Van Jones: The Partisan Politics of Mutually Assured Distraction

In game theory, Nash equilibrium is a strategy that applies to two or more players, whereby each of the players knows the other's assets and deficits and no one can benefit by a unilateral change in strategy. Given the Republican strategy--destroy viable members of the opposition by any means necessary--Democrats return the favor, and the net result is stasis and political inertia.

Mutually assured destruction is an example of the theory at work, where a "poison pill" strategy obviates an unpleasant outcome for both sides: total devastation of both attacker and attacked. So Democrats take out one of their soldiers (we can't think of an example that wasn't in some way justified) and the GOP takes a public servant working for the Democratic Party -- the latest being Van Jones, special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality -- and the goals and aspirations of each party are waylaid.

Jones resigned shortly after midnight in the middle of Labor Day weekend. The move was designed, it would seem, to create the least amount of news. While we respect that desire, it's hard to sit idly by as the worst tendencies in American politics are allowed to destroy this country unchecked by at least a modicum of critical rebuke.

Here's what Jones said in his resignation:

On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide. I have been inundated with calls -- from across the political spectrum -- urging me to "stay and fight." But I came here to fight for others, not for myself. I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. We need all hands on deck, fighting for the future.

That is the Van Jones we have come to know over the years. He is 100% committed to creating the conditions for an improvement in society. He is dedicated to progress, and solution-oriented activism. He is a team player. He knows how to follow the leader, and how to be the leader. So it makes perfect sense that he would bow out at this point.

What did he do to get in such a bind? He called Republicans names -- or one totally PG-rated name -- and he signed a petition asking for more information about the attacks of 9-11... The latter is not at all clear. There were a lot of petitions floating around during the years that followed 9-11, and many of those petitions included the title of an August 2001 CIA report titled" "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US." Who wouldn't want to know the whole story? There were questions regarding what the Bush administration knew, and when. And frankly, there still are. 9-11 was Katrina without the satellite imagery.

It could be Jones signed the wrong document. The point is this: It doesn't matter. His field of expertise had nothing to do with the questions raised by the opposition.

Last week I received an email from a colleague. He was passing along a comment from his boss, someone who has been fighting in the cold war-trench war of partisan politics since before my colleague was born. (To be fair, I was probably already in elementary school.) We had posted a satirical video about Glenn Beck with the title: "Fun Fact: Van Jones Is Not A Communist." It was clearly poking fun at the notion floated by WorldNetDaily folks that Van Jones, a pro-business, pro-jobs social enterpreneur, was a card-carrying communist. The note urged us to rethink our framing. A denial was as good as an affirmation in this media climate of factless amplification and dogmatic emotionalism. Our esteemed colleague was right.

The point was well made, and we ignored it. We didn't think Van would resign. Or most of us didn't. We didn't think the right wing natter amounted to anything. It was absurd. I knew this for a fact. My colleague's warning invoked the Nixon "I am not a crook" speech to illustrate why the satirical denial of Jones's political non-affiliation might be problematic. The more you deny, the more folks, it seems, rely on the opposite statement being true. The cynicism underlying the situation is nauseating, but a real part of daily life in American politics.

Van Jones was the best person for the job he just relinquished. He would have helped Republican lawmakers in their districts. He would have created jobs. He would have made a difference. It seems passably clear that the folks who launched the smear campaign against him knew this. They didn't care. Mutually assured distraction is the name of the game, and both sides are expert at it.

The winner? No one. The loser? First and foremost, America. Runner-up: Health care reform, a strong climate change bill, better education, and, for the GOP, the scariest thing on Earth: Obama's brighter tomorrow. Solution: stop playing games with the future of the nation?

Originally published by Air America.

Follow Beau Friedlander on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BeauFriedlander

Comments

[ObamacratInCA]

"When he graduated law school, Jones gave up plans to take a job in Washington, D.C., and moved to San Francisco instead. He got involved with Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM), a group explicitly committed to revolutionary Marxist politics whose points of unity were revolutionary democracy, revolutionary feminism, revolutionary internationalism, the central role of the working class, urban Marxism, and Third World Communism."

