Video: Gibbs declines to issue statement of confidence in Van Jones
posted at 12:58 pm on September 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Jake Tapper and Major Garret now report that the White House has signaled, at least subtly, that they may be preparing to toss Van Jones under the bus. Robert Gibbs did not offer the customary statement of support of the Green Jobs Czar after multiple occasions of Jones’ support of paranoid-conspiracy theories about 9/11 have come to light over the last two days. Instead, Gibbs made it sound as though another shoe could drop soon (via The College Politico):
Asked if controversial White House official Van Jones continues to enjoy the confidence of President Obama given recent revelations about his involvement with those who suggest the Bush administration knew about the 9/11 attacks and allowed them to happen in order to justify a war for oil, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs Friday morning would only say “he continues to work in this administration.” …
Asked how the Obama administration could rail against fringe conspiracy theorists who falsely allege, despite evidence to the contrary, that President Obama was not born in the U.S., Gibbs said that that the “9/11 Truther” sentiments are “not something that the president agrees with.”
I said yesterday in our State Fair show that the Obama administration would find a way to dump Jones over the holiday weekend when media attention would remain low, possibly as soon as this afternoon. Others have suggested that they may wait until just before the 9/11 anniversary next Friday, or try to just wait out the uproar. As long as Jones remains, though, attempts to rebuild Obama’s standing as a post-partisan moderate will take body shots.
Let’s take a poll. When do Hot Air readers believe Obama will give Jones the heave-ho, if at all?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
I want him to keep Mrs. Doubtfire, for the laughs, but if he’s to be replaced my vote is Scott McLellan.
TXUS on September 4, 2009 at 1:48 PM
What story? according to Bryon York there is no story in the MSM
From a Nexis search a few moments ago:
Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the New York Times: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the Washington Post: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on NBC Nightly News: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on ABC World News: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on CBS Evening News: 0.
E9RET on September 4, 2009 at 1:48 PM
I haven’t been on the tube yet today, so don’t know if any of the talking heads are on it besides Fox. My 4-yr. old has a monopoly for an hour w/Phineas & Ferb!
JAM on September 4, 2009 at 1:48 PM
If anyone missed this from Glenn Beck–the audio of Van Jones and the video of Valerie Jarrett from last month(!) endorsing him, here it is:
Obama Czar’s SHOCK ADMISSION: ‘Green Jobs’ Goal is ‘Complete Revolution’ Away From ‘Gray Capitalism’
INC on September 4, 2009 at 1:49 PM
“Judge me by the people who surround me” – Barack Hussein Obama
Trafalgar on September 4, 2009 at 1:50 PM
If Jones goes under the bus without a concerted defense being mounted by the MSM, then it is a sincere victory for our side. Much of America would go, Van who? By then, the damage to Obama’s credibility is done.
light the phonelines. He has to go. Continue firing, all cylinders, replenish ammo/water/batteries.
ted c on September 4, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Won’t happen. Obama will make sure he holds an important position somewhere in his commie plans, whether we know about it or not. He’ll also find a way to make sure he continues to get paid.
Gregor on September 4, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Not to try and change the subject to Palin, but I can’t help but notice the different “vetting” standards.
They accused the McCain staff of not vetting Palin well enough because
-her teenaged daughter was pregnant (which utlimately just makes Palin a Grandma – scary stuff there)
-she perhaps wasn’t quite ready for prime time (which is not a character flaw, it can be fixed)
Jones was not vetted at all gets the job while
-being a communist
-being a Truther
-being a racist
thevastlane on September 4, 2009 at 1:57 PM
When Obama looks in the mirror he sees Van Jones – an Ivy-league educated community activist who has never led anything, never managed anything, never accomplished anything, who made his name on race-baiting and got where he is by knowing the “right” people. By denying Van Jones Obama denies himself.
Trafalgar on September 4, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Jones was not vetted at all gets the job while
-being a communist
-being a Truther
-being a racist
thevastlane on September 4, 2009
Resume enhancers.
SKYFOX on September 4, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Let me remind everyone again: Van Jones being thrown under the bus (if it happens) means NOTHING.
It may be a victory, but by itself, it’s an empty one.
Don’t get caught up in “Yeah, we made Obama dump that commie!”
