Is the Smithsonian Institution going to take its prestigious brand and bring it to bear on hot political topics? A positive Associated Press profile of Smithsonian chief Wayne Clough (pronounced kluff) by reporter Brett Zongker announced "Clough wants to combine the Smithsonian's resources to become a major voice on the toughest issues of the day. Among his key priorities: climate change, education and immigration."
Clough is apparently using the political issues in his fundraising pitch, as Zongker explained: "Clough has quietly begun work on the Smithsonian's first major capital campaign with the goal of raising well over $1 billion. ``We need more big ideas,'' he said. "I've talked to donors who say 'Hey, I'm really interested in the fact that you have resources to be an honest broker in the climate change debate ... and I would be willing to put up significant money to do that.'''
The AP story mentioned that Clough lined up an large philanthropic gift to bolster and centralize "educational offerings" to the nation’s schools:!--break-->
To bolster the Smithsonian's educational offerings, Clough recently secured a $1.3 million gift to hire an education director and create the institution's first central office focused on K-12 learning. (Previously, 32 different units carried out their own educational programs.)
Zongker also explained that Clough is a hero to liberal New York Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman, who found his educational philosophy at Georgia Tech to be so inspirational he even saw the genius of Clough in China’s educational mandarins. (Page 367.) Here’s AP:
Clough has a track record for transforming institutions, a distinction that earned a chapter in Thomas L. Friedman's best-selling book The World is Flat. Friedman described how Clough's philosophy of attracting science students with artistic and creative interest raised Georgia Tech's graduation rate and encouraged more creativity in engineering. Clough's work over 14 years raised the school's academic profile.
If Clough puts the Smithsonian on an a course of advocacy, it might explain why he declared at his appointment in March 2008 (according to The Washington Post):
"I know the Smithsonian, for many people in their minds, is about the past," Clough said yesterday at a news conference. "But it is not. It is about America's future."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
As National Geographic has
September 8, 2009 - 15:38 ET by Chris NormanAs National Geographic has gone ultra-liberal, so has the Smithsonian. William F. Buckley was right (again) when he said that any institution not specifically created to be conservative would, in time, grow to be liberal. It takes just one head guy and a few board memebers getting in...
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
and dont forget
September 8, 2009 - 15:38 ET by Paarl"Politicized" Scientific American
Paarl of Rhodesia
Liberal Translation
September 8, 2009 - 18:20 ET by allanfLiberal translation - Gore's people are offerning me a ton of money to push this garbage.
We should not be surprised
September 8, 2009 - 18:49 ET by Franksam'Hey, I'm really interested in the fact that you have resources to be an honest broker in the climate change debate ... and I would be willing to put up significant money to do that.'''
We should not be surprised when the position advocated by the Smithsonian mirrors that of the donor. First the National Geographic Society sells out and now this venerable institution. Of course, the Smithsonian did try to not hurt the feelings of any Japanese with the 'apolitical' commemoration of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Next will be book burnings at the Library of Congress.
Gag me with a
September 8, 2009 - 17:39 ET by bigtimerGag me with a spoon...
Enough is enough...this has to stop!
People want their country back...and this is another fine example of our anger out here in the real world!
'Go Green...Recycle Congress'
bt, maybe some of the tea-partyers in D.C. next weekend...
September 8, 2009 - 18:38 ET by R D Helm...will go over there and raise hell.
-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
Dave... Couldn't
September 8, 2009 - 18:42 ET by bigtimerDave...
Couldn't hurt...although no one will listen.
Arrogance is all over DC the likes of which we have never seen.
They aren't going to really realize what hit them until it is too late.
'Go Green...Recycle Congress'
As a tax-paying American, I strenuously object to this...
September 8, 2009 - 17:46 ET by R D Helm...gross misuse/abuse of my tax dollars.
-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
Kind of like the NEA wanting to twist the art community?
September 8, 2009 - 20:05 ET by MaximusBraveheartThis below should be a big story also. Shows what they are up to & what they are
willing to do. Good reader comments afterwards.
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/pcourrielche/2009/09/08/update-the-nea-and-mainstream-media-remain-silent/
snip in part::
WHO
SET UP GOVERNMENT ‘PROPAGANDA’ CONFERENCE CALL? Newly Revealed White House, NEA
Audio Contradictby Patrick Courrielche
Another conference call has materialized, revealing a concerted effort by
government to use the arts to address political issues.
Lee Rosenbaum, a blogger for Artsjournal.com, posted
her experience with a meeting that occurred on August 27th and confessed
that she also felt “uneasy” about the government’s arts effort. The meeting
invitation (viewable
here) went out to all “member local, state, and regional arts agencies,
community-based arts organizations, and national partners of Americans for
Arts.” Americans for Arts is a non-profit arts organization that has received
substantial grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
M-B
The Smithsonian sold it's
September 8, 2009 - 18:58 ET by danboThe Smithsonian sold it's soul a long time ago.
Like NASA and the National Geographic it squandered the trust and respect of the American People.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Hit The Nail On The Head With That One
September 8, 2009 - 18:59 ET by dbo...Clough's philosophy of attracting science students with artistic and creative interest...
I think those are the only kind of science students that believe in global warming.
Impact of Uneducated Illegals on Global Warming?
September 8, 2009 - 20:02 ET by ptsonNah! Simpler than that! CLOUGH YOU America!
Chris Norman has it right about William F. Buckley's quote...
September 9, 2009 - 09:20 ET by ThalpyChris Norman has it right about William F. Buckley's quote about institutions. Many begin as reasonably objective, but morph into bomb throwing leftist institutions. Museums are institutions and the Smithsonian seems to be living up to Buckley's prediction. We might keep in mind that a majority of museums house the artifacts of dead civilizations.