Never bring up two things in conversation: politics or Harry Potter.
The Leaky Cauldron makes a post about Bill Clinton being compared to Harry Potter in the media. I'm sure this causes many to react immediately with a bewildered cry of "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?!" I expressed the same sentiment myself, in fact.

Turns out the comparison is primarily based upon the only thing that the two have in common: really impressive book sales. For those not in the know: Clinton's autobiography, My Life, has enjoyed a sales frenzy that rivals that of Order of the Phoenix. Any other similarities between the two are being declared by snarky reporters trying to stab at the public's easily pushed buttons. As far as I know, Clinton has never called himself the "Potter of presidents", as the tongue-in-cheek article linked to in TLC's post sarcastically nicknames him.

The way TLC presents the story, as if the comparison were being made seriously and not snarkily, creates a deluge of hybrid Potter/Political wank in the comments, most of them in the vein of "OMGWTF?!" and "How dare you besmirch the sacred name of the Virgin Harry!" Conservatives do battle with the twisted logic of the American Liberal, and arguments erupt over whether Clinton=Voldemort, Bush=Voldemort, or Cheney=Voldemort and Dubya=Wormtail.

Inevitably somebody says, "Great. I guess to you the flag is just a piece of fabric. God Bless the USA!" and it all goes to potterpolitiwank soapbox hell from there.

ETA: Changed the format, becuz paragrafs r goood.