Did Rowling Get Dissed By White House?

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 30th 2009 12:30PM

JK Rowling, author of the 'Harry Potter' book series, was denied a top US honor because politicians believed her books promoted sorcery, BBC News is reporting.

Some US politicians believed the Potter books "encouraged witchcraft," claims Matt Latimer, a former speech writer for President George W. Bush. Latimer alleges that this belief caused her to lose out on a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

This claim and others are spelled out in 'Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor,' Latimer's new book.

The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the US. It celebrates contributions to American national interests, security, cultural endeavors and world peace. T.S. Eliot, Harper Lee and John Steinbeck are past literary recipients. The recently deceased Senator Edward Kennedy was also denied the medal during the Bush administration.

JK Rowling, 44, is one of the world's most popular authors. She wrote the Harry Potter series while a single mother living on welfare. The books sold more than 400 million copies. She has an estimated worth of $798 million.

Tags: harrypotter, jkrowling

Comments

(25)

Friday 02 October

By peoplearecrazy

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listen, meaning people out there that oppose. if you think that waving a stick at someone and saying a few words will work, then your crazy and need some therapy. there is no such thing as magic. i am christian and i find nothing wrong with this book. rowling expressed right for wrong, good from evil. she doesnt deserve to be criticized because of your own personal belief system. and wow promotes "witchcraft", not likely, but even still, people have their own freedom of speech and opinion. seriously people, what is this world coming to.

Friday 13 November

By Allyson

ok wait just one min. this was published on September 30 of this year...THEN HOW THE HELL IS THIS BUSH'S FAULT! THAT DOESNT MAKE ANY SINCE U BUSH BASHERS. "Matt Latimer, a former speech writer for President George W. Bush" THAT DOESNT MEAN IT WAS BUSH'S IDEA. any way. if you notice her books arent promoting sourcery they are promoting that good triumps over evil. they are fiction books and if u cant grasp that then ur just stupid

By dragonfly

Leviticus.......schmeviticus. I love JK and all the other imagination and reading-promoting authors out there! After all, it does take extreme imagination to read the bible.

Wednesday 17 November

By marc

Heaven forbid if you read the wizard of oz books or seen the much beloved movie...its just fiction and if those right wing radicals think its real then why on earth are we allowing them to run the country! They believe in witchcarft then those zany repubs right wingers faux christians.

Wednesday 19 January

By mary bell

What a load of tripe. Americans (hollywood) have made millions from the Harry Potter books through the films and merchandise so isn't it time they gave something back. I am 51 years old and a huge HP fan, the books and films are a bit of fun that takes one back to their childhood fantasies.
If you want to talk about witchcraft where is the condemnation of movies such as the exorcist etc??? Who is Davy jones in Pirates of the Carribean if not a supernatural being?
Get a life people, Harry potter is not about witchcraft in it's true sense, it's a fantasy from a wonderful author who has created a wonderful group of young people who know the difference between right and wrong and want to make the world a better place for everyone... including "muggles".
oh! and yes i am a Brit.

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