NEA in politics flap

Politico ^ | 9-10-09 | Ben Smith

[joinedafterattack]

The communications director for the National Endowment for the Arts is no longer in his job amid a flap over suggestions he suggested artists work to further President Obama's legislative agenda.

A conservative artist writing on the site Big Hollywood first complained that the official, later identified as Yosi Sargent, had been on a conference call with artists aimed at furthering President Obama's legislative agenda -- a bit of a no-no for the agency, which does its best to stay apolitical.

[SNIP]
Huffington Post's Ryan Grim reported that Sergant had been "asked to resign," and played it as another scalp -- like Van Jones' -- for Glenn Beck.

[Glenn Beck Takes Down Another Socialist]

[joinedafterattack]

The communications director for the National Endowment for the Arts is no longer in his job amid a flap over suggestions he suggested artists work to further President Obama's legislative agenda.

A conservative artist writing on the site Big Hollywood first complained that the official, later identified as Yosi Sargent, had been on a conference call with artists aimed at furthering President Obama's legislative agenda -- a bit of a no-no for the agency, which does its best to stay apolitical.

The agency, for now, is keeping it utterly cryptic: Sargent is "currently an employee," said spokeswoman Sally Gifford, who said she couldn't comment on whether he is communications director. She also read a statement defending the conference call:

On August tenth, the National Endowment for the Arts participated in a call with arts organizations to inform them of the president's call to national service. The White House office of public engagement also participated in the call, which provided information on how the Corporation for National and Community Service can assist groups interested in sponsoring service projects or having their members volunteer on other projects. This call was not a means to promote any legislative agenda and any suggestions to that end are simply false. The NEA regularly does outreach to various organizations to inform of the work we are doing and the resources available to them.

Huffington Post's Ryan Grim reported that Sergant had been "asked to resign," and played it as another scalp -- like Van Jones' -- for Glenn Beck.

UPDATE: Senator John Cornyn had also pressed the White House on the issue in a letter Tuesday.

In truth, Sergant and Jones have something else in common: Both are outsiders from Washington's careful culture and Sergant, who had worked with the artist Shepherd Fairey and organized the Obama campaign's artist arm. Though the details aren't entirely clear, the NEA would typically steer clear of pushing the White House's legislative agenda.

[joinedafterattack]

This guy was a PR guy at the NEA. The real question is Who Directed Him To Do This?

[org.whodat]

Nothing like trying to steal the work of other people.

[Dog]

Beat you to it....and he didnt resign....they’ve reassigned him.

[NavVet]

So how’s that boycott working out?

[Bahbah]

There is an update on this at NRO. He has merely been reassigned within the NEA.

[Scythian]

Add another Czar notch on Becks microphone ... 2 down, 30 some odd to go ...

[HanneyBean]

Obama: “I sense a disturbance in the force...”

Flunkie: “That would be Glenn Beck, master”

[org.whodat]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2009/sep/01/official-dishonesty-national-endowment-arts/

[Hodar]

..with the artist Shepherd Fairey ...

My nominee for worst name ever. You think you got teased as a kid? Can you imagine what this guy went though?

[gaijin]

Sunstein

[Kartographer]

Glenn Beck must apologize! (sarc)

[mmichaels1970]

He has merely been reassigned within the NEA.

Probably reassigned to "food and beverages" czar.

[Man50D]

Beck hasn’t won anything. Does anyone actually believe Van Jones or Yosi Sargent are just going to dry up and blow away? Does anyone actually believe the next people to fill these slots won’t also have socialists views? We need to keep track of those forced out and keep hammmering away at those people or positions meant to further socialism.

[La Lydia]

He was one of the guys promoting the "Hope" cartoonish poster for BO during the campaign. Here is a link.

http://www.flatmancrooked.com/archives/938

[Hoffer Rand]

I think I heard Nicole Richie just named her son Sparrow James. Way to get your kid tortured, Nicole!

[Berlin_Freeper]

They are stigmatized.

[Hodar]

I would gladly endure being called ‘Sparrow’ over being the ‘Fairy Sheppard’.

[SaraJohnson]

This is the message Beck puts out, too. Just removing one piece of the iceberg that is above ground or that you can see does not change the major part of the ice berg that lay out of sight beneath the water.

We should look at what is turned out by the artists funded by NEA to see what propaganda the agency is promoting with or without this communist whom we nailed.

[TheThinker]

The smell of fear and appearance of impropriety and guilt are overpowering in this administration.