The real issue here is how many others in the O Admin share Jones’ views? (My guess: Many, if not most.)
It’s a minor skirmish, but not the whole war by any means.
tsj017 on September 4, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Why does everyone automatically assume Van Jones was not completely vetted by Barackus Caesar before his appointment to one of the plethera of Czar positions?
Of course he was thoroughly vetted. Van Jones had to have been thoroughly vetted. Subsequently, his communism and 9/11 Truther roots were discovered, if not were previously known anyway, before the appointment, in that vetting process. Barackus Caesar simply just didn’t care and appointed him anyway.
Why is that so hard for some people to fathom?
Birds of a feather flock together. Barack Hussein Obama has surrounded himself with America despising capitalism hating so-called ‘radicals’ since day one.
SilverStar830 on September 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
How’s that Glenn Beck boycott working out for you Mr. Jones?
TampaBayBull on September 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Van Jones is damaged goods, thankfully. I imagine he’ll be gone before the weekend’s over, but if not, then surel before 9/11. The only thing the Bamster values more than his green Maxist ideology is his red political arse.
petefrt on September 4, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Christians…………. +1
Lions……………… 0
petefrt on September 4, 2009 at 2:14 PM
If a president can appoint czars that hold unconstitutional powers, then he can hire “fired” czars after the fact to stay on as senior advisers with unconstitutional powers too. The public may feel vindicated but the treachery goes on.
Fletch54 on September 4, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I tend to disagree. While it isn’t a crushing victory over Obama, it is a significant one. The Van Jones issue has brought the entire ‘Czar’ issue into the forefront and more and more people are questioning Obama’s appointments, asking why they aren’t accountable to the people, and demanding to know who these people are. I don’t expect the fire to cool just because Jones goes. So, a significant victory.
Trafalgar on September 4, 2009 at 2:16 PM
BO is a 3rd generation Communist. His administration is PACKED with people who think this country needs a new “improved” Constitution. Jones will gladly sacrifice himself for the cause. Whatever BO does, it will be purely to buy himself time to get the agenda through.
Exactly. He has told us what he wants to do and we have seen who he aligns with…. no assumptions necessary. He IS our first Communist president. Hopefully, our last.
itsacookbook on September 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
“He was sorry if anyone was offended by his unrepeatable remarks.” An apology worthy of Cynthia McKinney. Hey, now there’s a match made in heaven! So let’s see. “If” anyone was offended. So he’s refusing to own that the remarks were in and of themselves “offensive.” No it’s only if someone perceived them as offensive, then he apologizes. Why? If his remarks weren’t offensive, then if some milque-toast gets his knickers in a bunch, how is he, Van Jones, responsible? Come on Van, that non-apology apology is internally contradictory. Go with the McKinney version–”I’m sorry if some people misunderstood my actions.” A non-apology, no doubt, AND, featuring the added benefit–it was true. She was sorry, because she got into a lot of trouble because of those stupid misunderstanders. Van, you don’t want to come up lamer than Cynthia McKinney.
smellthecoffee on September 4, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Once Jones is fired, they’ll be two or three waiting in reserve to take his place. The red ant march is never ending. To queen Obimbo, red ant soldiers are expendable because there are legions of them. Team Obimbo hopes there’s too many, in fact, for Beck/Fox News, and a handful of online outlets alone to expose. Either that, or they’re anticipating that the glut of radicals in the WH will quickly become old news and eventually lead to social acceptance.
anXdem on September 4, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Beck on Twitter about 15 hours ago:
Don’t know a lot yet about Browner and Sunstein, but Mark Lloyd’s going to be a doozy.
petefrt on September 4, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Jones is gone. Beck exposed and flamed his crusty commie ass good. I hope one day to find a man with the balls that Glenn Beck has. I’m in love.
RepubChica on September 4, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Please note that Van Jones is not the only radical in this administration…it starts at the tippy top…
arbin82 on September 4, 2009 at 2:45 PM
+100.
Man the torpedos.
Geochelone on September 4, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Obama has no problem using union thugs to assault and maim his political opponents, but he’s somehow allergic to radicals in his administration?