Van Jones had to go. This is not a sacrificial lamb to Glen Beck although he and his supporters will claim it as such. This is just good sense.

The only news about a czar that we should hear is the good news of the progress they're making. With Van Jones there was going to be a revelation every other week to undermine whatever progress he was making with green jobs and he would be the new William Ayers boogeyman to run against all Democrats in 2010.

The need for a green economy is bigger than a man who does not have enough good judgement to examine the aims of the groups he joins or the 9/11 petitions he signs.

[research]

Conservatives prey oin weakness: "This is not a sacrificial lamb to Glen Beck although he and his supporters will claim it as such. ".

"Van Jones there was going to be a revelation every other week to undermine whatever progress he was making with green jobs"

which is why you say he needed to be sacrificed.

Why didn't he just use the publicity to push his ideas and ignore the BS from the peanut gallery...

[econ1]

He was right to resign. As you point out his past would have been a constant distraction as every decision would be scrutinized on whether it was good for the US economy or was a STORM agenda item.

[research]

The distraction won't stop, don't you understand????

Conservative don't need real issues, they make them up for fun.

[research]

Good one, but it's not mutually assured destruction: The conservatives WANT to destroy democracy.

For the conservatives: Plutocracy must rule unfettered(never mind that it crashes whenever they control things),

Conseverives agenda requires that

Democracy must be:

controlled,

owned or

destroyed.

[BettyTC]

A little bit of testimony here: I was staffing a local Democratic Party booth at a county fair the end of July this past summer. A Republican gentlemen comes in to discuss health care reform. At the end of his spouting the lies about rationing and the VA care being inadequate, he ends by asking me whether I have heard of Van Jones. I said I had no idea who he was. I didn't ask why. He proceeded to tell me that this is something that is going to blow up in the President's face because this Van Jones is actually running things behind the scenes and he's a communist. Suffice it to say that the guy was a lunatic and a racist. Saying someone is a communist is a safe way for racists to call someone the n word.

[BettyTC]

Van Jones was targeted. He was easy pickings for the right wing distractors because he is ...... wait for it ...... OH MY GOD! Black and successful. Glenn Beck knows his audience.

And the word czar is used more by right wing media than the White House. Even the New York Times has picked up on the whisper campaign that by using the word czar, the administration avoids confirmation hearings. Not true. Cabinet members go before the Congress for ..... what ?..... approval?. What are they going to say? I don't like him or her? Do they approve the President's secretary or body person? This is all distraction. Good for summertime read, not for serious issues. Same old Republican playbook. Distort and Distract.

There are way too many gullible people in this country.

[Areyoume2]

I think to the hooplah, Van Jones should have expressed his conspiracy theories out loud regarding 9/11. AlQuaida HAD TO be jubilant about the extent of the damage it accomplished that day (emotional, psychological and actual). It darkened the skies, hearts and souls of the greatest nation on earth (and corralled the world into our sorrow). They NAILED IT.

Van Jones, like many many Americans, had a right (nay: obligation) to ask HOW. Being in Bush America which was joking about where to find WWDs. YEAH I'd say we ALL have the right STILL (and deserve the explanation of HOW). Rather than Van Jones having to slink away - from that lowlife trashbag Glen Beck, he should proudly demore more than a bi-partisan panel of pretenders.

HOW is it possible that the second plane had a clear path in to topple another tower. I find that inconceivable in the United States of Amerca. And asking that is not making me a birther or death panelist - it makes me an educated consumer of media milktoast ...I WONDER, is all. This guy need never be ashamed to be onboard that ship of skepticism - infact, Obama is tripping over himself trying NOT to notice all the wrongs that remain to be righted from the Bush Version of how to undermine MY/OUR AMERICA..

