Sarah Palin trashes National Endowment for the Arts

Television commentator and half-term Alaska governor Sarah Palin trashed the National Endowment for the Arts recently, describing the agency as "frivolous" in a Thursday interview on a Fox News talk show.

"NPR, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, all those kind of frivolous things that government shouldn't be in the business of funding with tax dollars -- those should all be on the chopping block as we talk about the $14-trillion debt that we're going to hand to our kids and our grandkids," Palin told right-wing host Sean Hannity. "Yes, those are the type of things that for more than one reason need to be cut."

Palin did not elaborate on what the other reasons might be for chopping the NEA budget. But the government of every major civilization in world history has also prominently funded the arts.

The comment about the NEA came during a discussion of the ailing U.S. economy. Palin is certainly conversant with frivolous activity, but her grasp of the economy is weak.

Debt reduction would barely be affected by penciling out the small federal arts agency, which currently operates on a $161-million annual budget. Palin's support of a federal subsidy for the notorious "bridge to nowhere" in her state became a campaign issue when she ran for vice president on the 2008 Republican ticket. That local project carried a price tag of $223 million.

"Reality is we have 15 million Americans who are out of work," said Palin. Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry supports 5.7 million jobs and generates $166.2 billion in annual economic activity, according to Americans for the Arts. The NEA is one linchpin in that sizable economy.

In the interview Palin made no statement advocating similar budget cuts to her home state as she recommended for the NEA, which is also in the cross hairs of Washington's Republican leadership. Palin's Alaska gets $1.84 in federal spending for every dollar its citizens pay in federal taxes.

 

ALSO:

Art review: 'William Leavitt: Theater Objects' at MOCA

Art review: 'Gods of Angkor' at the Getty

Art review: 'Thomas Gainsborough and the Modern Woman' at the San Diego Museum of Art

 

-- Christopher Knight

@twitter.com/KnightLAT

Photo: Sarah Palin. Credit: Justin Lane / EPA

Comments

[Superbob]

I guess the NEA doesn't fund enough country songs about four wheelers or monster trucks for her liking.

[Regnarte]

Ugh, seeing her face is a good way to diet. I know of no better way to lose my appetite.

Hasn't this country had enough of this dolt?

[davobabilonia]

...and the mule bray again, louder than ever !!!

[Bob]

I wish someone would de-fund Sarah Palin.

[PankoFig]

OK, one more time. The NEA was infamous for defending photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. My photo mags showed his beautiful black and white flower images and asked "why attack this artiste?" Then I saw a book of his work, which included his home-erotic images. I guess they are artsy too, in a Penthouse/Hustler sort of way. Funny how the mags and other defenders forgot to mention that. Defund the NEA I say

[AlaskaGrandma]

Speaking as an Alaskan, this woman is an discredit to the many arts-supporting citizens of Alaska. I wonder if she's ever enjoyed the many fine sold-out performances at Anchorage's Fine Arts Center. She better not show up now. I can assure you that many Alaskans laugh & shake their heads at the trash she continues to spew. It's a wonder to us that she manages to have so many supporters elsewhere.

[jays]

It's obvious she's still mad at "Art", that sailor from years back....

[JCLerma]

Sarah Palin should know Frivolous when she sees it.

[FLV]

She needs to take a course in Finance 101.

[e ruiz]

Palin is an American Idiot

[Newport]

Please don't let her shut up. Hopefully, her stupidity will incite reasonable people to take action.

[silence doesnogood]

There you LIEberals go again. Facts just don't matter to you. You would force me to pay for something I would hate like the antichristian crap that no one would buy like a crucifex in a bottle of urine. Palin got those oil companies you are so upset with, when she was gov., to pay more to every Aka citizen. Maybe she could could do that on the federal level, eh? Duh. Other than call her names you don't really know what to say. When ever you are amazed at something a government does that is so lacking of common sense...which party's idea is it? When you have an incredibly expensive program that actually worsens the problem rather than fix it (Depts. of Ed., Energy; etc.)
Whose ideas are they? And which party first came up with the PROGRESSIVE Income Tax, Prohibition and The Federal Farm Loan Act. When will you fools look at historical fact and common sense vs. you religion of LIEberalism. You really believe the lies and don't know how to respond to facts other than to call people racist, stupid, and other trash.

[ScaryDAve]

Hey as long as we are going cut out cultural stuff like the arts, why not get really real. Let's quit the upkeep on the Washington monument, close all the libraries, stop spending money on mount Rushmore, turn off the lights at the Lincoln monument, get rid of the Smithsonian, sell the statue of liberty for scrap, quit spending money on that 911 bullspit, get rid of anything that is about national identity, art or intellectualism.

I usually don't pick sides between left and right cuz the people who are paying off both sides it certainly don't care but when people start talking about how the arts are worthless, then you know yer talking to the terminally uneducated.

The arts have defined cultures since the beginning of time. The exhibit the very best that mankind has to offer but hey, we have fox news and Nintendo, who needs a buncha freakin geniuses clogging up the mix with culture that no one is even smart enough to understand any more? Oh an get rid of that opera and ballet crap too. Who needs that crap when ya got country music right?

Buncha tards.

[ms metal rat]

That this woman has been seriously discussed as a future US president is just frightening...

[Wille G]

She is perfect for America just like the rest of the idiots in this country!

[jill]

To J.C.; So that every single bit of news will be issued from private corporations, private, wealthy individuals. Then we'll REALLY be free, Eh? Your position is twisted. That's like saying "No power to the people!"

[Rickster]

Being an artist myself, I have never agreed with the NEA concept. Art needs to stand alone on its own. Exhibiting and promotion can be handled by the private galleries. NO FEDERAL MONEY NEEDED!!

[David Gehlhausen]

I am a novelist, and if my work isn't worthy of publication, it doesn't sell and I fail. If it sells, the reason is that there is intrinsic value to the manuscript that readers are willing to exchange money to read.

If art has value, it will sell and needs no support from the government. If it doesn't sell, it's because it is has no commercial value because no one is willing to exchange dollars for the product.

The government should not support worthless projects in any field. Art is no exception. Publish or perish. Produce quality art and be reimbursed, or accept the fact that it has no financial value. If there is a quality to the work that doesn't include commercial value, FINE. Donate it to Mankind as a personal expression under your right Free Speech, and consider it FINE ART.

Have a Fine Day--

David M. Gehlhausen
Celebration, FL

[timmy]

Isn't it strange how Wing Nust always forget how Bush and the Regressives drove up trillions in debt destroying and rebuilding muslim countries yet there's no end to their bleatings when it comes to art or education?

[Gayle Gerard]

Sarah Palin is an idiot with no taste, no class, no smarts, no compassion, no morals, no chance in hell of ever being president...get her out of the media.