Government

Is Van Jones ‘Rebuild the Dream’ Book a Blueprint for the ‘99% Spring?’

Is Van Jones Rebuild the Dream Book a Blueprint for the 99% Spring?Reflecting on his brief but pivotal stint at the White House and even delving into the media onslaught he claims was waged against him by Glenn Beck, former Obama administration green jobs czar, Van Jones, has released a memoir entitled, “Rebuild the Dream.“ Named after his ”progressive Tea Party,” the book reflects on Jones’ “journey from grassroots outsider to White House insider” and appears to lay out a blueprint for his upcoming “99% Spring” uprising.

Rebuild the Dream also claims to give readers insight into why Jones “chose to resign as special adviser to the Obama White House.” Or, as Jones put it, why he was forced to resign from the White House after Glenn Beck “and his minions” launched a “jihad” against him. This, Jones said, was in retaliation for the successful media boycott his group, “Color of Change,“ engineered to ”rid the national air-waves of Beck” by obliterating the media figure’s advertising base on the Fox News network.

Ousted from the White House

Of the incident, Jones writes, ”Color of Change’s crusade to rid the national air-waves of Beck was destined to become one of the most successful pushes for an advertiser boycott in the history of the American media.“ He adds ”hundreds of top national advertisers deserted the show and never came back.”

He continues:

“Fox News could make very little money on the highly watched program — because only marginal companies were willing to risk being associated with Beck. To retaliate, Beck launched a jihad… I was an easy target. Beck and his minions could dig up a photo of me in my angry young man phase, with my dreadlocks and combat boots and Black Panther book bag. They could prove that I’d studied Marxism. They could find a more recent video in which I had used vulgarity to describe the GOP…”

But in addition to those historical truths Beck and his “minions” were able to unearth during their “jihad,“ Jones asserts that they also simply ”made stuff up“ and that ”nutty” Beck’s “lies and libels were endless.” He maintains throughout the book that he had not signed a petition calling the September 11 attacks an inside U.S. government conspiracy, but that regardless of the truth, the scrutiny eventually pushed him from the White House.

Downtrodden by the event, Jones wroties it was not until he was inspired by Al Gore’s example that he was able to move on.

Van Jones and the 99% Spring

But while such story-lines may lend the narrative a modicum of drama and entertainment value, Van Jones’ book might in fact serve a grander purpose — namely as road-map for participants in his upcoming “99% Spring” revolution.

Bear in mind Rebuild the Dream promises to deliver to readers “a powerful game plan to restore hope, fix our democracy and renew the American Dream” — all similar platitudes espoused by Jones on a near-regular basis since launching his progressive movement and its “Contract to Rebuild the American Dream.” As it happens, Jones is in fact one of the prime movers behind an upcoming “American Spring.”

It is when taking into account these very puzzle pieces combined with Jones’ book, that a picture begins to form — one where Jones may very well see himself as a revolutionary, leading a newly-formed American uprising.

The movement, which promises to “rise up” and  “reshape” the country through non-violent action “in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi,” sounds as if it was crafted from the very pages of Jones’ book, Rebuild the Dream. Take, for instance, the following passage from the 99% Spring website:

Every day, the American Dream seems a little farther away. More of our grandparents are being thrown from their homes. Our mothers and fathers can’t retire because their pension funds tanked. Our brothers and sisters are burdened by student loan debt. For our children, budget cuts have resulted in crumbling schools, skyrocketing class sizes, and teachers being denied the supports they need to do their best. Our friends and family are being denied collective bargaining rights in their workplaces and are falling further and further behind. Our neighbors are being poisoned by pollution in our air and water.

The site goes on to write that the above scenario occurred by no accident, but rather was a direct “result of rampant greed—the deliberate manipulation of our democracy and our economy by a tiny minority in the 1%, by those who amass ever more wealth and power at our expense”:

We are at a crossroads as a country. We have a choice to make. Greater wealth for a few or opportunity for many. Tax breaks for the richest or a fair shot for the rest of us. A government that can be bought by the highest bidder, or a democracy that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Sound familiar? Even more strikingly, the introduction to Jones’ book begins with the title: ”Rebuild the Dream for the 99%.“ He goes on to state that it will ”take a movement“ comprising ”millions of people“ to ”rescue and renew“ this dream and that this dream can only be realized if done so in the spirit of ”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

Not coincidentally, it should perhaps also be noted Jones’ book was released on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination.

