Two million bucks behind National Endowment for the Arts politics push

The mantra 'follow the money' is true once again and explains why Yosi Sargent was reassigned from head of Communications to another position in NEW. He should have been fired for breaking the Hatch Act. Guess you call this a Quid Pro Quo that in exchange for 21 arts organizations endorsing President Obama's health reform plan, they were given $2M in grants by the NEA. Now we know what the conference call was about between Yosi Sargent and the leaders of the 21 arts organizations. Only took 48 hours for these groups to figure out their endorsement was worth a cool $2M in grants.

We thought the Clinton White House was for Sale, but have a hunch that Obama is going to make the Clintons look like pikers with his use of the stimulus money to get endorsements for his agenda.

Where are the alphabet networks on this story along with CNN and MSNBC not to mention the Washington Post, NY Times, and LA Times? Crickets chirping at the moment. We will update you when those media institutions report on this but don't hold your breath.

The Washington Times-Water Cooler
9/10/09
Kerry Picket

On August 12, a group of 21 arts organizations endorsed President Barack Obama's health reform plan only 48 hours after a conference call in which a top National Endowment for the Arts official asked arts groups for help in advancing the administration's policy agenda, including health care.

One reason the arts organizations may have been so swift to follow the administration's suggestion is that 16 of the groups and affiliated organizations received nearly $2 million in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in the 150 days before the conference call.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com