“That’s a mistake”
Barack Obama has admitted he “screwed up” not giving Dolly Parton a Presidential Medal of Freedom during his time in the White House.
The former president said he thought the legendary folk singer had already been given one.
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the former president of the United States was answering questions as part of a feature called ‘Questions We’re Pretty Sure Barack Obama Has Never Been Asked Before’. I hope I don’t have to explain how it works.
Obama fell victim to the classic “what goes in a toaster?” question, answering “toast”, before claiming he was asked a trick question.
Colbert then asked: “How does Dolly Parton not have a Presidential Medal of Freedom?”
Obama, taken aback, paused before answering: “That’s a mistake. I’m shocked.”
“Actually, that was a screw up, I assumed she had already got one, and that was incorrect.
“She deserves one, I’ll call Biden,” Obama added.
A Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.”
It cannot be argued that Dolly Parton doesn’t deserve one. Not only for her services to music, but also her commitment to public health – the folk icon recently helped fund the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, making a $1m donation to Vanderbilt University medical centre.
The vaccine tests at around 95 per cent effective and that donation was just the latest of many from Parton over the years.
Here’s to hoping Biden makes up for Obama’s oversight.