Glenn Beck discussed the 99% Spring and Van Jones’ return in detail back in February:

As the first Obama official to release a book, Jones memoir appears to express some disillusionment with the administration, hinting it will provide readers with an explanation as to why  the 2008 “‘hope’ bubble burst.“ Jones also promises to reveal ”the seven biggest mistakes made by the White House and its supporters.”

But other excerpts from the book description reveal a familiar narrative — one where Main Street “plays by the rules” yet “cannot succeed” while “the worst of Wall Street break every rule, but cannot fail.” The book jacket adds:

He explores the origin and fate of the movements that helped to elect President Obama, as well as those that have challenged and shaped his presidency. Along the way, Jones systematically reveals surprising parallels between Obama’s people-powered campaign, the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street. [...] At this pivotal moment, Jones argues that we must make our economy respect the 99% and work for the 100%, not just the 1%.

Ideas inspired by “progressive values”

Passages of the book relive moments Jones shared with his father, described as a “by the boot-strap” school principal who escaped southern segregation by joining the U.S. military in a law enforcement capacity and who later went on to put himself through college. Jones benefited from his parents’ tenacity and propensity for higher learning, subsequently earning entry into one of the nation’s most prestigious educational institutions, Yale University.

But Yale was not the experience Jones had imagined it would be — at least according to his account. There, he claims he witnessed injustices perpetrated against “inner-city” kids while those who hailed from affluent backgrounds were essential given a free pass. It was then, he wrote, that a “rage” within him began to boil over.

That reveals a turning point in Jones’ life that would shape his political and social justice aspirations forevermore.

But perhaps one of the most telling aspect of Jones’ book is outlined in its vow to propose “bold ideas” inspired “by the progressive values that made the twentieth century the ‘American Century.’”

If you have been following “The Glenn Beck program” closely over the last month, this theme will likely ring familiar, as Beck has explored in depth the roots and current trajectory of the progressive movement and its purported value-system. Based on Jones’ belief that “progressive values” made the twentieth century great, this seems a key element of the leftist-agenda and one worth noting.

Influenced by the Tea Party

In his book, Jones maintains that the president — any president — walks a political “tightrope.” If moved either too far to the left or right, he or she will lose balance and succumb to the “political laws of gravity.” It is in this tightrope metaphor, Jones posits, that the “genius” of the Tea Party is revealed.

He asserts that the Tea Party did not try to “move the tightrope walker” but instead “moved the tightrope itself.” It is not difficult to guess in which direction Jones surmises that move took place. Countering this upheaval is the Occupy movement, which, according to Jones returned the tightrope to its former place — but still needs to keep moving.

That‘s echoed in the way the first section of Jones’ book is divided: three parts tracing the evolution of recent political movements. In the first part, Jones examines the political movements that “ultimately coalesced” around Barack Obama in 2007 and 2008. “I analyze the success and setbacks of both the Obama administration and grassroots movements seeking change,” Jones writes. He then claims he will answer the following questions: “What can Americans who want to fix the system learn” from “hope and change” and what can be learned “from its collapse after he [Obama] entered the White House.”

Part two examines “the rise and triumph” of the Tea Party movement in 2009 and 2010 and asks what progressives can learn from the Tea Party’s “equally impressive capture of the national debate …and its successful pivot to electoral politics in 2010.”

Part three discusses the emergence of Occupy Wall Street and the “99%” and what it can do over the long-term to achieve its ultimate goal.

It seems then, in keeping true to his claim that Rebuild the Dream is a “progressive Tea Party,” Jones gleans lessons from the Libertarian-leaning movement in order to instruct the rise of the 99% Spring. In essence, he wishes for progressives to emulate the Tea Party model to gain entry in electoral politics and to do so in an even more successful way than conservatives have done.

The second section of the book introduces a framework for studying narratives which underscore “the role of villains, threats, heroes, vision and patriotism” in moving American public life forward. It also discusses the “novel application of the swarm theory” to the Obama “phenomenon,” the Tea Party and the Occupy movement.

But in addressing the “swarm theory,” or swarm intelligence, Jones may be disparaging the very people he seeks his own movement to emulate. Swarm theory is an organic phenomenon that gives creatures that do not possess individual intelligence the ability to thrive through a “collective” reaction to stimuli. This behavior is what gives ant colonies the ability to carry out its daily functions in what seems such a clever way. It seems Jones might consider activists ineffective on their own, but en masse, a force with which to reckoned.

The final section of the book explores pathways toward creating a movement “powerful enough to rescue the 99%.”

