JK Rowling denied top US honour

[edesignuk]

Harry Potter author JK Rowling missed out on a top honour because some US politicians believed she "encouraged witchcraft", it has been claimed.

Matt Latimer, former speech writer for President George W Bush, said that some members of his administration believed her books promoted sorcery.

As a result, she was never presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The claims appear in Latimer's new book called Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor.

He wrote that "narrow thinking" led White House officials to object to giving Rowling the civilian honour.

The award acknowledges contributions to US national interest, world peace or cultural endeavours.

Past literary recipients of the award include John Steinbeck and Harper Lee.

Others denied the privilege under the Bush administration included Senator Edward Kennedy, who died in August this year.

Latimer claimed, in his book, that the veteran politician and health care activist was excluded because he was deemed to be too liberal.

BBC.

Pesky wizards.

 

[arkitect]

Someone's been reading their Malleus Maleficarum again…
idiots.

Not that I am a Harry Potter or Rowling fan by any measure, but this is just ludicrous.

 

[iBlue]

Codswallop! </Hagrid>

It really is completely silly but sadly unsurprising. I doubt it keeps her up at night though.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I believe the Presidential Medal of Freedom tends to favor US citizens or long-time resident aliens first.

Now, if Rowling spent much of her time living in the USA, that would have been a different story (pun not intended).

 

[Schtumple]

Codswallop! </Hagrid>

It really is completely silly but sadly unsurprising. I doubt it keeps her up at night though.

I hear a mattress of fifty pound notes is quite relaxing.

 

[Abstract]

That's Bush's administration. What does a smart President's and his administration believe? I'd hope something not as crazy as Bush's crew.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

So, just to clarify, are we allowed to get snippy when Her Majesty decides not to give Dan Brown a knighthood? He wrote popular books that were read by people in other countries, too.