NEA Communications Director Keeps Job Amid Controversy

[bijou]

Yosi Sergant has been asked to resign from his post as Communications Director for the National Endowment for the Arts,  the Huffington Post is reporting:

At issue was an August conference call in which the NEA encouraged select artists to participate in an administration project dubbed "United We Serve" and led by the first lady.

The NEA released a statement:

"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." ...

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/09/10/breaking-nea-asks-communications-director-yosi-sergant-to-resign/

Glenn Beck strikes again?

[thundley4]

I don't think so.  This story was broke on a couple blogs last week or so, one of them being Breitbart's Big Hollywood site. The actor from the Harold and Kumar movies, Kal Penn is now a liaison between Hollyweird and the WH.  Meaning that he is actually on 0Bama's staff.   Funny how we all thought Slick Willie was the Hollywood Prez, but 0Bama is the one to actually have actors on his staff. 

[Chris_]

NEA Communications Director Keeps Job Amid Controversy

The communications director at the National Endowment for the Arts remains an employee there despite reports that he was asked to resign following his participation in a controversial conference call last month, FOXNews.com learned Thursday.

Yosi Sergant was one of several officials on an hour-long conference call on Aug. 10 hosted by the NEA, the White House Office of Public Engagement and United We Serve, a nationwide initiative launched by President Obama to increase volunteerism.

Patrick Courrielche, one of roughly 75 artists, musicians, writers, poets and others on the hour-long call, said Sergant was among those who encouraged the artists to create works in their respective fields that would show support for Obama's domestic agenda in areas such as health care, energy and the environment.

It was reported in the Huffington Post on Thursday that Sergant had been asked to resign, but NEA officials have denied that claim.

"He remains an employee at NEA," said spokeswoman Victoria Hutter, who declined further comment.

In a statement to FOXNews.com, the NEA also defended itself against Courrielche's claims, saying the conference call was not intended to promote legislative agendas.

MORE

"Waddya mean I can't use tax dollars to promote Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee???"  [/Oooooobama mode]

[Tucker]

I don't think so.  This story was broke on a couple blogs last week or so, one of them being Breitbart's Big Hollywood site. The actor from the Harold and Kumar movies, Kal Penn is now a liaison between Hollyweird and the WH.  Meaning that he is actually on 0Bama's staff.   Funny how we all thought Slick Willie was the Hollywood Prez, but 0Bama is the one to actually have actors on his staff. 

Glenn Beck didn't start it but he sure gave it exposure.