George W Bush wouldn't honor Harry Potter author due to witchcraft

In case you ever wondered if former president George W. Bush had any deep thoughts on literature, here's the answer to your question: he took it very, very literally. Apparently there's no room for fantasy in the former president's view, especially when it comes to children's lit. Former Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer revealed that the president refused to give Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling the Presidential Medal of Freedom because her books encouraged' witchcraft. The same argument given by close minded pro-censorship folks everywhere.

Noted Muggle/compassionate conservative George W. Bush was apparently a devout Harry Potter hater.

The former commander in chief wasn't about to honor J.K. Rowling, the talent behind the book series, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom…and for quite the logical reason.

'People in the White House...actually object[ed] to giving the author J.K. Rowling a presidential medal because the Harry Potter books encouraged witchcraft,' writes former Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer in his book, Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor.

That's right. Good ol' Dubya and his administration dissed the mega-selling British author, refusing to let her join the ranks of James A. Michener, Harper Lee and John Steinbeck. (Guess he figured the Secret Service could handle any Avada Kedavra curse flung his way.)

Bush distributed 81 medals during his time in office, mostly to war-related allies.

[From E! Online]

While I am not personally a reader of the Harry Potter books, I've said it before and I'll say it again: anything that gets kids that excited about reading is a great and wonderful thing. Most kids read here and there because they have to for school. But the Harry Potter books don't encourage witchcraft so much as they encourage a lifetime love of reading. The kind of love that gets devotees to stand in line for hours to get their hands on a book. How often do kids really do that sort of thing anymore? Sure, they'll stand in line for hours to get their hands on the hottest video game or newest pair of it' shoes.

How great is it that there's a writer so inventive that she's brought back an extreme devotion to reading - against all odds. Kids have so many other things to keep them entertained and over stimulated. It's so close-minded and ignorant to say that J.K. Rowling wasn't deserving of the medal of freedom because her books talked about magic. It's fantasy. Would the former president refuse to let children watch a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat if he were given the option? Because Harry Potter has about that much reality. It's fun and entertaining, and should be honored for it.