Cheap patriots versus deep patriots 

Another noteworthy entry in Jones’ new book is a section dedicated to what he calls “cheap patriots versus deep patriots.”

The “cheap” patriots, in this instance, are likely the Tea Party, which Jones accuses of taking a “wrecking ball to America’s government.” He adds that the Tea Party’s “reckless policies ” will financially “decimate” the country.

“The cheap patriots seem to despise most of the American people, hate America’s achievements and fear America’s government. So how come those people get to be called patriots—but not us?” Jones asks.

“A movement of the 99 percent for the 100 percent—powered by a deep love of working people and laying claim the best of our nation’s values—could yet transform our nation.”

Inviting the 99% to join forces with Rebuild the Dream

In an interview with Democracy now, the former green jobs czar discussed the role Occupy Wall Street should play in aiding President Obama’s reelection. He also defended his Rebuild the Dream movement claiming it is not trying to co-opt the Occupy movement but rather invite the “99%” to join forces:

 

“Occupy saved the country from destruction”

But clues on Jones’ 99% Spring intentions have been mounting for months. Just recently while in Los Angeles, Jones reinforced his pro-Occupy narrative by stating members of the 99% actually “saved the entire country from destruction.”

“[The] Occupy movement pretty much saved the entire country from destruction,” he said.

“Both political parties were barreling toward more austerity, more cutbacks, more pain for the people and more — basically both political parties had managed to converge on this idea of basically no rules for the rich, no rights for the poor, no middle class to speak of. That was basically the agenda, the question was just how much pain how fast.”

He then credited Occupy Wall Street for prompting “even Republicans” to take pause and “talk about income inequality.”

“The American nightmare”

Indeed, Jones has been making his media rounds. On March 21, The Blaze’s Becket Adams reported on a visit the former self-proclaimed Marxist paid to a rally in Hawaii where he focused on tearing down “the American fantasy,” which, according to Jones is where everyone “is going to be rich.”

“Everybody. And we’re all going to be able to ride out to the great white suburbs, get a McMansion, get flat-screened TV to cover up the holes in our lives,” he said.

“That is the American fantasy, which is turning out to be the American nightmare. It is dying out on its own accord – it deserves no defense and it will get no defense. I am glad that is going away. That was not serving anybody.”

Finally, Jones talked about the 99% Spring at the “All in for the 99%” rally in Los Angeles on March 31:

 

So has Van Jones gone from merely a charismatic activist to becoming a prime architect of an all-out American uprising? Is his book, “Rebuild the Dream,” a blueprint for the upcoming 99% Spring that Jones along with unions, communists, progressives and Occupiers alike have been promising? A review of Jones’ history and recent public addresses combined with the telling content for his book just may indicate the answer.

 

Comments (61)

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  • mountainmover101
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:25pm

    The more press this moron gets the happier he is. Way to go Blaze! The OWS spring may not go the way they want. My grandmother used to say wanting and having are completely different things.

    Report Post »  
    • Unix
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:39pm

      I have to laugh! Bring on your ‘revolution’ Jones, I can’t wait for it and you to make that mistake. i compare you to a hurricane, violent and unpredictable! Make your move and it will be your last mistake, because we know it won’t be peaceful, your words wring hollow, and may your ‘revolution’ twist in the wind! You are a liar and a rabble rousing troublemaker of epic proportions. Bring it on!

      Report Post » Unix  
    • Berbel73
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:33pm

      What?! So you’d rather that we just ignore this man and his agenda for destroying our republic and the capitalist system? Oh no, no, no, I think not. This man and those like him are the greatest threat our country has faced since the cold war. In fact it may just be the greatest threat to the western way of life that we have ever faced! The enemies we now face have infiltrated the highest levels of the government, all levels of our education system from pre-k through grad school, they have the support of most of the major media outlets, and of course the leadership of the biggest workers unions in the country including public employee unions! If you don’t care about that then might I suggest that you stop visiting this website and go back to watching dancing with the stars and remain blissfully ignorant. The rest of us will continue to be vigilant and take serious ALL those who would like to rob us of our freedoms and liberties no matter how insignificant that they might appear to be.

      Report Post »  
    • marhee9
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:59pm

      His dream is our nightmare. It’s not about “rebuilding” the dream, it’s about “destroying” the American dream……period! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW9-6m6dKZw Check out this awesome video that shows what happens if this war on capitalism ever succeeds.