[mountainweb]

Get a life, we did not need a "green czar" which was nothing more than a political payoff and power grab in the first place. We need a president to get off his butt and lead the country, not divide it which is what is going on now...

[MarsAmbassador]

Why do you GOP flacks call the position a 'czar' in Obama's Administration, yet you called them 'advisers' in the Bush Administration? It's the exact same position. You know, like what Karl Rove held. And Bush had 36 of them compared to Obama's 32. Oh wait, I know, because you ignorant Repubs seem to equate the word czar with Communism. But wait, doesn't the word czar come from the word Caesar and therefore have nothing to do with Russia? And wait, didn't the Russians spell the word as 'tsar'? And what's this? The Bulgarians were the first people to actually use the term 'tsar'? And didn't the Russians themselves stopped using the term officially in the 1721 as decreed by Peter the Great, in favour of Imperator? And what's this again? The Communists overthrew the Imperial family and therefore are the OPPOSITE of what the word 'czar' represents?

Nice attempt at word association, though. All you've shown is your fear and ignorance since the day he was elected.

[deboiona]

We don't need a green czar? We didn't need a person who is dedicated to progress, and solution-oriented activism. A person who is a team player. A person willing to put his personal feelings aside and to follow the leader of our Country for the good of the people.
You boldly state "we need a president to get off his butt and lead the country" my question to you is are you willing to put aside your fears and judgments and give him someone to lead? It is unreasonable to expect the president to fix all the divisions that exsist but we can help by uniting together for the good of the country.
I look around me and see people hurting they are not concerned with who helps them they just want some one to do something other than disrespecting our president and letting fox and other networks stir up fear and encourage division. They need jobs and green jobs are the future. When we start pointing out peoples short comings we run the risk of losing the people who can help us build up america again.

[Tena]

A political payoff and power grab? That's how you see ideas about moving the country forward with a new emphasis on trying to save the climate?

We are so screwed if that's how you see progress and I think that is how the right sees progress. You just don't want any progress at all. You seem to be perfectly happy with a totally broken country, which may follow considering y'all broke it.

[allonfla]

Question? Is the Left really mad about Van Jones or are they mad because he was forced out by the Right? Is this about your ego?

Yeah, I think so. The theme has been, don't let go of Van Jones, the Right will win. And you all say it's Obama who's letting the Right take over.

[FearlessFreep]

It's about the Obama administration's weakness. It's about Obama letting an underling sink and hoping he won't be affected. It's about myopia.

[Tena]

Don't put words in my mouth.

I hate losing Van Jones because he has great ideas for moving the country forward.

[allonfla]

Sorry, there is no way you can say for a fact that Van Jones was the perfect person for that job. It does not require unique talent that can't be found elsewhere.

[FearlessFreep]

Is perfection the new job requirement?

[cvc4059]

Van Jones has ties to Color of Change organization,They pissed Murdoch off by starting a boycot of Becks program.Van Jones still has ties to Color of Change.........he no longer has to worry about the effect of his actions on the President.­.....Murdo­ch,Beck hope ya got eyes inna back of yer head

[tegrat]

Well, maybe he figured out that the Obama administration really is not on board with his goals, perish the thought. This is really a sad moment for progressives, but I can only hope that his decision is one that will yield the most fruit. I trust his judgment, and laud his work.

[who38]

If you trust his judgment, will you be leaving the Obama team as well?

[JillQ]

After Sarah Palin, I thought "quitting" is the honorable thing to do.

[Sparhawk]

it is when you unqualified. still applies here

[listeningpost]

No, it doesn't make perfect sense that he would bow out. It's another in a series of capitulations and appeasement, this time to a self admitted clown. This resignation has made Beck one of the hottest properties in conservative media, he'll never shut up now.
The White House should have given a two word answer that would have stopped the questions: "so what?" As Beau say's, these accusations have nothing to do with Jones' job description. Calling someone a communist in this day and age is ridiculous. Shoots, Palin supported a secessionist group a few years ago.
If our leadership lays down because of some name calling why should their constituents support them? They need to stop being so concerned about their media image on a day to day basis, it's like in the old west movies where the bully makes someone dance by shooting bullets around their feet.
This has got to stop.
I'd rather see Obama serve a valiant single term than try for an effectual two terms. We can't afford that.

