UCLA study disproves Van Jones' green jobs fantasy

Former green jobs czar and self-proclaimed communist Van Jones has been telling anyone who will listen that the economy must be rebuilt on green jobs. Not so much, says a new study by UCLA.

Much-hyped green jobs are unlikely to give a big lift to California's employment numbers, which are expected to remain weak throughout the year as the state muddles through a modest recovery, according to an economic forecast released Wednesday.

The quarterly Anderson Forecast from the University of California, Los Angeles said the state's abundance of universities and research labs, along with its dominance as a magnet for tech-focused venture capital, have positioned it to lead the country in environmentally minded industries.

But there's no sign that demand for solar-panel installers, wind-farm workers and other green positions will be strong enough to drive California's unemployment rate below the national average, the forecast said.

"As we look at the hype around 'green is going to drive the economy,' the fact is, not really," Jerry Nickelsburg, author of the forecast, said in an interview.

The study goes on to say that investment rather than environmentalism will get California's economy chugging again. California is one of the most progressive states in America and has spent millions on green jobs and alternative energy sources. Van Jones has yet to comment on the study.

Confirmed: ObamaCare will destroy jobs, raise premiums

Today we confirmed what most people have suspected for a long time: If passed, ObamaCare will take a wrecking ball to the economy. Two different studies came out today that show just how much economic wreckage there would be.

The first, conducted by Americans for Tax Reform and the Beacon Hill Institute of Suffolk University, technically hasn't been released yet, but the blog Hot Air got a sneak peek. Nancy Pelosi has been going around telling people that health care reform could create up to four million new jobs over the next ten years. That figure comes from a "study" done by the Center for American Progress. ATR and BHI went back and used the exact same methods that CAP used. They came to a very different conclusion: up to 700,000 jobs will be lost thanks to health care reform by 2019.

Using the CAP methodology, we find that the bill would destroy a total of 120,000 to 700,000 jobs by 2019, a far cry from the number suggested by leading advocates.

CAP’s claim about job creation rests on its assumption that various developments ensuing from passage of the bill – upgrades in medical technology, the promotion of preventive care and the reduction in administrative costs – would save $683 billion over ten‐years and thus set in motion new incentives for firms to create jobs. The trouble is that the claimed costs savings are at odds with estimates from both Congress and the Executive Branch, which, together, are responsible for considering and ultimately implementing the legislation.

There is no evidence that the projected savings proposed by the Obama administration, particularly in areas such as preventive care, would ever materialize. The literature cited by proponents is speculative at best. Also, there is no guarantee that the administration would be successful in lowering insurance premiums while expanding coverage, without limiting access to health care.

In other words, the Center for American Progress cooked the books. CAP is a progressive think tank founded by John Podesta that is often said to be in cahoots with the Obama Administration. According to Time magazine, "Just as candidate Obama depended on CAP during the campaign for opposition research and talking points, [then-] President-elect Obama has effectively contracted out the management of his own government's formation to [CAP President John] Podesta." CAP also employs former green jobs czar Van Jones.

The second bit of bad news involves premiums. Obama has been repeatedly declaring that his health care plan will bring premiums down. He's made two different claims: that rates will drop by as much as 20% and that employer-based insurance premiums for the employer would decrease by up to $3,000.

The Associated Press found both of these to be lies. The first claim is easily disproved by the Congressional Budget Office, which stated in its report that the average insurance-buyer would see premiums increase by 10% to 13% under ObamaCare. The second claim stems from a study by the Business Roundtable which found that health care reform in general could lower employer premiums by $3,000. But it didn't examine the current legislation being considered at all. According to the Congressional Budget Office -- arguably a more trustworthy source than the Business Roundtable -- employer premiums under ObamaCare would fall maybe 3%, an almost negligible amount. And that would do nothing to offset the far larger increases for the individual insurance purchaser.

