publications nationwide (with antiwar, Marxist-oriented perspectives), was founded in 1967 with IPS assistance."

[lots more at link...]

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6991
_________________________________________________

From the website of Riverside Church...

The Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive
New York, New York 10027
212-870-6700

The Riverside Church is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side near Columbia University.

http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/about/?directions
_________________________________________________

"She was invited there in 1978 by the Reverend William Sloane Coffin to run the church's Disarmament Program, which sought to consolidate Soviet nuclear superiority in Europe -- in the name of 'peace.'

In 1982 Weiss helped organize the largest pro-disarmament demonstration ever held. Staged in New York City, the rally was attended by a coalition of communist organizations."
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6991
_________________________________________________

From the Columbia University website...

"Obama attended Columbia College from 1981 to 1983"

Source:
http://news.columbia.edu/home/1260
_________________________________________________

Bill Ayers' education:
1987 - Ed.D, Columbia University, Curriculum & Instruction
1987 - M.Ed, Teachers College, Columbia University, Early Childhood Education
1984 [he completed degree in '84] - M.Ed, Bank Street College, Early Childhood Education
1968 - B.A., University of Michigan, American Studies
http://education.uic.edu/directory/faculty_info.cfm?netid=bayers
_________________________________________________

Bank Street College
Where We Are and How to Get Here:

Bank Street College is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at 610 West 112th Street, between Broadway and Riverside Drive.

Bank Street College is located in a bustling family and university neighborhood four blocks from Columbia University
http://www.bankstreet.edu/aboutbsc/visiting.html
_________________________________________________

Why Won’t Obama Talk About Columbia?
The years he won’t discuss may explain the Ayers tie he keeps lying about:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjY4YzdhMDBkZGQ3ZmU2MTUzYjdkMzc5ZjUzYmViZWM=

[ETL]

From the campaign trail, February 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert [they are NOT on "hair-trigger alert" now -etl], and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."

[truthkeeper]

Let’s have a peek at Hillary’s while we’re at it. Bammy’s too!

[GodfearingTexan]

great point

[muawiyah]

Always remember that Warren Buffett has a major ownership position at the Washington Post. He has to be thought of as being pretty much like Fritz Thyssen who was an early major contributor to Hitler's Nazi party.

He actually thought he could control those people.

How stupid of him.

The Obama crowd, particularly the Jones/Axelrod/Ayers wing, will be roasting Buffett in the White House fireplace before this is over.

[khnyny]

Thank you for your posts. That’s some very comprehensive information - too bad US “journalists” can’t seem to focus on anything of import.

We have a disgusting MSM in this country. Even so-called “entertainment shows” are completely biased. The Conan O’Brien show last night thought making tired jokes about George Bush and Sarah Palin is still yuk yuk funny. I turned it off and probably won’t bother watching again.

[BilLies]

Update on whose covering Van Jones:
My local, the Albany Times Union has not published anything re current Van Jones in hard copy. Link to AP minor article.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/The-Van-Jones-non-feeding-non-frenzy-57271402.html

[kitkat]

UNBELIEVABLE! Thanks, ETL, for the report on Van Jones.

If the people don’t wake up and realize that 0 appoints communists to run this country, we’ll be sunk.

[Danae]

The WaPo would actually have to develop some journalistic integrity to report on Van Jones.

but then they are out for regime change just of the kind Jones lives. So what can you expect?

[kdot]

Which is worse: 1) Sealing your college papers so noone can read/criticize your positions, or 2) Allowing access and dealing with the critiques?

We haven’t seen any of 0bama’s college work.

[TNCMAXQ]

They still insist with a straight face they are not biased. The Post says ZERO about Jones, and would never demand that 0bama release his grades or papers from his school days. They are so blatant about it you could almost laugh if it weren’t so infuriating. McDonnell and co. should use this to rally conservatives and raise more funds by setting up the media (and rightly so!) as the bad guys.

[NotSoModerate]

I think attacking him on his thesis is fair game. And I don’t think we should expect the WP to become ethical and stop playing politics with their paper.

I agree with his thesis. And if that thesis becomes his downfall then too bad. He should stand behind his thesis and let the voters decide. If I were a voter in the state I would be disappointed if he didn’t stand behind his thesis.

[SunkenCiv]

We now have definitive proof that the Washington Post is intentionally generating in-kind contributions to the Creigh Deeds campaign in Virginia. Having taken out George Allen over his macaca comment, the Washington Post intends to politically assassinate Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell for his college thesis written over 20 years ago. How do we know? Because of their coverage of Green Jobs Czar Van Jones. The Washington Post has written exactly zero stories on Van Jones...

[reefdiver]

Nothing about this fine citizen in todays buffalo news either.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“We now have definitive proof that the Washington Post is intentionally...”

Uh, we already had that. Keep the faith, Redstate. Keep the faith.

[Jo Nuvark]

In the current climate, The BEST thing that could happen
is for the liberal media to broadcast McDonnell’s thesis.
Conservatives are panting for a real conservative. I say
run into this. Don’t back down. Don’t apologize. Own it!

[bjc]

I am reading the Van Jones’ book now. It is largely a restatement of issues and complaints and provides little by way of concrete solutions. It fundamentally is simple-minded and the agenda is not to create sustainable industries but to create make work projects under the guise of environmentalism and to redistribute income from those with jobs in sustainable industries to those with quasi-jobs is non-sustainable industries, thereby endangering the jobs in the existing industries.

My question is how many copies of the hardcover were actually sold?

It has been reviewed 50 times on Amazon. Many of the positive reviews were written by first time reviewers and provide no evidence that the reviewer has actually read the book.

A core study on which many of the key statistics are based includes in its definition of Green Jobs, jobs that are primarily part of the existing economy and lead to some very silly and misleading conclusions about the potential benefits of government direct green jobs programs. For example, your energy star air conditioner is part of the green economy! Replacing a working 10 year old air conditioner with an energy star unit, may or may not be an efficient or smart decision.