WASHINGTON (CNN) - The resignation of Obama administration figure Van Jones, following controversies over a petition he had signed and his comments about Republicans, did not come at the request of the president, the White House senior adviser said Sunday.
"Absolutely not - this was Van Jones' own decision," David Axelrod told NBC's "Meet the Press" when asked if the president had ordered the resignation.
The chairman of the House Republican Conference, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, had called for Jones to resign or be fired.
"I think Van Jones did the right thing," Pence said Sunday about the resignation. "His extremist views and coarse rhetoric have no place in this administration."
Jones has frequently been dubbed a "green-jobs czar" for the administration.
"The president should suspend any future appointment of so called czars while the administration and the Congress carefully examines the background and qualifications of the more than 30 individuals who've been appointed to these czar positions," said Pence, speaking to reporters. "And the Congress ought to initiate a thorough inquiry into the constitutionality of this practice which has spanned Republican and Democrat administrations."
In a statement Saturday night, the White House said Jones was giving up his post at the Council on Environmental Quality, where he helped coordinate government agencies focused on delivering millions of green jobs to the ailing U.S. economy.
"On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," Jones said in the statement. "They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide."
Updated:5:49 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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Oh wait, now I get it – Pearl Harbor was an "inside job" just so FDR could get re-elected!
You guys need a shrink.
So a history of radicalism precludes you from public office, but actively being a radical (birthers, deathers, secessionists, and Nazi-sympathizers [looking at you Pat Buchanan]) is perfectly patriotic.
Sickening.
It about time, CNN, you covered this story! This man is a communist and a racist, and has NO place at the table with our President. There are other Jeremiah Wright–David Ayers– Van Jones types that still have his ear..... we will not rest until they are outed.
Memo to Bush: BIN LADEN DETERMINED TO STRIKE IN THE US [with planes no less]
The petition didn't say that he did it. The petition said that he let it happen.
So the GOP doesn't have to play by the rules. They can come up with any blatant lie and it is spread across the news as if it has merit but if a Democrat questions the Cheney/Bush administration that's considered un-American. How can people stand for this nonsense?
Conservatives can only view activists as "dangerous radicals."
Are you kidding me? "Why excercise won't make you thin" beats this out as the top story? It seems awfully suspect that every time something negative about the administration comes out you guys run a fluff piece as the main story to cover it up. Also, a major part of Van Jones' resignation is that he is a self-professed communist.
Secretary of State Clinton complained about the "nightmare" vetting process used by the Administration on her appointee's. I quess it isn't a problem if you're a radical, a flaming liberal or tax cheat.
You can always pick out the ones who watch Fox News religiously because they‘re not smart enough to use their own words. They just parrot the multi-millionaire fear-mongering show hosts who are making millions off their rhetoric to the right-wing who watch them. I wonder who they’re sharpening their knives for next? I find that scarier than anything this man has said.
Before the Obama Administration I had a passing dislike for the Republican Party. I wouldn’t vote for a Republican because I disagree with their politics. Now, with this latest media lynching of Presidential adviser Van Jones, I have moved to a new degree of attitude towards the Republicans. My anger and disgust with them has transformed my dislike to contempt. This episode along with their psychological abuse of the American public over health care reform has leads me to the conclusion that there is no commonality between me and the members of the Republican Party. I’m a liberal and they do not view me as a human being. I can only return the favor to them. To me, the Obama Administration continues to be the best and last hope we have as a nation to right the wrongs that have been perpetrated on us by the Republicans and their ilk. The Republicans deserve my fervent belief that their excesses will eventually will be exposed to the American public and we will all know them for the abusers and bought and paid for politicians that they are.
Calling Republicans a holes is treason.
Calling Obama a Nazi is patriotic.
What country do we live in again?
Who's next in the Fox News guillotine o' lies?
I heard Rahm Emanuel likes to kick puppies. Off with his head!
Funny how people think Beck is so popular. It's just because his target audience can afford TVs and cable. The poor folks that Obama is trying to help lift out of squalor cannot.
Still haven't seen any PLANS coming out of the Republican party. A budget without numbers? A wishy-washy healthcare "bill of rights"?
GET TO WORK REPUBLICANS.
Van Jones will be fine outside the administration.
He is an attorney and an environmental scientist and the sky is his limit.
By taking a job with the Obama administration he downgraded both in financial reward and impact in the society.
Now since he resigned because of the coordinated vicious attacks from the right wing extremist and fox news based on the 911 truth investigation ,can the republican members of congress that signed into the BIRTHER conspiracy be asked to resigned for the good of the country now.
I can't believe that with knowing how the Cheney/Bush administration lied to satisfy their ulterior motive, invading Iraq, that it is still when they are not in power, forbidden to question 911. Why is it so un-American to simply investigate? Therefore, I question why Glen Beck would find it forbidden
Van Jones came to Washington to fight for others....yea, right!
He came to line his pockets with taxpayer money!
Don't worry Van, Obama will place you out of sight, you'll still get the money. Just like he shut up that Wright, who professes to be a "reverend".
Obama is not leading us; he is robbing us blind!!!!!!
Vote the Bums Out in 2010!!!!!!!!
Since Obama took office the negativity in the media is unbelievable...
From Lou Dobbs to Beck...
I hope now they rest easy!
Racist? I think no one is considering that Obama has "white and black blood" running through his veins, but he chooses only to accept the "black blood." Shouldn't that cause us to wonder who is really the racist? Obama is biracial, isn't he? Why doesn't he say this? For those who have or are raising biracial children, why aren't you questioning this? There are many individuals that Obama surrounds himself with that have ties to Marxism and are Muslims. What is wrong with anyone questioning Obama on his choices of individuals to run our country? Individuals he surrounds himself with and those he chooses to place in high positions in our government do not have to be white Americans, but they do have to have an unquestionable allegiance to America, don't they? Obama himself said to judge him by the company he keeps! Moreover, not too long ago, was it not Muslims who flew planes into U.S. buildings?
thank you glen beck, when i read and heard this guys views i wonder how can this guy be working in the white house pt barnum said there is a sucker born every minute and obama suckered 52 million people on voting day it is very clear obama is a socialist and marxist
Looks like Mr. Jons gave right wing media something to justify their negativity....
Let's see what they will talk about from monday on?
So much for Freedom of Speech.
If the Rebirther Tea Party members don't like what you say, they will shout you down to show their hatred for the Constitution.
Score:
Beck: One
Freedom: Zero
All of you bleeding heat liberals make me sick. You have such a double standard. It was completely OK for anit-way protesters to show thier view by carrying signs and protesting. But when INTELLIGENT people protest how obama wants to bankrupy our country by reckell decifict spending and surrounding himself with dangerour vile human beings such as van jones, you stick your head in the sand. I hope the dendulum swings back the other way and the demorats loose obth houses of congress before our nation gones down the toilet!
it's sad that a guy who was working hard to help his country has had to resigned, not because he performed poorly but because of his political leanings offended some. This is partisan politics at its worst. We need public servants that do a good job and if they do, they shouldn't have to worry about their unrelated political beliefs.
You Conservatives make no sense. F or one , you're pro life ( as I) because you care for the unborn, yet you rant and rave against a health plan that will provide health insurance for uninsured children .
2. You talk about the cost of this, that helps SAVE lives and forget how you shouted" shock and awe " for the Iraq War (what about that cost) and all it;s DEATHS .
You've become the vocal lunatic fringe who thinks by being loud, you have many followers. Just read these comments on this page and that should bring u back to reality.