The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : And Julius Caesar Was A Tyrant, Mr. Landesman

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The Spectacle Blog

And Julius Caesar Was A Tyrant, Mr. Landesman

By Matthew Vadum on 10.28.09 @ 8:21PM

Here's yet another reason why government should not be involved in funding the arts.

According to Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, President Obama is "the most powerful writer since Julius Caesar."

Is Caesar the best example Landesman could come up with?

Caesar, as students of history know, was a tyrant who brought radical change to Rome, converting it from a republic to a dictatorship.

NRO also takes Landesman to task for his ahistoric observation.

View all comments (9) | Leave a comment

Jim Hlavac| 10.28.09 @ 9:41PM

Not even Shakespeare or Dickens? No one between the Emperor and the Emperor wanna-be?
Astounding, and so what were all those English lit classes for?

Charles Kirtley| 10.28.09 @ 11:54PM

Is there any wonder why our government schools are in such as mess?

Vaemar| 10.29.09 @ 5:27AM

Considering politician-writers alone, how about Winston Churchill?

Pingback| 10.29.09 @ 10:31AM

Barack Obama the Most Powerful Writer Since Julius Caesar? – Associated Content « NOb links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…That has to be good for American artists. – Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts Not so Much says Mark Whittington, via Associated Content Also, see And Julius Caesar Was A Tyrant, Mr. Landesman By Matthew Vadum, American Spectator and Re: Barack Obama the ‘powerful writer’ via National Review Online Filed under: NObama | Tagged: Cult of Personality,…

Harry| 10.29.09 @ 11:49AM

Here’s a good, short article on political philosopher Russell Kirk’s take on politician authors: http://www.lastingliberty.com/timeless/

Sean| 3.28.11 @ 5:28PM

Absolutely true, as a student of Roman history I cannot agree more that Caesar should have surrendered himself to be executed by the Senate without having broken any laws. Absolute tyrant for accepting a legal office and sparing his enemies after said civil war. That's why upon his death the Roman people loathed him so.