Obama + Kanye West + Glenn Beck = Our Jackassy Times

Prezzes Obama and Clinton dined at Il Mulino Monday, so perhaps a too-rich veal chop is to blame for Obama's later (off the record!) statement that artist Kanye West behaved like a "jackass" on Sunday night when he interrupted country western star Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Much respect to our commander in chief, but did he not learn that snarky side comments always get picked up? Kind of a jackassy move, if you ask me. Then again, these are jackassy times, and one good jackass deserves another. Here, I'll point to uber pundit Glenn Beck, who received a fair share of blowback following his assertion that the president is racist, but has (very successfully) continued on the Path of the Outspoken – or, depending on your views, the Way of the Jackass. But in recent days, Beck's campaigns have netted real results: heads are rolling in the White House.

To be fair, Beck's focus two weeks ago on (now former) Special Adviser for Green Jobs Van Jones likely had its roots in self preservation, but I'll go out on a limb and say that Jones was jackassy in calling Republicans a derogatory name and signing onto highly controversial, conspiracy-themed petitions without "carefully reviewing them." Jones stepped down from his position on Sept. 5, but Beck is far from waving the white flag.

Last week, Yosi Sergant, director of communications for the National Endowment for the Arts, was reassigned to another post, following Beck's recent segment accusing Sergant of spearheading Nazi-style propaganda in support of White House policy. Several weeks ago, Sergant led a conference call with members of the entertainment and arts communities, encouraging them to use their respective forums to encourage public service.

The invitation to the call read, "We have a unique role to play in making service accessible and fun for those who are not used to volunteering. We know that engaging all Americans in service means expanding the idea of service." Beck glossed over the "call to service" part of the agenda and instead implied that Sergant -- and the NEA -- held the call to ask these denizens of culture to further Obama's policy agenda, including support for the president's health care plan.

As a leading voice against "Obamacare" -- Beck rallied supporters to the National Mall last weekend to decry the proposal -- anything that smacked of improper use of public funds to support controversial policies like this would seem to be fair game. If only that was the case. Beck's connect-the-dots between the NEA and Joseph Goebbels wasn't only irrational -- it was shameful. Yes, Taylor Swift looked stricken on stage Sunday night, clutching her MTV Moonman trophy as Kanye West grabbed her mic -- but I'm of the mind that certain other public figures have decidedly more destructive agendas on tap. If the Prez is comfortable tossing off phrases like "stupid" and "jackass" in public, is it too much to ask him to at least direct those choice words at parties slightly more deserving?