White House Sponsors Inappropriate Activity

On August 10, 2009 the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) sponsored a conference call in which artists were asked to help support President Obama’s agenda. This activity has been deemed “inappropriate” by some because the NEA is a taxpayer funded non-profit organization that (up until this call) had no political ties whatsoever.

The conference call was chaired by Mr. Yosi Sergant who at that time was the NEA’s Communications Director. He directed participating artists to help participate in contributing to four key areas that the NEA had identified as areas of service.

Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement was also on the call giving it some element of validity. During this call it was stated that “…the goal if this phone call, is through this group we can create a stronger community amongst ourselves to get involved in those things we’re passionate about as we did during the campaign. But to continue to get involved in those things, to support some of the president’s initiatives, but also to do things that we are passionate about and to push the president and push his administration.”

That phone call was recorded and brought to light on the Glenn Beck TV show. As a result of that call, Mr. Yosi has been re-assigned elsewhere and the White House has been back-peddling and apologizing for the blatant abuse of government power.

Action To Take
Ask yourself: What’s is the White House trying to do here? Why is this happening? Who is behind it? Did this activity REALLY stop or go underground? Does this activity make you feel OK or uncomfortable?