[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.

[USNA74]

I find it more than coincidence that this guy was whacked for trying to get artists to do what they can to further Obama’s agenda. Sound familiar? As in the lesson plan from the Secretary of Education for the recent Obama speech to schoolchildren — having them identify one thing they can do to help the President.

[struggle]

Someone update the Czar Unemployment scale.

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the..............................HA ha!!!

[omega4179]

Wow 2 Commies Borked in one week.

[Psycho_Bunny]

There shouldn’t even BE an NEA.

[Bob]

A minor correction, if I may:

...a bit of a no-no for the agency, which does its best to stay apolitical.

...a bit of a no-no for the agency, which does its best to stay pretends to be apolitical.