      Report Post »  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:24am

      Vannie Jones on SoleaDud O’brien pushing his book today.
      ANOTHER REASON NOT TO WATCH CNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      OMG 2012

      Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:01pm

      Does this guy actually think no one is listening and preparing? Oh, I guess when you have your comrades in the highest position in the WH you get to feelin’ a little cocky.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:14pm

    .
    This African needs to take his message to a Klan Rally……………

    If he can convince them, I’m in…………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:13pm

    TRANSLATION

    Van Jones says: “The cheap patriots seem to despise most of the American people, hate America’s achievements and fear America’s government. So how come those people get to be called patriots—but not us?” Jones asks.”

    TO BE READ THIS WAY

    “The Tea Party is just racist white people who forgot that whites are now a minority group. They hate that Progressives have transformed America closer to the Communist ideal. But hey, I’ll wrap myself in a flag for a few years if by doing that it ultimately spells success for my radical mission to destroy Capitalism and the Constitution. I’ll just do it while proclaiming myself a patriot!”

    Van Jones – we see right through you.

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • Winterboarder
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:06pm

    That is exactly what it is, just wait until May when students get out of college. What do you think is going to happen? OWS in full force backed by gullible students and unions will disrupt US cities with violence warranting martial law enforcement. Legislating tyranny 101.

    Report Post »  
  • Soquel by the Creek
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:56pm

    Van Jones said: “Beck and his minions could dig up a photo of me in my angry young man phase, with my dreadlocks and combat boots and Black Panther book bag.”

    Apparently, Van Jones’ “angry young man phase” lasted at least through January 2011. Sure, he decided to “forgo the cheap satisfaction of the radical pose for the deep satisfaction of radical ends” and now dresses in tailored suits and speaks extremely well. He spoke at a conference held by Common Cause California, a group whose efforts I support at political reform in California. Now listen to Van Jones’ words and his divisive speech. Who is the “They” that he speaks about that supposedly “assassinated hope in America”?

    http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2011/02/van-jones-is-source-for-koch-plantation.html

    Van Jones is a political chameleon.

    Report Post » Soquel by the Creek  
  • IndyGuy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:49pm

    Knowing the people that follow Van Jones…I‘m guessin’ the book has no words with multiple syllables…

    Report Post » IndyGuy  
  • crazyoz
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:36pm

    Anybody who buys the idiots book is retarded.

    Report Post »  
    • gooeylewie
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:53pm

      no, we should buy it and keep it as record.
      or better yet – make/find digital copies for all so that he will not be involved in the Capitalist system.

      profits are bad you know….

      Report Post »  
    • rambosharley
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:03pm

      It’s nothing but a bunch of commie talk!

      Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:36pm

    But in addition to those historical truths Beck and his “minions” were able to unearth during their “jihad,“ Jones asserts that they also simply ”made stuff up“ and that ”nutty” Beck’s “lies and libels were endless.”
    ———————————————————————–
    Since it is very hard to find out everything about someone, I suspect what Beck found out about Van Jones is just the tip of the iceberg.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:35pm

    banhones, this is GOD speaking: “You are getting’ ready to be in a ________ load of trouble here, son, if you don’t take a deep breath and remember WHO made you and WHO it is WHO can take you out. you are a heartbeat away from meeting ME face to face, and unless you clean up that arrogant act of yours, you are not goin’ to enjoy your `Come to JESUS meeting’.”

    Report Post »  
  • Sharon Rose
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:29pm

    Stop giving this commie any more exposure, he needs to leave the USA

    Report Post »  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:24pm

    Sorry Van my war makeing sure every American knows by November that Obama his idology is supponsored and supported by communists is on…http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/01/us-communist-leader-urges-unification-with-democratic-party/

    Report Post » Thevoice  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:21pm

    Hey Van, keep your dream of getting everyone on welfare….. And stick it far up your a$$

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:11pm

    Oh hell! If they want a war just bring it on. I for one am tired of the Ayers, Dorn, Pivens, Jones, etc,.self serving rhetoric.

    These stupid, ignorant, self important people are really getting on my last nerve.

    Report Post »  
  • so3
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:07pm

    Anyone of you know what the Mau Mau rebellion was? Of course you don’t, and don’t cheat googling it. Perhaps this is the ‘Facing Mt Kenya’ of our time and country. See Glenn, I can do this all day…

    Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:17pm

      Ommm Pa Pa

      What’s your point??

