WaPo's Howard Kurtz equates 9/11 conspiracy theorists with Holocaust deniers

[WilliamPitt]

Columbia, Md.: I have a theory on why the traditional media didn't pick up on the Van Jones issue: Jones is not a very important adviser. What's more, his views on 9/11 have NOTHING to do with environmental policy, which is his specialty.

What if he'd signed a document saying he believed in UFOs or ghosts? I know a lot of very smart people who believe in both, but I wouldn't fire them from their job unless their job had something to do with UFOs or ghosts.

Why call for Jones' resignation when he's not advising on national security issues? I understand why Beck latched onto the story. Beck can't stand anyone who has views that differ from him. But I think the traditional media did a good job by staying away. Jones was a not-very-important adviser on a topic (environment) that has nothing to do with 9/11 theories. I think it's too bad Jones felt he had to resign. If Jones advised on national security issues, I would see a basis of controversy.

: Jones was a rather obscure administration official (although The Washington Post did do a story about his work), although his area of expertise -- creating "green" jobs -- is an Obama priority. But I'm not sure you can so neatly put the controversy in a separate box. If a White House official of any kind signs a 9/11 "truther" petition, then the administration is going to be asked whether those views are acceptable.

Imagine that a mid-level energy adviser in the Bush White House was found to have signed a document calling the Holocaust a hoax. Would the media, or anyone else, have accepted the explanation that this didn't matter because he had nothing to do with foreign policy?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/09/10/DI2009091003404.html

[AntiFascist]

1. The marginalization of the 'truther' movement is complete....

or is it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=267640&mesg_id=267640

New Yorkers to Vote on City 911 Commission in November

[Bolo Boffin]

2. Holocaust denial is much more offensive than the questions Jones was supposed to have endorsed

There are some elements of 9/11 Truth that are that offensive, and you can usually find actual Holocaust deniers spouting those kinds of theories. But the kind of stuff Jones was said to have endorsed (something he denied) wasn't up to that level.

[jakeXT]

3. He sounds like he is upset with the process of filtering people out

In the Jones case, there is little question that the traditional media botched the story of an Obama administration official who, wittingly or otherwise, lent his name to those who believe that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney deliberately allowed thousands of Americans to be slaughtered. Some conservatives accused journalists of liberal bias; it is just as likely that their radar malfunctioned, or that they collectively dismissed Beck as a rabble-rouser.

New York Times Managing Editor Jill Abramson told readers online that the paper was "a beat behind on this story" and that while the Washington bureau was short-staffed during a holiday week, "we should have been paying closer attention."

The followup news pieces focused on the administration's failure to vet Jones's background. Perhaps the media bloodhounds should be just as curious why they failed to sniff out a story that ended with a White House resignation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/14/AR2009091400790_pf.html

Oligarch Daily, whatever

[LARED]

4. I have my doubts that Van Jones stepped down becasue of

his 9/11 CT connection. I think this is a red herring promoted by the Obama administration because Jones past rhetoric was becoming a major liability. Jone's views may be well accepted on DU but to the general population his views are the embodiment of every right wing loonies worst view of Obama. ie Marxist, Socialist, Commie, etc.

[dflprincess]

5. Jones supposedly signed a petition asking for a new invesitgation

From what I've read, that's all he did. I haven't heard that he made any comments about LIHOP or MIHOP or espoused any of his own theories. Enough residents of NYC have signed a petition asking for a new investigation that it may be the city's ballot this fall.

The petition effort was led by NYCCAN (New York City Coaliton for Accountability Now) a group made up of first responders, survivors, and family members of victims. I think it is insulting to compare anyone who has questions about the official story, and especially the people most affected by 9/11, to Holocaust deniers.

http://nyccan.org/

NYC CAN
The New York City Coalition for Accountability Now has come together to lead a disciplined and patriotic search for answers about September 11th toward one tangible goal: the creation of an independent and impartial subpoena powered investigation into the September 11th attacks on our great nation.

The 9/11 Commission?
“Set Up To Fail”, in the words of its Chairmen, Governor Thomas Kean and Representative Lee Hamilton. That's why 66% of New Yorkers want a new investigation. On November 3, 2009, we will go to the polls to vote for answers to the unanswered questions and for solutions to the illnesses afflicting thousands of first responders and NYC residents.

America Deserves Better
Honor our country and all she stands for by raising your voice in support of an investigation that answers to nothing and to no one but evidence and fact wherever they may lead. Join the families, first responders and survivors of September 11th and millions of proud citizens in support of the principles and the freedom for which our forefathers fought and died.

[Bolo Boffin]

6. The NYCCAN petition will not be on the ballot

due to several insurmountable problems with the referendum as written. It's a monumental waste of time.

[jakeXT]

7. It was Krauthammer with the Holocaust

The Van Jones Matter

...


Unlike the other stuff (see above), this is no trivial matter. It's beyond radicalism, beyond partisanship. It takes us into the realm of political psychosis, a malignant paranoia that, unlike the Marxist posturing, is not amusing. It's dangerous. In America, movements and parties are required to police their extremes. Bill Buckley did that with Birchers. Liberals need to do that with "truthers."

You can no more have a truther in the White House than you can have a Holocaust denier -- a person who creates a hallucinatory alternative reality in the service of a fathomless malice.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091003408.html