James Taranto, WSJ’s Best of the Web:
What we found peculiar about [Chairman Rocco Landesman’s] statement, however, was its punctiliousness in referring to the NEA man involved. His name is Yosi Sergant, but you wouldn’t know it from the Landesman statement, which refers to him only as an “employee” (twice) and as “the former NEA Director of Communications” (three times). The statement also asserts: “This employee has been relieved of his duties as director of communications.”
Wow, Yosi Sergant must really be persona non grata at the NEA! Well, not exactly. We wrote back to Hutter, and the following email exchange–quoted in full–ensued:
Taranto: Thanks. What happened to “the former NEA Director of Communications”? I’ve read that he was reassigned, but what was he reassigned to?
Hutter: James: He remains in the communications office but that’s all the information I have. Thanks.
Taranto: This is very confusing. You are telling me he works in your office but you have no idea what he does or what his title is, other than that it is no longer director of communications?
We sent Hutter that last reply today at 11:13 a.m. ET, and at this writing we have not received an answer.