Minnesota House Majority Leader Matt Dean Hates Author Neil Gaiman

Posted on May 5, 2011

The Star Tribune reports that Minnesota House majority leader Matt Dean pointed to bestselling author Neil Gaiman's $45,000 fee for a four hour speaking engagement as an example of the type of spending the Minnesota Republican party wants stopped. The Star Tribune says Dean called Gaiman a "pencil-necked little weasel who stole $45,000 from the state of Minnesota." Dean also said he "hates" Neil Gaiman, although he didn't provide an explanation for his enmity.

Neil responded in a tweet. He said, "Sad & funny. Minnesota Republicans have a 'hate' list. Like Nixon did. I'm on it. They also don't like capitalism."

This story is so bizarre, we can't quite wrap our minds around it. We don't recall ever hearing a politician call an author a "pencil-necked little weasel" or a thief before, much less such a well-respected, talented, and thoroughly nice author such as Neil. Perhaps Leader Dean doesn't approve of comic books? Or fiction? Or movies? Or authors, in general? Or perhaps years ago he didn't get his Sandman comic signed at an event and he's been brooding over the imagined snub all this time?