[zanzig]

"Shoots, Palin supported a secessionist group a few years ago."

And Rick Perry still supports one now. But I think the point has been made by another blogger today that what is acceptable from the right wing, is complete anathema from the left. At least according to the right wing, and the left tamely goes along with this myth.

[Tommygun264]

When will the Democratic leadership learn? You can't get rid of a bully through appeasement. This has only emboldened the far-right radical fringe. Glenn Beck has already announce two new targets for his smear campaign and if the Obama administration refuses to relent again, these racist bullies will only escalate to violence. When a bully demands your lunch money, you don't give it to him and you don't wait for him to carry out his threat of hitting you - even if he's twice your size you get in his face and make it clear that he isn't going to hurt you without getting hurt himself. Caving in the first time only means your are going to have to fight even harder when he comes back for more.

[devadasi]

I agree. Jones should not have resigned. In the Dem party you've got the blue dogs, the centrists and the progressives. What is the President going to do.... fire the few progressives he has in his administration. Obama caved.

[Kilantra]

Van Jones is brilliant and FINE. A huge loss to the administration, but not to the country, he will
continue to give, effect change and inspire.

[pooka]

Social justice! What a concept! How dare he push something like that?

Let's hear Glenn Beck lead a cheer for Social Injustice! Go Republicans, rah, ray Republicans!

I guess you think we didn't really need those jobs--or that green energy.

[deepbluedtd]

You all deny the History of Van Jones..Beck has done Better research then all of you...Do your home work better....Van Jones goal was to "Flip the System" step by step..What is the "System" Van Jones would replace this "System" with?

[annie g]

And please tell us this "System" that Van Jones would replace with another "System". How convenient for the Right when they use freedom of speech as their talking point, yet you let a Black man do it and "high time something was done about it".
Cheney told Sen, Leahy to "f*** off", I did not see the outrage from the Right all I saw was laughter. Palin puts her "common sense" approach to health care with "death panels". Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reilly only want to bring this Administration down and do not want any person who is of color to make any changes to help America and its' people. God forbid a black person should be more educated than a white person.
It all comes down to the fact that the Right still cannot accept the fact we have a Black man as President.
And Beck does his "homework"? What homework might that be? I remember reading an article about Van Jones that stated he wanted to work within the system and not take it over. I did not hear Beck make that argument.

[who38]

Dean is gone, Jones is gone. Think Rahm and Tim will ever be gone?

[1dogmom]

I don't know Van Jones personally, and I had never heard or read of any of his views about 9/11. I did join the grassroots effort to stimulate green jobs for America which is his signature issue and which he spearheaded and organized. Why? Because Mr. Jones has the foresight to see that alternative energy and technology and jobs in those industries are the next frontier, and if the United States does not put our huge resourcefulness, entrepreneurial spirit, and work ethic behind it, China and India will be eating our lunch, just like the Japanese did with our auto industry. I read the other day in the New York Times that China is directing huge subsidies to their solar power industries. A Chinese spokesperson was quoted as saying that they are not worried about the U.S. as a competitor--they only see us as a gigantic customer. Now, thanks to the small-minded among us, our energy policy has lost this important and progressive mind.

[deepbluedtd]

Do some homework my friend before you support someone you know nothing about

[who38]

Are you talking about Jones or China? Sunday's LA Times had an article about Chinese solar water heating units that are cheap and efficient. They were a noticeable part of most urban households in the Chinese cities I visited recently.

The Times story indicated that the Chinese have been able to develop many forms of green power and have strong R&D programs in this area powered by the many US educated Chinese engineers, mathematicians, and scientists. Check out your local grad school.

BTW, what do you know first hand about 9/11 and where did you do your homework?