There is a good chance that Van Jones has the potential to be red-pilled and #WalkAway I keep seeing Van Jones approach things with an open mind, especially with prison reform. Then he attends CPAC and the Left eats him alive. If he would interview Brandon Straka, I bet he may walk away. If he does walk away from the democrat party, will CNN fire him? Van Jones: Conservatives Are ‘Leaders’ on Criminal-Justice Reform CNN analyst Van Jones credited the conservative movement with galvanizing support for criminal-justice reform during a Thursday appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Appearing beside CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp, Jones discussed the sweeping criminal-justice-reform package passed in December, which aims to reduce mass incarceration and high recidivism rates by expanding the pool of inmates eligible to participate in early-release programs, among other policy changes. “The conservative movement in this country, unfortunately from my point of view, is now the leader on this issue of reform,” Jones said. “You look at Mississippi, a rock-ribbed, total conservative former jailer is now the governor. Governor Bryan cut the prison population and crime at the same time. [Governor Nathan] Deal in Georgia cut the prison population and crime at the same time. . . . What you’re seeing now is Republican governors being tough on the dollars. Tough on crime and shrinking the prison population.” Jones, a Democrat who played a pivotal role in rallying liberal support for the reform package, went on to lament the electoral and political consequences of conservative leadership on the issue for his party. Jones worked closely with Jared Kushner and other Trump administration officials to whip support for the bill on Capitol Hill, and pushed back when it encountered opposition from progressive lawmakers and activists who felt it did not do enough to redress historical grievances. The legislation, known as the First Step Act, increases the pool of inmates eligible to receive so-called “good-time credits” and reduces mandatory minimum sentences for many drug-related and nonviolent offenses. It also mandates the allocation of more resources for education and vocational training within prisons. In addition to progressive opposition to what was viewed as insufficient reform, a number of conservative lawmakers, led by Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), argued that the bill’s potential benefits were outweighed by the possibility that it would make certain classes of violent offenders eligible for early release, which, they predicted, would result in an increased crime rate. Remaining article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/van-jones-conservatives-are-leaders-on-criminal-justice-reform/ar-BBUduhT Left-wing Van Jones stunned CPAC audience with what he said about the 'conservative movement' Progressive activist Van Jones stunned the audience at CPAC Thursday when he admitted that the "conservative movement" had accomplished more than the left did on a policy matter very near and dear to his beliefs. "Here's the deal," he told the audience, "the conservative movement in this country, unfortunately for my point of view, is now the leader on this issue of [criminal justice] reform in that you look at Mississippi, a rock rib totally conservative, former jailer is a governor there, Governor Bryant. "Governor Bryant has cut the prison population and crime at the same time," he continued. "[Former Governor Nathan] Deal in Georgia cut the prison population and crime at the same time. [Former Texas Governor] Rick Perry cut the prison population, prison expenditures, and crime at the same time. "Ohio, South Carolina," Jones added. "What you're seeing now are Republican governors being tough on the dollars, tough on crime, and shrinking prison populations and showing the rest of the country that it can be done. "My problem is I now have a conservative movement that, for libertarian reasons, for Christian conservative reasons, and for fiscally conservative reasons, is actually doing a great job on what is supposed to be my issue!" he joked. "You are stealing my issue!" At this point the audience applauded and beckoned him to join the Republican party. "I'm going to stay in my party! I'm going to stay in my party!" he responded. "But what I wanna say, take some dadgum credit for being smart!" he added. "Take some dadgum credit for getting it right!" Republicans passed the First Step Act in December 2018 to ease mandatory minimum sentences. The bill also provided for programs intended to lower the recidivism rate for prisoners. President Donald Trump had a warm moment during his State of the Union speech where he welcomed a man who had been released under the criminal justice reform act. "Matthew is the very first person to be released from prison under the First Step Act. Thank you Matthew," he said to Matthew Charles in the audience. "Welcome home," Trump said to great applause. Fox News' political analyst Brit Hume posted the video of Jones' comments to his Twitter account, responding simply, "This is striking." Remaining article: https://www.theblaze.com/news/left-wing-van-jones-stunned-cpac-audience-with-what-he-said-about-the-conservative-movement?xrs=RebelMouse_fb Van Jones slammed as 'sell-out' for praising conservatives on criminal justice reform Liberal commentator Van Jones praised conservatives for their support of criminal justice reform during a panel discussion at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Thursday.  "The conservative movement in this country, unfortunately from my point of view, is now the leader on this issue of reform," Jones said. He pointed to Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Secretary of Energy and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as Republicans who were able to "cut the prison population and crime at the same time." "What you’re seeing now is Republican governors being tough on the dollars. Tough on crime and shrinking the prison population," he said. "This is supposed to be my issue!" Jones exclaimed. "You are stealing my issue!" he told the cheering conservative crowd.  "I'm going to stay in my party," he told the audience as some of them indicated he should come over to their side. "But take some dadgum credit for being smart. Take some dadgum credit for getting it right." Some liberals were outraged after Jones tweeted in November that people should give President Donald Trump "his due" for supporting the First Step Act. Jones worked with the Trump administration to help garner liberal support for the measure to reduce the federal prison population. "@realDonaldTrump is on his way to becoming the uniter-in-Chief on an issue that has divided America for generations. Congrats to everyone on both sides who fought for this," he said.  Jones' CPAC comments also reminded some critics of his praise for Trump after the president's speech to a joint session of Congress in 2017, a month after his inauguration. Jones was ridiculed for his comment that Trump "became president" during that address.  "I can't forget when Van Jones, on CNN, gushed over Trump's first speech to Congress, where he was able to read a teleprompter without blowing up or falling asleep – This is where he becomes presidential, Van said. Oy," tweeted the American Enterprise Institute's Norman Ornstein. Remaining article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/03/01/cpac-2019-van-jones-praises-conservatives-criminal-justice-reform/3029530002/ Van Jones slammed as 'sell-out' for praising conservatives on criminal justice reform Liberal commentator Van Jones praised conservatives for their support of criminal justice reform during a panel discussion at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Thursday.  "The conservative movement in this country, unfortunately from my point of view, is now the leader on this issue of reform," Jones said. He pointed to Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Secretary of Energy and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as Republicans who were able to "cut the prison population and crime at the same time." "What you’re seeing now is Republican governors being tough on the dollars. Tough on crime and shrinking the prison population," he said. "This is supposed to be my issue!" Jones exclaimed. "You are stealing my issue!" he told the cheering conservative crowd.  "I'm going to stay in my party," he told the audience as some of them indicated he should come over to their side. "But take some dadgum credit for being smart. Take some dadgum credit for getting it right." Jones' comments at CPAC drew criticism from progressives on social media with some accusing him of being a "sell-out."  It was not the first time Jones has faced such criticism.  Some liberals were outraged after Jones tweeted in November that people should give President Donald Trump "his due" for supporting the First Step Act. Jones worked with the Trump administration to help garner liberal support for the measure to reduce the federal prison population. "@realDonaldTrump is on his way to becoming the uniter-in-Chief on an issue that has divided America for generations. Congrats to everyone on both sides who fought for this," he said.  Remaining article: https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/03/01/cpac-2019-van-jones-praises-conservatives-criminal-justice-reform/3029530002/