Posted on 09/21/2009 10:59:43 AM PDT by Lorianne
In recent weeks, the Obama administration has been mired in setbacks and scandals. One of these, at least, has not yet received the attention it deserves--that is, the administration's effort to enlist artists in support of its policy agenda.
Most likely, you're generally aware of the story. It was broken by Patrick Courrielche at Big Hollywood. Courrielche received an email invitation from Yosi Sergant of the National Endowment for the Arts to participate in a conference call to discuss President Obama's "United We Serve initiative." Courrielche did participate, along with a number of other artists and representatives of arts groups. He found the experience disconcerting, and wrote about the call on Big Hollywood:
The Office of Public Engagement is headed by Obama's confidante Valerie Jarrett, which suggests that it has more clout, and more of the President's interest, than one would otherwise assume.
The Office's Deputy Director is Buffy Wicks. Ms. Wicks is a professional political organizer. It was Buffy Wicks who represented the White House on the August 10 call in which Patrick Courrielche participated. Her role on the call was pivotal. If you read the full transcript of the conference call, it is striking that some of those who speak seem to take seriously the idea that the artists on the call are being solicited to promote volunteerism, or "service." It is actually the White House's representative who speaks most bluntly about what the call's sponsors have in mind. Near the beginning of the call, Ms. Wicks said:
MS. WICKS: I'm honored to be on the call, and I just, you know, it's been a long road I know for a lot of us, and we're really just beginning. I, first of all, want to thank everyone for being on the call and really just a deep, deep appreciation for all the work that you all put into the campaign for the two plus years that we all worked together. I was the field director in California so I hear my L.A. peeps out there, so it's exciting to hear those voices.
And, you know, we won and that's exciting, and now we have to take all that energy and make it really meaningful. I'm in the White House now and what I've learned over these first -- we just had our 200 mark on Saturday, which sounds crazy, is that it's -- that change does not come easy and, you know, when then Candidate Obama would say that it's like, yeah, I know change doesn't come easy, but then now that I'm actually in the White House and working towards furthering this agenda, this very aggressive agenda, I'm really realizing that, and I'm also appreciative of the way in which we did win and the strategy that the campaign shows, which is really to engage people at a local level and to engage them in the process, because we need them and we need you, and we're going to need your help, and we're going to come at you with some specific asks here.
But we know that you guys are ready for it and eager to participate, so one we want to thank you, and two, I hope you guys are ready. So I'm at the Office of Public Engagement here at the White House.
And as part of my role here is working on service, and so when we were thinking about how do we take a lot of this energy that's out there, how do we translate folks who have just been engaged in electoral politics and engage them in really the process of governing, of being part of this administration in a little bit of a different way because politics is one thing and governing is something totally separate, we really saw service as the platform by which we can do that.
What we realize was that the only way we're really going to have change is if all of us are working together collaboratively in really creating sort of these sustained relationships that we can all build on and that it's really going to take all of us to be strong to deal with a lot of the issues that we're facing. ...
So we focus on the four main areas: One is health care. Obviously, that's a big issue. ... Second was energy and environment. And so we worked a lot with the Department of Interior. I know I'm throwing a lot of government stuff at you guys, so bear with me. It's the world we live in now. We're actually running the government.
We need your guys's help to promote this. We know that you all have channels and ability to get the message out far greater than we do here and the president's put out the call. And that's who we have to push this forward, and he speaks to a lot of people, so does our First Lady and so do our cabinet secretaries. But we know that you all are very powerful voices of change in your own right, and we're looking to you for your help on that.
Unreal.
Three more years, Buffy. Then the adults will be back in charge.
}:-)4
I guess we’ll be seeing a lot more portraits of Obama on velvet.
“Tastemakers”? “Just plain cool people”?? I’m glad when I was younger and did actual volunteer work, (ie. no remuneration whatever), I was one of the uncool people who didn’t need indoctrination and propaganda in order to do the necessary.
Maybe we can get a NEA grant if we dunk an Obama Chia Pet in a jar of urine! It’s worth a shot.
I realize this issue is about the White House involvement, but it might help to analyze the thought processes of these artsy fartsy types:
1) I know I am a good person, therefore I could not be a racist
2) Because I am not a racist, Barack Obama should be President
3) Because Barack Obama is President, any policies, programs, or legislation he is in favor of are good for all of us
4) Because President Obama’s favored policies, programs and legislation are good for all of us, I must do whatever he asks me to do
4) Because I must do whatever he tells me to do, anyone who will not do whatever he tells them to do is a racist and not a good person
giggle.
That was a good one.
I think it’s a good idea for all young men to consider “public service”. I recommend they look at the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or their reserve components. All ten outfits are hiring!
Leaving aside the potential broken laws, etc. I think one of the more disturbing things is just how inarticulate this young woman seems to be. I thought all these Obama types were supposed to be the intellectual elites? This girl sounds little different from a group of sophomore girls in high school discussing how they are going to get their friend elected homecoming queen.
my thoughts exactly, including this one: she seems to make a point of letter the underlings know that she’s “in the WH now”!!
then near the end of her love letter she mentions the formal title of her OFFICE at the WH roflmao
I noticed that too
Ping
*Bump*
sigh, seems like an eternity
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