Gillibrand and Van Jones: Together at last

They'd make quite the couple, you have to admit. They're both young and attractive. Jones is a communist radical trying to convince normal people that he's more sane than he lets on. Gillibrand is a normal person trying to convince communist radicals that she's more insane than she actually is. Very complementary.

Flanked by forced-out former green jobs czar Van Jones, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Monday that creating new jobs in green industries presents the "greatest market opportunity of our generation."

Comparing the call to create "green jobs" to former President John F. Kennedy's call for landing a man on the Moon, Gillibrand said at a forum that the nation needs to act in order to inspire the next generation of scientists.

...

While the U.S. dithers, other countries are aggressively moving ahead. Gillibrand noted that China invested $440 billion last year in green technology such as solar panels."

Harold Ford was right when he pointed out that Gillibrand is just parroting what progressives tell her to say. The former tobacco lawyer is the newest tool of the Obama-inspired radical left. If she'd done her research, she might have noticed that the Spanish tried to implement a massive green jobs program and lost three jobs for every one they created. That must not have been in the Working Families Party talking points memo.

MSNBC covers up Van Jones video

The fine folks at Newsbusters uncovered that transcript we posted earlier where Van Jones called Iraq human shields "heroes". But as they pointed out, and as we confirmed, MSNBC has doggedly refused to post the video. We e-mailed MSNBC as well to no avail. The video would give real life to Jones' comments, much more than a print transcript can do.

So why is MSNBC covering it up? It could be because they're a progressive network. It could be because Jones' interviewer, Dan Abrams, left MSNBC and now runs a media critic website. Or it could be because MSNBC is owned by General Electric, whose CEO Jeffrey Immelt is a huge Obama supporter and sits on Obama's Federal Reserve. Video footage of one of Obama's hires praising traitors would certainly be damaging to the president. And Immelt wouldn't want that, would he?

Van Jones thinks treasonous Iraq war traitors are "heroes"

Van Jones is on a roll. He's already started a group hell-bent on overthrowing the United States government, declared himself to be a communist, befriended a former Weatherman terrorist, called Republicans ass****s, and accused the Bush administration of perpetrating 9/11. Now we've learned he cast his lot in with traitors during the Iraq war.

In 2003, a band of left-wing nuts headed to Iraq to be "human shields" -- place themselves in front of Iraqi schools and hospitals so the United States would think twice about bombing. They introduced themselves to Saddam Hussein's government which took them in. Van Jones went on MSNBC (where else?) to discuss the problem with Dan Abrams.

DAN ABRAMS: If Saddam Hussein uses human shields and he’s captured alive, he’s going to be tried as a war criminal, as will anyone who works with him in that effort. The question we’re asking here is, what about these Americans, these Europeans who are sending over these American and European human shields?

VAN JONES: They’re heroes.

DAN ABRAMS: Could that — well, all right.

VAN JONES: They’re not criminals, they’re heroes.

DAN ABRAMS: All right, Van, before I even get to the intro, Van Jones is jumping in, describing them as heroes.

VAN JONES: They’re not criminals, they’re heroes.

DAN ABRAMS: All right, Van, before I even get to the intro, Van Jones is jumping in, describing them as heroes.

No they were traitors, quite literally giving "aid and comfort to the enemy." This is the man Barack Obama hired as his green jobs czar, the Center for American Progress hired after that didn't work out, and the NAACP called "an American treasure."

In the end, even the human shield losers were smarter than Van Jones. After meeting with the Iraqi government, the group bolted for the border, complaining that Iraqi officials wanted to post them at strategic targets, such as power plans and oil refineries, instead of more humanitarian locations. What a surprise. These are Obama's and Jones' true heroes: those who talk big about humanitarianism and then cut and run.

Van Jones: I'm baaaaaaack part 2

It must be nice to be a progressive. You can spout the most radical claptrap and do the most horrible things, and still be taken care of. Take Obama's former green jobs czar Van Jones. Jones resigned from his position last year after it was revealed he started a group dedicated to overthrowing the government, called himself a Marxist and a rowdy black nationalist, spewed communist rhetoric on a regular basis, went to prison, called Republicans "ass----s," and signed a petition that accused George W. Bush of planning the 9/11 attacks. Someone like that should be out on the street corner panhandling for change, right?

