NEA's communications director reportedly resigns in wake of Glenn Beck attacks

Yosi Sergant, who had recently assumed the post of communications director at the National Endowment for the Arts, reportedly has resigned his position following accusations by a conservative commentator of a conflict of interest.

As of Friday afternoon, reports said that Sergant -- a former L.A. resident who once worked with artist Shepard Fairey -- had left his post at the NEA. Some reports said that Sergant will be reassigned to a different job within the organization.

A page on the NEA's website still lists Sergant as the director of the communications office.

The news comes on the heels of accusations by conservative pundit Glenn Beck, who claimed that Sergant organized an August conference call with the White House Office of Public Engagement and United We Serve for the purpose of recruiting artists to create works supporting the policies of President Obama. 

United We Serve is a group organized by the Obama administration to bolster community service and volunteerism around the country.

The NEA has reportedly denied that Sergant acted inappropriately. Sergant did not immediately respond to a request for comment today.

As Culture Monster reported earlier this week, a blog run by Patrick Courrielche, who owns an L.A. marketing and entertainment company, ran a story that claims that Sergant was in charge of the conference call. The blog also claims that those on the call were praised for having played a key role in the election.

-- David Ng

 

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Glenn Beck and the Society for (In)sanity of Art

Van Jones decries 'lies and distortions,' quits as Obama's environmental advisor

Looking for common ground in Glenn Beck country

Comments

[Deborah]

People DON'T resign if their innocent!

[Felix]

I was confused. I thought this controversy arose because Sergant violated the Hatch Act by soliciting artists to create art for partisan political purposes. I also had heard that an actual transcript of this solicitation had surfaced.

But now I know that the real issue here is Glenn Beck. And clearly there is no transcript of a conference call, because otherwise that would have been mentioned in the Times article.

I want to thank the Times for clarifying this, and for its EXTENSIVE COVERAGE of this issue in recent days.

[Joe Martinez]

I heard the tapes and they are damning. I heard he was reassigned. He should be asked to resign. I heard they are still going to do art for Obama? I hope not.

[Geosota]

I don't have any problem with the administration hiring artists to promote any part of its agenda. Heck, artists need the work and good art can make any argument more persuasive. The real problem here is using the NEA to do it. The White House and/or the Democratic Party should simply have hired their own artists rather than jeprodize the NEA and all of the good it does by forcing it to promote a political agenda, which is against its charter. Politicizing the NEA makes it a political target and endangers its entire mission. The administration should just hire its own artists. We are not expensive.

[Vangie]

This is ridiculous. How does Glenn Beck have this much authority/influence to make people resign? There must be something else going on.

[Megan]

Glenn didn't just "claim," that the organization organized a conference call with the white house to push their agenda's, he proved it!! There was a recording of the entire conversation, you can't listen to the tape and come to any other conclusion. It doesn't surprise me to learn of media corruption but it saddens me greatly, they should feel that they need to uphold an ethical responsibility. Go Glenn Beck, let's clean up this nations mess together!!

[Tanya Smythe]

Wow - Deborah - people who can't spell shouldn't write letters to newspapers. And Joe - you seem to HEAR a lot - do you know anything though?

[charles]

Maybe if the rest of the media (CNN, NBC, ABC) were actually doing their jobs and didn't turn a blind eye to everything Obama, Glenn Beck wouldn't seem like the party pooper you think he is.

Obama is running the most corrupt administration ever, and Beck is the only one saying a thing. Where has Glenn Beck lied? Please point it out, because I'd really like to see you try.

[jack]

pundit Glenn Beck, who claimed that Sergant organized an August conference call with the White House Office of Public Engagement and United We Serve for the purpose of recruiting artists to create works supporting the policies of President Obama.

Actually Glenn Beck didn't claim anything, he just played the recorded tape of Yosi's "conversation". This "kill the messenger" and not listen to the message is incredible with the media. They trash anyone who goes against their guy ie Obama... What happened to the truth in America.. Van Jones accused the there was a smear campaign against him... hmmmm well I just watched Foxnews (the only people reporting) in VJ own words. if he wasn't guilty of what was reported, why did he resign.

[Rosemrazzle]

Hey Tanya Smythe, you really are a whiz hoooo weeee

Guess what, not everyone is blind deaf and dumb to Oblunder and his buddies.
do your homework, you might learn something... like the truth

and please, do not disparage people that do not spell correctly on forums.
This is not english 101.

now you go on and get to bed. Middle school tomorrow for you sweetie

[MarK]

Those who don't know the difference between writing letters to newspapers and sending comments to blogs (this includes you, Tanya Smythe) should not criticize others. Also, hearing a lot requires lots of listening, and listening is a very useful tool for obtaining knowledge. You should try it sometimes.

[Tom Degan]

A few months ago I wrote on my blog that, being a tad crazy myself, I have the ability to pick up on the crazy vibe of others. Some people have a subtle, barely perceptible form of craziness - others have crazy to spare. Our boy Glenn is in the latter category. He likes to describe himself as the modern day equivalent of Howard Beale, the character played by the late actor Peter Finch in the 1976 film "Network". It's an apt comparison when you think about it:

HE'S MAD AS HELL!!

The first fact that struck me regarding the Beck biography was the day of his birth - February 10, 1964 - the day before his ideological soul mate, Sarah Palin, was born. Isn't that interesting! Just what the hell were they feeding those kids in the maternity wards of American hospitals forty-five years ago? Later on that same year, the GOP would nominate Barry "In your guts you know he's nuts" Goldwater as their standard bearer. Coincidence? I wonder....

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY