At noon today, as promised, Big Government and Big Hollywood websites released audio from a conference call that included taxpayer funded groups to press forward to promote President Obama’s agenda(s) for healthcare, environment, and other initiatives of the Administration. From the posting:

On August 10th, the National Endowment for the Arts, the White House Office of Public Engagement, and the Corporation for National and Community Service hosted a conference call with a handpicked arts group. This arts group played a key role in Obama’s arts effort during his election campaign, as declared by the organizers of the call, and many on the call played a role in the now famous Obama Hope poster.

In this series of audio conversation, we hear Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Engagement make this series of comments to the participants of the conference call:

• “I just first of all want to thank everyone for being on the call and just a deep deep appreciation for all the work you all put into the campaign for the 2+ years we all worked together.”
• “We won.”
• “I’m actually in the White House and working towards furthering this agenda, this very aggressive agenda.”
• “We’re going to come at you with some specific asks here.”
• “I hope you guys are ready.”

She even questions the “legal aspect” of what she can and can’t say as there might appear to be conflicts of interest in the discussion.

Let me answer that specifically- using taxpayers funds, through the NEA, to further the Administrations agenda is NOT the chartered purpose of the NEA or any organizations the NEA funds with that money.

Using the White House, Serve.gov, or any other government office directly or indirectly associated with this Administration is nothing but total impropriety in pushing forth the agenda. It is a blatant disregard of the legislative process where members of Congress are supposed to bring the debate forward. To “ask” the arts community, again funded by taxpayers, to use their creative, marketing, and other skills to drive the debate in a positive direction for this President pushes the envelope beyond the pale. Especially if it means using the NEA purse strings to do so.

Michael “Mike” Yost, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 3rd Congressional District of Florida has this to say:

“I am totally outraged that this administration can use the purse strings of the government through the NEA and other government funded groups to pressure people to fall in line with the Presidents agenda. If this isn’t corruption in government, then it sure must be a very close second.”

After fully reading the article, listening to the audio segments and seeing the chain of events that followed, Yost also had this to say:

“This is but another example of why we must reduce the size of our government. The influence peddling by our government, using taxpayers money to do so, is further indication that everyone has their hand out and are bought and paid for by government. I guess with a $3.5 trillion dollar budget, you can get a lot of influence with just a little pressure from the man up top if it keeps the money coming in.”

This is the reason we must elect principled and dedicated people to office. As Mike believes, “Let’s Take it Back”…in 2010 is all about WE THE PEOPLE taking back the reins of government and bring real ideas that will work to make America great again.

With your generosity and support, we can elect Mike to be your next Congressman from Florida. Help Mike bring the change to Washington that will end this government corruption and bring prosperity to this nation. Make your contribution today.