Not Jones. He's headed back to his old job at the Center for American Progress, a George Soros-funded liberal think tank. CAP is basically a revolving door for the Obama administration. Dozens of Obama's appointees and talking points have come from CAP. Time magazine reported, "[N]ot since the Heritage Foundation helped guide Ronald Reagan's transition in 1981 has a single outside group held so much sway. Just as candidate Obama depended on CAP during the campaign for opposition research and talking points, [then-] President-elect Obama has effectively contracted out the management of his own government's formation to [CAP President John] Podesta." So Jones will still be influencing the Obama Administration, just from the outside rather than the inside.

In fact, Jones' future is looking very bright. He'll start teaching at Princeton in June and will be awarded the NAACP's President's Award this Friday. In fact, Benjamin Todd Jealous, the white NAACP president, goes as far as to call Jones "An American treasure" and "the most misunderstood man in America". Yep, it's great to be a progressive.

Gillibrand calls in a favor from Obama

ObamaWatchNews has been carefully following Kirsten Gillibrand, Democratic senator from New York. As we've reported, she's transformed from a moderate Democrat to a progressive liberal in the mold of Obama. Gillibrand recently spoke on a panel with Van Jones, was one of a few votes against defunding ACORN, and sought out the endorsement of New York City's radical ACORN affiliate the Working Families Party. She's worked out a pretty sweet deal for herself. She defends the interests of the radical left to the hilt, and the radical left supports her with money and endorsements. This includes the ultimate radical ACORN leftist, Barack Obama.

Gillibrand is facing a potential primary threat from moderate Democrat Harold Ford this year. Enter Obama's political hack David Plouffe.

"Asked if there is a danger of a primary, especially with Ford, David Plouffe told NY1's Josh Robin, 'Well, we'll see. He'll let us know what he's gonna do. What we need to focus on is Sen. Gillibrand's, I think, record of accomplishment and her vision.'

Reverting back to elements of her political pedigree that were cited last year in why Paterson chose her, Plouffe added, 'I also happen to think she's a very, very strong candidate. She's run, and won, in a very very tough part of New York for Democrats.'

'I think she'd be a terrific candidate for us in the fall. So for two reasons. I think she is the best person to represent New York and help us build the strong economy we need for the future, and secondly, I think she'll be our strongest candidate.'"

Presidents usually stand above primary elections. But with an ACORN ally and Van Jones defender on the line, it looks like Obama has made his first political endorsement for 2010.

Van Jones: I'm baaaaaaack

You would think that Barack Obama's buddy and former green jobs czar Van Jones would know when to retire in disgrace. But despite Jones' insanity, he keeps popping up at left-wing organizations who are happy to host him. (It must be nice to be a liberal.) He also works at a popular environmental group called the Apollo Alliance.

Jones' most recent invitation comes from the Harvard Club for an event in New York City to discuss job creation. Sen. Kristin Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) will also be speaking on the panel. Gillibrand is what passes in New York for a "moderate Democrat," meaning she was a sponsor of Card Check legislation and was one of seven senators to vote against defunding ACORN. She defended herself by saying, "Irrespective of what Glenn Beck says, Van Jones is a national expert on creating good-paying jobs in emerging renewable energy markets."

This is the equivalent of declaring, "Irrespective of what Keith Olbermann says, David Duke is a national expert on the history of the American South." Jones is an avowed Marxist who served in an organization seeking to overthrow the government and who believes George W. Bush caused 9/11. He isn't an expert in anything because there's no such thing as "green jobs". No one knows how to create them or even what the hell they are exactly. Jones is nothing more than a radical friend of Obama's who likes to talk, and Gillibrand ought to be ashamed to share the stage with him.