It’s been pointed out numerous times that Glenn Beck’s statement(s) about Van Jones being a “convicted felon” were false. It’s taken four months, but Glenn Beck has finally admitted that he was wrong – that Van Jones IS NOT a convicted felon as Beck previously stated – thus proving that Beck is a shoot first, research later and admit fault much much much later (if at a all) type of commentator.

Glenn Beck and his agent, Matthew Hiltzik, seem put ideological differences aside for the money…

Hiltzik is a Democratic PR operative that works for Beck, but also worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign, Eliot Spitzer’s 1998 attorney general campaign, and for studio head Harvey Weinstein. He also represents Katie Couric, Alec Baldwin, Annie Leibovitz and Don Imus. Matthew’s father, George Hiltzik, brokered the radio gigs of blogger Matt Drudge and Fox News host Bill O’Reilly.

The close friendship and lucrative business relationship that has developed between the 45-year-old conservative firebrand and the 37-year-old former Democratic operative shows how partisan media personalities get discovered, promoted and catapulted into the political stratosphere, even when the talent and the talent broker have opposing ideologies. But for Hiltzik’s former Democratic allies, the alliance is still mostly shocking.

It was also interesting that Matt Hiltzik considers “Democratic activist and public relations powerbroker” Ken Sunshine a mentor. Sunshine advises Color of Change and Green for All, two groups founded by Van Jones, who was repeatedly attacked by Beck.

And it’s not just Sunshine’s clients who are subject to Beck’s drubbings, it’s also his onetime mentor. The current secretary of state, for example, did not respond to calls about Hiltzik and his top client’s tirades against the Obama administration. Asked if he thought Hillary Clinton approved of his current promotion of Beck, who has called her, among other things, “the antichrist,” Hiltzik said, “She has a lot more important things to worry about.”

“Matt Hiltzik is a top professional who can’t save Glenn Beck from his vulgar, hateful ignorance,” said Robert Zimmerman, a public relations executive in New York, Democratic National Committee member and close friend of Hiltzik’s. “But he can get him extensive publicity while he goes down in flames.”

Original Story

Glenn Beck supporters are patting themselves on the back for supporting Beck’s crusade against Green Jobs adviser, Van Jones. But do people really know anything about him besides the negative things that people like Beck focused on? Keep in mind that many of the things reported (i.e. Jones arrested in Los Angeles during Rodney King riots) were lies.

In 1993 Van Jonse graduated from Yale Law School and became an attorney. He wrote the New York Times bestseller The Green Collar Economy in 2008. As a tireless advocate for disadvantaged people and the environment, Jones helped pass the Green Jobs Act, signed into law by George W. Bush, as part of the 2007 energy bill.

In addition to co-founding Color Of Change, the organization that has run a successful boycott against Glenn Beck (though he was not part of that effort), Jones has also co-founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Green For All. Included in his list of achievements, he has received many awards and honors, such as the Reebok Human Rights Award, the World Economic Forum‘s Young Global Leader designation, the Ashoka Fellowship, and many more.

Perhaps you even know Van Jones from Ebony Magazines “Power 150″ list in 2009, one of the 25 most influential African Americans in 2008 by Essence magazine, an environmental hero in 2008 by TIME Magazine and one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine in 2009.

If Glenn Beck were smart, he would have hoped Van Jones would stay sitting behind a desk. With more free time on his hands, Jones could be a major thorn in Beck’s side, especially considering Beck doesn’t have a fraction of those credentials!

John Podesta, the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, released this statement following the resignation of Van Jones:

Van Jones is an exceptional and inspired leader who has fought to bring economic and environmental justice to communities across our country.

I look forward to working with Van to move our country towards a clean energy economy that empowers and lifts up all Americans.

Original Story

Color Of Change, an organization effectively pushing sponsors away from Glenn Beck’s show for the inflammatory comments he made about President Obama, was co-founded by Van Jones. Fox News’ Glenn Beck and Fox & Friends hosts have now gone on the attack against Van Jones, who has had nothing to do with the boycott. Jones is now a White House environmental advisor who is working toward clean energy incentives and creating 21st century jobs.

Gretchen Carlson teased the upcoming segment with Glenn Beck by mentioning Van Jones having “ties to a terrorist.” This claim was never backed up, revisited, nor its source cited.

BECK: [Jones is] basically a community organizer inside the framework of our republic. That’s what’s happening. When Barack Obama said, “I am going to promise you fundamental transformation of our nation,” this is what’s happening. We are bringing community organizations and community organizers and we’re embedding them inside of the system to build a new framework. This guy in particular, and he’s not the only one, and you’ll see more tonight, this guy in particular is an avowed communist, communist!

Regardless of Van Jones’ views, he has not been with Color Of Change for two years and had nothing to do with the boycott against Glenn Beck’s advertisers. “Glenn Beck is trying to change the subject,” said James Rucker, executive director of Color of Change, “The issue is his baseless fear mongering.”

Original Story