SHULGOLD: Politicians weigh in on the arts

Considering all the major election issues, it might seem trivial to ask candidates their views on arts support.
By Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 24, 2008 at 3 p.m.

But it’s worth remembering: the arts are important to millions of Americans. It’s hard to find anyone who would argue that we’d be better off without music, theater, visual art, dance, literature.

Yet, the issue becomes complex when the discussion turns to the question of federal subsidies for artists and arts organizations – particularly when it concerns funding controversial works.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on arts funding? That’s a tricky question, since the U.S. Senate no longer casts votes on allocations for the National Endowment for the Arts, the public agency that’s the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts. Since 2000, the issue has been voted on only in the House.

Regardless, while NEA votes reveal much about an elected official’s views of arts funding, they don’t tell us everything. From 1993-2000, Sen. John McCain voted nine times to reduce or eliminate the NEA, but should we imply he doesn’t like the arts? By the same token: Were those voting “yes” voicing favor for works of art thought by some to be obscene?

A fair discussion of presidential and senatorial candidates’ views on arts funding and arts education should include their words and their votes. So here’s a look at the candidates.

For the complete story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/24/shulgold-politicians-weigh-in-on-the-arts/