Both C++ and C are bad for beginner languages, but at least C++ allows the beginner to learn basics without being roflstomped by memory management.
The example mentioned earlier in the thread where programming students are confused by pointers by 3rd week of C++ instruction just demonstrates teacher incompetence. While manual memory management is necessary to learn to get anything done in C, it is an advanced topic in C++ and in no way necessary to get things done. "Programming: Principles and Practice", probably the best C++ -using programming textbook for the beginner, mentions pointers for the first time on page 573. "Accelerated C++", another high quality C++ book intended for people with pre-existing skill in other languages, also doesn't touch pointers before Chapter 10. Some of the things these books discuss before pointers are strings, input and output streams including file I/O, containers, algorithms, iterators, error handling, classes, templates.