[HPforGrownups] Ludo Bagman

[Peg Kerr]

No: HPFGUIDX 29096



Elizabeth Clayton wrote:

> I've got a query. I was reading GoF last night, and something in The
> Pensieve chapter struck me.
>
> What would he know about the Ministry that he could pass on? And *why* would
> he know it? It just doesn't seem to fit!

What this reminds me of is a period in American history where many Hollywood stars and writers were dragged before Joseph McCarthy's Committee of Unamerican
Activities and accused of being Communists.  Those who wouldn't cooperate by admitting that they were Communists and naming other Communists were
blacklisted.

But when you think about it, why was Joseph McCarthy palpitating about Communists among . . . Hollywood actors?  What, after all, could a Hollywood star do
that was dangerous to the union by espousing Communist ideas?  Well, McCarthy argued that people in that position were able to influence Americans, but
probably more to the point was that he knew that dragging a famous personality to the Committee got him, Joe McCarthy, much more news coverage.

Like movie stars, hot sports stars get media coverage, period.  Imagine if a famous sports star (Serena Williams in tennis, Michael Jordan in
basketball--pick your example)  was accused of secretly supporting the Al-Quaeda network--you'd better believe there would be a stink.  The Ministry of
Magic might have gone after Ludo Bagman, not because he was in a position to do much harm, but because they wanted to make an example of somebody with a
really high profile in the news.