<<Back to Article National Association of Government Contractors www.governmentcontractors.org Van Jones resignation upsets Obama's green job initiative Sep 8, 2009 The future leadership of the Obama administration's green jobs initiative is in question this week, after the resignation of Van Jones, the president's charismatic special adviser for green jobs. Jones, who worked at the White House Council for Environmental Quality and who was portrayed in the press as the president's "green jobs Czar", resigned after pressure from right-wing commentators including Fox News host Glenn Beck and members of the Republican party. Those pressuring the White House accused Jones of flirting with the 9/11 truth movement. Supporters of this movement believe that the Bush administration was involved in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. Footage also emerged of Jones making derogatory comments about Republicans, and he has also come under fire because a movement that he co-founded, colorofchange.org, had been instrumental in persuading advertisers to boycott Glenn Beck's TV show, after Beck labelled Obama a racist. Jones' resignation was announced on 5 September, in a move designed to minimise news coverage because of the long weekend. Jones, who effectively lost White House support after Obama said that he could not condone his statements, accused right-wing commentators of waging a concerted attack. "On the eve of historic fights for healthcare and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," he said. Jones originally took the role of green jobs adviser in March this year. A replacement has not been announced, although some believe it will be difficult to find one because the role was effectively created for him. Article URL: http://www.governmentcontractors.org/articles/a.918.asp © Copyright 2005-2008 The National Association of Government Contractors