[WAsummit] [What You Can Do - Message from Van Jones]

[Lucy Oppenheim]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: What You Can Do - Message from Van Jones
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:07:26 -0400
From: moderator at PORTSIDE.ORG
Reply-To: moderator at PORTSIDE.ORG
To: PORTSIDE at LISTS.PORTSIDE.ORG

What You Can Do - Message from Van Jones

September 15, 2009

Dear Friends:

My family and I want to thank everyone for the
outpouring of love and support that we have received
over the past week or so. I resigned from the White
House on September 6, and I have remained silent since
then - in keeping with my promise not to be a
distraction during a key moment in the Obama
Presidency.

Over the past several days, however, many people have
been asking how they can help and what they can do.

The main thing is this: please do everything you can to
support both President Obama and the green jobs
movement. Winning real change is ultimately the best
response to these kinds of smear campaigns.

I ask everyone to:

    1. Support President Obama's efforts to fix our
    nation's health care, energy and education systems.
    His victory last fall did not represent the "finish
    line" in the fight to renew America; his election
    was just the "starting line." This autumn, it is
    time to make history again - with victories on
    health care and clean energy.
 
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CIgHhHzX8ChGLxGIaoEIFx7eTcQ6mDAv>

    2. Sign up to support groups that are working for
    green jobs.
 
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=o8PvdD4vsMSOUgseSs5SnR7eTcQ6mDAv>

    As others seek to vilify or marginalize
    the movement for a clean energy economy, the leading
    groups deserve increased support. This is the year
    to ensure that the clean energy transformation
    creates good job opportunities for everyone in
    America.

    3. Spread the green jobs gospel. The ideas and
    ideals of the green jobs movement are grounded in
    fundamental American values - innovation,
    entrepreneurship and equal opportunity. My true
    thoughts can be found in my book: The Green Collar
    Economy. Check it out from the library - or order a
    copy and share it with a friend. See for yourself
    why clean energy and green jobs are good for our
    country.
 
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VVtr8kYXKGa4Pc84qacohx7eTcQ6mDAv>

    4. Stay connected and speak up for me via your
    favorite blogs (e.g., Huffington Post, Grist, Jack &
    Jill, etc.), on message boards and all of your
    favorite social networking platforms (Twitter,
    Facebook, etc.). Supporters have set up a couple of
    them, to help you stay engaged, including: I Stand
    With Van Jones and I Love Van Jones.
 
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QD6lEDszBIYwN8F%2FKyWoXXZWUq%2Fqoqji>

 
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=RSaglndnadM42LNEI17OwB7eTcQ6mDAv?

In due course, I will be offering my perspective on
what has happened - including correcting the record
about false charges. In the meantime, I must get my
family affairs in order and sort through numerous
offers and options.

I want to be clear that I have nothing but love and
admiration for President Obama and the entire
Administration. White House staffers are there to serve
and support the President, not the other way around. At
this critical moment in history, I could not in good
conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time
and energy defending or explaining my past. The White
House needs all its hands on deck, fighting for the
future.

Of course, some supporters actually think I will be
more effective on the "outside." Maybe so. But those
ideas always remind me of that old canard about Winston
Churchill. After he lost a hard-fought election, a
friend told him: "Winston, this really is just a
blessing in disguise." Churchill quipped: "Damned good
disguise." I can certainly relate to that sentiment
right now. :)

Nonetheless, we must keep moving forward. Let's
continue our work to make an America as good as its
promise. These are historic times. And we have a lot
more history to make.

Sincerely,

Van Jones

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