Mike Huckabee Op-Ed: Don’t cut the “Piss Christ” budget

When Donald Trump released his first budget proposal last week, it proved that his promise to balance the budget in 8 years—his Budget Director is now saying 10 years—is likely to end up in the ash heap of broken promises, along with other broken promises, such as prosecuting Hillary and reversing Obama’s Executive Orders dealing with illegal immigration. Still, while his budget fails to address the real reason America is bankrupt—entitlement spending being number one on the list—he did include several suggestions for cost-cutting some of the smaller budget items.

One of Trump’s suggestions was to defund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). And while roughly $150 million is a small part of the approximately $3.9 trillion the government will spend this year, defunding the NEA is still the right call for two reasons: any cut in spending is a good cut and taxpayers should not be on the hook to promote so-called art.

Why do I say “so-called art?” Do you remember the “work of art” by Andres Serrano that became known as “Piss Christ?” This artistic expression was nothing but a photograph of a crucifix submerged in a glass filled with the “artist’s” urine. Or perhaps you heard of Lani Beloso. She collected the blood from her menstrual cycles and used it to create 13 paintings representing a year’s worth of PMS called “The Period Piece.” Both works, and several others just as disgusting, were funded by the NEA.

While it can hardly be argued that the government should have no part in financing such things, Mike Huckabee thinks otherwise. In fact, he thinks that the NEA should keep all of its funding.

“I do care greatly about the real recipients of endowment funds: the kids in poverty for whom the NEA programs may be their only chance to learn to play an instrument, test drive their God-given creativity, and develop a passion for those things that civilize and humanize us all.”

I think I understand what Huckabee is talking about; after all, what could be more “civilized” than taking the image of Jesus hanging on a cross and submerging it in a jar of urine?

You know, if the Huckster really believed in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as defined by our Founding Fathers, he would know that realizing our “God-given creativity” is best accomplished when the government isn’t involved. Of course, Huckabee’s statement confirms what we already knew about the failed GOP presidential candidate; he is a big-government Progressive, so of course he believes the government knows best and should have the power to spend our money on such foolishness.

It’s only a start, but defunding the NEA needs to happen.

 

David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative, your source for opinion that’s politically incorrect and always “right.” His articles can also be found on RedState.com.

His daily radio commentary is nationally syndicated with Salem Radio Network and can be heard on stations across America.