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • so3
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:41pm

      13th, you clearly have no idea what I am talking about. Go read up some on these topics: English Colonialism in East Africa, Jomo Kenyatta, Facing Mt Kenya, Mau Mau rebellion. And this has nothing to do with the ridiculous ‘birther’ stuff. When you see what happened then and the rhetoric that was used and see what is happening now, you’ll get the point. To add to this, Van Jones could be the Dedan Kimathi of this whole 99% operation. Once you know who he was, in reference to the Mau Mau, you’ll get the point. Now, what does this have to do with Obama? His father was a product of Colonial East Africa politics and lived during these times of which I speak. Whether 1st degree or not, Obama‘s father was a big influence on Obama’s outlook. Think about it.

      Report Post »  
  • so3
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:05pm

    What’s the capital A for? Let’s break it down Glenn Beck Style: It’s Red – Communist style color, It’s got a star in it – another communist symbol and the A itself could be either Anarchy or a ‘remade’ A for America (red and star=communist). How’d I do? Glenn should hire me for the show, I can do this type of stuff all day….

    Report Post »  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:19pm

      Current Tv has a recent job opening. I am sure you would fit right in…

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
    • so3
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:43pm

      What are you inferring Sue? that I am a leftie? I am so far right, I couldn’t make the left turn INTO Current TV. Explain yourself.

      Report Post »  
    • Nobummer
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:07pm

      Taxpayer funding dried up, so they left off the two S’s and holes suffix. Red, single star…new America. Maybe someone should have asked what he meant by hope and change.

      Report Post »  
  • Sue Dohnim
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:38pm

    The Progressive playbook..

    Create or exacerbate a crisis (destroy the “American Dream”)

    Blame your ideological opponent

    Offer Utopian solutions which are empty promises which fail and result in a greater crisis

    Blame your ideological opponent

    Offer Utopian solutions which are empty promises which fail and result in a greater crisis

    …

    Progressivism is an ideological Ponzi scheme.It requires ever increasing and expanding Lies and Deception.

    Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
  • Akbarjonnie Shaheed
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:36pm

    Wishing all your dreams to be wet! “The People” are tired of the lies and stepping in the OS.
    The ending days of the distorted minds are near. Your cover has been blown.
    De Oppresso Liber

    Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:24pm

    The history of the world is full of epitaphs of over reaching communists.
    Once relagated to the dustbin of failed ‘socialism’ their meanings are quite forgettable.
    There is no hope and change.
    There is only a constitution beloved by “We the People”….who produce, pay our income taxes, protect our traditions and follow our faith while protecting our families from the intrusion of the federal government.
    There is nothing else nor will there be from now on.
    Thank you for that Jones, Jarrett, Holder and Obama

    Report Post »  
    • Sirfoldallot
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:38pm

      Doesn’t he own the company of ” Pork & Beans and Beanneis & Wennies ” ?

      Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
  • momprayn
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:23pm

    Reminds me of what I read at Breitbart site about the background past re him and Valerie Jarrett. Beyond evil. Hope everyone checks out that site and the World Net Daily (www.wnd.com) one re Sheriff Arpaio’s expansion of his investigations into the illegalities in the 2008 elections.

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:13pm

      World Net Daily and the good Sheriff are nothing more than racists and bigots. Van Jones is just another boogey man Beck uses to keep his ignorant base mad and paranoid. Instead of debating issues ,Beck creates monsters for gut reactions.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 2:41pm

      @Encinumb
      You just served your “gut reaction.”

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:21pm

    Me thinks he doth “project” too much…..

    Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • HKS
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:14pm

    I think he’s just doing capitalism in disguise, his base should be pissed as he get‘s rich and they’re starving in the heat,cold and misery of the demonstration lines. He’s a one percent-er and the idiots following him can’t even see it.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:41pm

      Dumb aren’t they … but then again who else would go squat in their own dirt.

      Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:09pm

    too bad occupy you do nothing but cause trouble. some dems are even turned off by your pathetic attempt at a movement. anyone see the judicial watch story about obama’s uncle getting a new drivers license after his dui? you should read it.

    Report Post »  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:09pm

    Van states that he was ‘inspired’ by Al Gore…soooo, a hypocritcal delusional liar, Karl Marx and Chairman Mao are this maniacs inspiration…Barry has such great friends, doesn’t he?

    Report Post » Mark0331  
  • IndyGuy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:09pm

    If Obama had a brother….He’d look and act just like Van Jones…

    Report Post » IndyGuy  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:07pm

    Van Jones is the next American Progressive Nightmare being prepared by Soros for the eventual downfall of Kaiser Obama.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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