With the minimal coverage in The Gazette regarding presidential adviser Van Jones, readers might wonder what all the fuss is about.

Jones is, or at least was, a self-professed communist. He also had ties to an organization called Standing Together To Organize a Revolutionary Movement, a communist group that considered Mao Zedong as its ideological leader. It formed Workers Organized To Rid Us of Capitalism. Jones also advocated on behalf of death row inmate Jumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer. Jones also made outrageous statements, claiming the "white polluters ... are essentially steering poison into the people of color communities." In another speech he said, "What about people who come here from all around the world who we're willing to have out in the field, with poison being sprayed on them."

I would think the president would think twice about appointing someone with that kind of history.

Now Jones has resigned, claiming he was brought down by a smear campaign. He gave the infamous nonapology apology, saying that he was sorry if his statements offended anyone. I think the real story is that we still have over 30 czars in the White House advising the president, none of which have been elected, approved or vetted by Congress, and apparently not adequately vetted by the White House either. And, how did the president respond to all this? On Labor Day he appointed the new "manufacturing" czar. Apparently the president doesn't learn from his mistakes. I wonder, will we?

Bob Holbrook

Billings