Jones blames 'smears' for ouster

"On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," Jones, special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said in a statement announcing his resignation just after midnight Saturday. "They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide."

He continued: "I have been inundated with calls -- from across the political spectrum -- urging me to 'stay and fight.' But I came here to fight for others, not for myself. I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. We need all hands on deck, fighting for the future."

Spoken like a true member of the Obama administration. He won't have to worry about joining the ranks of the unemployed though--all ex President George W. Bush's fault of course--as he'll be a triumphant trophy hire for numerous environmental, and other organizations, where as a victim of the vast right wing conspiracy he'll enjoy martyr status.