Where there's a Will, there's a way

We have a new Joseph McCarthy and his name is Glenn Beck. His biggest victory so far is the red-baiting of Van Jones. He won't be satisfied to stop after just one victim.

Anyone who studies the long history of red-baiting knows that it was never about fighting communists. It's used cynically as a weapon to smear and harass thousands of activists and political leaders on the left who have little or no association with communism.

The red-baiters attempted to destroy liberal and progressive social movements by removing some of its most effective leaders and intimidating others into silence. The targeting of Van Jones has the same purpose and it will have the same effect on social movements if liberals refuse to stand up to modern McCarthys.

In the 1920's and 30's, anyone active in social movements worked with communists at some point in time. They were active as leaders and participants in many struggles including labor, civil rights, women's rights, peace, and more. That meant any non-communist progressive leader could easily be red-baited for their past association with communist activists. Red-baiting became a way to destroy any progressive or liberal who posed a threat to conservatism.

I've never been involved in the same groups and issues Jones is criticized for participating in. But, I've worked with plenty of intelligent, effective activists who were.

If someone can be driven out of public service due to these views then we're effectively saying that nearly everyone as progressive as the average community organizer, labor organizer, LGBT rights activist, peace, environmental or civil rights activist is banned from government. It says that anyone who had some involvement with the radical left at any point in their past, like Barack Obama did, is no longer allowed in public life. If Van Jones is allowed to resign then we're letting the neo-fascist, conservative fringe choose our leaders for us.

I thought the election of Barack Obama signaled a victory over Republican red-baiting about his time as a community organizer. Obama didn't back down and the tactics didn't work. Allowing Jones to resign signals a retreat.

Joseph McCarthy was able to drag out his reign of terror because liberal and moderate politicians were afraid to stand up to him. It can't happen again. This time we have to nip it in the bud.

President Obama, don't accept the resignation of Van Jones. Don't back down. Nip it in the bud.