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From the Irony of Ironies File: A new book by a former Bush speechwriter is claiming that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was passed over for the presidential medal of freedom because her books "encouraged witchcraft."
In his book Speech-Less: Tales of a White House Survivor, Matt Latimer claims that decisions on who received the medal, given to "individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours" and considered to be America's highest civilian honor, were colored by political considerations. Rowling was taken out of the running because the conservative Bush administration didn't want to celebrate a woman whose books -- while selling more copies than almost any other book since the Bible and being responsible for millions of children ditching their joysticks in favor of reading -- supposedly promoted the supernatural.
Ted Kennedy was also allegedly denied a medal because he was a liberal. President Obama recently honored the late Senator with the award in August.
It's a crime, it's a shame, it's ridiculous, but we can't say we're surprised. Sorry, J.K. Might we suggest you spend a little of that $1,000,000,000 you earned on an island or your very own space station to cheer yourself up?
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