Jones will be thrown under the bus, to plant the explosives.
spmat on September 4, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I thought for sure O would have sent Jones out to publicly commit hari kari before the close of business today. Must be some resistance coming from the arrogant commie a-hole.
joedoe on September 4, 2009 at 2:51 PM
The test is to see if Jones is gone WITHOUT any notice in the MSM.
If Yes, then this is just the first.
If he survives until Tuesday before the MSM picks it up, then “WE” are weaker than we think.
I am IN.
barnone on September 4, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Brilliant psychoanalysis.
Of course the WH apologist proctologist (Gibbs) will deny it.
We will not rest until Barry’s colorectal exam appears on You Tube or CSPAN.
Geochelone on September 4, 2009 at 2:52 PM
What if it is determined that Jones could cause more damage from the outside? hmmmmmmmm
joedoe on September 4, 2009 at 2:53 PM
The Jolly Green Jobs Giant is about to Go Go Go.
Geochelone on September 4, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Well, yes. The important thing is to remember that Jones is just the tip of the iceberg. We have to expose the entire iceberg.
tsj017 on September 4, 2009 at 2:59 PM
“I could no more disavow Van Jones than I could disavow my..my..ummmm… never mind!
Conservalicious on September 4, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Progressives to the Democrats Jump.
Dr Evil on September 4, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Barry – you either agree with his views or you put someone in a position of authority of whom you know nothing about.
Which is it? Either way, you’re a pathetic leader.
gregbert on September 4, 2009 at 3:21 PM
The wheels on the bus go bump bump bump
Scrappy on September 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Fixed it from another perspective
txmomof6 on September 4, 2009 at 3:32 PM
If Jones isn’t out by the time Beck is on tonight Glenn may just go apoplectic!
rebuzz on September 4, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Van Jones is going not any where even if he is out of the WH he will still be in Obama ear. Obama picked him and knew who he picked and picked him for that reason.
tjexcite on September 4, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Excellent use of the “let me be clear” construct.
massrighty on September 4, 2009 at 5:13 PM
‘0′ will hold on to him till it’s too late. His hubris demands it. The only reason he kicked Wright loose is because it was campaign season. Now, not so much.
TinMan13 on September 4, 2009 at 7:00 PM
gibbs added “silly” to his repertoire…this guy is a regular jimmy olsen.
Drudge is doing his best and Glenn is a saint…maybe we need to have Sarah twitter to finish the job.
nondhimmie on September 4, 2009 at 7:15 PM
I’m sure there’s also a Cash-for-Clunkers “Ford Field” joke lurking in there somewhere; can’t quite dig it out though.
Blacksmith on September 4, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Especially when, as you pointed out above, Obama tried to use the rhetorical device of “the company you keep” as an asset in his column prior to the election…
… while dropping names like Paul Volcker and Warren Buffet rather than Van Jones, Cass Sunstein or ‘No More Children’ Holdren.
Setting aside the fact that, if you look closely at the video clip where he said this, you can see the prevaricating in Obama’s eyes, the point is that he still *said* it, still made the claim. If anyone should expect to be judged on it now, it’s him.
To which one might ask, where are Paul Volcker and Warren Buffet these days? They don’t seem to be exactly “surrounding” the President these days. That’s the next question Beck ought to be asking, in line with the overall question, why has Obama substituted List A (Volcker, Buffet, Powell) with List B (Jones, Sunstein, Holdren & Co.)? And when exactly was he planning on announcing to the American voter that he was making the switch, and explaining the reasons why?
RD on September 4, 2009 at 8:45 PM
To be the ’straight man’ and state the obvious: Obama was never planning on making the announcement.
Because, in order to have any these guys on board, their sordid details needed to be kept under wraps — why that’s the case should also be obvious ;-).
Which just goes to prove the point: In his inner circle there are only two places to be, under the rug or under the bus.
RD on September 4, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Er, — RD on September 4, 2009 at 8:52 PM
…in order to have any of these guys on board…
RD on September 4, 2009 at 8:56 PM
I believe that 0bama will stick by his fellow COMMUNIST.
You know! Cannibals of a feather.
DannoJyd on September 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Gibbs, you are a dope…get out of our White House.
Van Jones will undoubtedly be under the bus shortly. But we need not look far. He is surely to be found running the local Acorn bunch. Glenn Beck, go get the next one. Great work.
highninside on September 5, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2