Once again looking to duplicate the 2008 campaign, the Obama administration is bringing in creative types who were key in helping President Obama win in November. Now in the role of government, Obama’s team is using its power to corral the artistic community through the National Endowment for the Arts(NEA). A conference call was hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement, the NEA, and United We Serve on August 10th. The Washington Times asked the NEA for a copy of the invitation to the conference call, but Communications Director for the NEA Yosi Sergant told us that they were not the ones who sent out the invitations for the conference call. Mr. Sergant directed us to the Corporation for National and Community Service as the body that sent out the invitations. We contacted Sandy Scott in public affairs at this government agency and asked for the invitation this afternoon. As of Thursday evening, we have not received a copy of the invitation.
Big Hollywood’s Patrick Courrielche was invited by the NEA to attend the conference call.:
“On Thursday August 6th, I was invited by the National Endowment for the Arts to attend a conference call scheduled for Monday August 10th hosted by the NEA, the White House Office of Public Engagement, and United We Serve. The call would include ‘a group of artists, producers, promoters, organizers, influencers, marketers, taste-makers, leaders or just plain cool people to join together and work together to promote a more civically engaged America and celebrate how the arts can be used for a positive change!’”
Mr. Courrielche writes what this creative group was being asked to do:
“We were encouraged to bring the same sense of enthusiasm to these “focus areas” as we had brought to Obama’s presidential campaign, and we were encouraged to create art and art initiatives that brought awareness to these issues. Throughout the conversation, we were reminded of our ability as artists and art professionals to ‘shape the lives’ of those around us. The now famous Obama ‘Hope’ poster, created by artist Shepard Fairey and promoted by many of those on the phone call, and will.i.am’s ‘Yes We Can’ song and music video were presented as shining examples of our group’s clear role in the election. “
It seems as if Rockthevote is already on board with the push for the Obama health care agenda, so no need to wait for 2010 for even 2012 for some familiar Obama campaign moves. America can see it right now through the power of the Obama government.
