SF Chronicle: Obama Knew About Van Jones' Radical Background in Advance

There is a charge floating around out there that President Barack Obama knew in advance about the radical background of Van Jones before appointing him as his "green jobs czar." So where is this charge coming from? Glenn Beck? Nope. Fox News? Nope. This revelatory charge was made on the pages of the liberal San Francisco Chronicle in an article on the Jones resignation written by Joe Garofoli:

The middle-of-the-night resignation Sunday of longtime Bay Area activist Van Jones as a White House environmental adviser left many progressives angry at the Obama administration for buckling to conservative criticism of Jones' controversial past comments and actions.

...Supporters say the administration surely knew his background when they appointed Jones, the first African American to write a best-selling environmental book, as special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. In fact, agents interviewed at least one of his former supervisors in San Francisco - Eva Paterson - when the FBI vetted his appointment.

Although Garofoli made it seem like Van Jones was the victim of a "witch hunt," he sure did Jones no favors with this quote from a well-known loon:

"He was swift-boated," said Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink and a San Franciscan who has known Jones for 15 years. She spoke to him recently and said he was "very conflicted" about whether to resign.

One highly interesting aspect of this article are the accompanying comments posted in the Chronicle. Although this is a very liberal newspaper, these comments by the readers reveal a very "unprogressive" attitude about Van Jones and Obama: 

He was a total racist. It wasn't just signing the 9/11 petition.The article neglects to mention that he recently said that White people were responsible for polluting and people of color were suffering for it. It also neglects to mention he was an avowed Communist, radical, and anarchist.

And yet another person Obama has to suddenly 'distance' himself from. He knew exactly who this guy was and hired him anyway -- what does that tell you about Obama's true colors?

Hey Joe: This is no witch-hunt, the guy said some dumb-a$$ things and now calls it a smear campaign?? He signs a petition, but tries later to divorce himself from what the petition calls for?? Why do YOU and all these other apologists come running to his defense when he can't or won't MAN-UP?

Van is not a progressive, he said himself he is a communist who also stated he believes GW Bush and the CIA caused 9/11. Then he was appointed as Green Jobs Czar by President Obama. The press totally ignored that a radical communist was advising the President. Even the Republicans didn't say a thing.

And if you think the above comments from "cranky conservatives" were on the harsh side, they are nothing compared to the rage directed towards Obama over the Van Jones resignation coming from the leftwing blogosphere. Check out these volleys being fired by the sanity-challenged Democratic Underground:

Obama is being the biggest wuss..he should have told the right wing...we won the election eat s--t and die!!!!

this administration is as weak as water, i can't listen to them anymore,they are so full of it.

Under the bus he goes.

Don't look now But the President of the United States just got pwned by a microphone jockey. I thought I would never see someone top Bush the First, but this may just be the weakest President in my lifetime. 

And finally this highly revealing post from the Democratic Underground:

While I agree in private with Van Jones' sentiments, I don't make these opinions generally public. 

The above comment was very interesting for its honesty. Much of the left actually agrees with the very radical views of Van Jones including being a 9/11 Truther and declaring an adherence to communism. However, his "mistake" was making his views known to the public.

 And if you think the leftwing disgust with Obama is limited just to the Democratic Underground, think again. The Daily Kos is equally enraged by The One:

Definitely the most cowardly administration most of my generation (twentysomethings) have seen so far.

Democrats in Washington are falling apart. Can't anyone stop the stupid? 

A gutless administration. No one in this White-house has what it takes. I truly feel its downhill from here on.

Obama tends to throw people under the bus 

If you want even more Labor Day entertainment provided by leftwing angst over the Van Jones resignation, then pop up a bowl of popcorn, dip them in salsa (a newly discovered combo treat), and check a more complete collection of DUer and Kossack rage compiled by the DUmmie FUnnies.