RAT the candidates & arts funding

[Ahoodwink@aol.com]

>The Associated Press recently asked the>presidential candidates the
>following question related to the arts:
>>Do you support federal subsidies for the arts?
>
>(in alphabetical order, the responses are:)
>
>DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES:
>Bill Bradley: ``Yes. The arts have enriched>the lives of Americans, as well 
>as our economy.>  The National Endowment for the Arts has been an>important 
>catalyst for that effort.''
>
>Al Gore: ``I strongly believe in encouraging>and supporting the arts and 
>would continue the>current policy of support. The arts are an 
>important>part of our life and our history and should be supported.''
>
>
>REFORM CANDIDATE:
>Pat Buchanan: ``No. The National Endowment for the Arts has 
>subsidized>projects that are blasphemous, degraded and obscene. Let 
>the>Mapplethorpes and Serranos insult God and man on their own dime.''
>
>
>REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES:
>George W. Bush: ``I believe we should continue>federal funding for the 
>arts, but give states a>greater say in how the funds are spent. I 
>don't>believe we should spend public money to support>obscene material or 
>denigrate religion.''
>
>Alan Keyes: ``No.''
>
>John McCain: ``No. I have opposed federal>funding for the National 
>Endowment for the>Arts because I believe it is not proper to
>use tax dollars for what many Americans feel>are the obscene and 
>inappropriate projects>this organization has supported. I support
>providing federal block grants to the states>for arts education and 
>artistic endeavors>pursued by state and local authorities, while
>  assuring that federal tax>dollars are not spent on obscene or offensive 
>material.''
>
>-----------------
>Thanks to>Americans for the Arts>for this information.