Nobel peace prize: Norwegians incensed over Barack Obama's snubs

[웃 910]

Nobel peace prize: Norwegians incensed over Barack Obama's snubs

Barack Obama has turned down a lunch invitation from the King of Norway.

Barack Obama's trip to Oslo to pick up his Nobel peace award is in danger of being overshadowed by a row over the cancellation of a series of events normally attended by the prizewinner.

Norwegians are incensed over what they view as his shabby response to the prize by cutting short his visit.

The White House has cancelled many of the events peace prize laureates traditionally submit to, including a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children's event promoting peace and a music concert, as well as a visit to an exhibition in his honour at the Nobel peace centre.

He has also turned down a lunch invitation from the King of Norway.

According to a poll published by the daily tabloid VG, 44% of Norwegians believe it was rude of Obama to cancel his scheduled lunch with King Harald, with only 34% saying they believe it was acceptable.

"Of all the things he is cancelling, I think the worst is cancelling the lunch with the king," said Siv Jensen, the leader of the largest party in opposition, the populist Progress party. "This is a central part of our government system. He should respect the monarchy," she told VG.

The Norwegian Nobel committee, which awards the peace prize, dismissed the criticism. "We always knew that there were too many events in the programme. Obama has to govern the US and we were told early on that he could not commit to all of them," said Geir Lundestad, secretary of the committee.

Although Obama will not lunch with King Harald, he will see him on a visit to the royal palace.

Peace activists opposed to the Afghanistan war are planning a 5,000-strong protest in Oslo.

The visit will test Obama's rhetorical skills as he seeks to reconcile acceptance of the Nobel peace prize with sending an extra 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan.

White House officials said that Obama, who was planning to work on the final draft of his speech on his flight from Washington to Oslo, would directly address the issue of the irony of being awarded the peace prize while escalating the war.

The Nobel peace committee has been criticised for awarding Obama the prize before he has any major accomplishments in international relations.

A White House official said that it was not necessarily an award that Obama would have given himself.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/0...eace-prize-snub

Edited December 10, 2009 by Confucian

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The Norwegian Nobel committee, which awards the peace prize, dismissed the criticism. "We always knew that there were too many events in the programme. Obama has to govern the US and we were told early on that he could not commit to all of them," said Geir Lundestad, secretary of the committee.

INCENSED!

[scandal 951]

The White House has cancelled many of the events peace prize laureates traditionally submit to, including a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children's event promoting peace and a music concert, as well as a visit to an exhibition in his honour at the Nobel peace centre.

Well, at least they recognize that these are events one "submits to", as opposed to actually seeking out.

I'm personally appalled that he's not visiting the kiddie peace event. GWB would certainly have attended that one, and read "The Pet Goat" to them.

[mawilson 2,133]

GWB would certainly have attended that one, and read "The Pet Goat" to them.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Goatse...FTW!

[NickD 203]

Even of greater offense to us, he turned down an invitation to my granddaughters first birthday party. But I guess with not only this country and another 194 to deal with, may have an overworked schedule.

Feel at this time of the year, he should be at the White House raking leaves instead or taking out the garbage. At night, should be attending his daughters school plays. According to my dentist he should be spending his days brushing and flossing his teeth, minister, spending all his time in church, if he did get that puppy, should be spending his entire day training it, according to his therapists, should be spending all his time with his wife and kids, his boss, if he has one like we do, 24/7 at work, his doctor, getting plenty of exercise and preparing healthy meals, his schools, every night at meetings, organized charities, all of his free time collecting money for them, DOT, half of your day sitting at red traffic lights. and so forth.

[lostinblue 1,989]

We won't have to endure another photo shoot of obit making another bow to royality. Maybe the king will get invited over for a beer next summer.

[Danno 1,228]

Read between the lines here folks..... they are really pissed off that their choice for a peace prize is "upping" the military foot print over in afgan.

I kinda "feel" for Ole Obamer on this one, he didn't seek it and it's probably been more trouble than it's worth...... at least in the short-run. (In the long run few will recall how silly it was that he even got it).

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Even of greater offense to us, he turned down an invitation to my granddaughters first birthday party. But I guess with not only this country and another 194 to deal with, may have an overworked schedule.

Feel at this time of the year, he should be at the White House raking leaves instead or taking out the garbage. At night, should be attending his daughters school plays. According to my dentist he should be spending his days brushing and flossing his teeth, minister, spending all his time in church, if he did get that puppy, should be spending his entire day training it, according to his therapists, should be spending all his time with his wife and kids, his boss, if he has one like we do, 24/7 at work, his doctor, getting plenty of exercise and preparing healthy meals, his schools, every night at meetings, organized charities, all of his free time collecting money for them, DOT, half of your day sitting at red traffic lights. and so forth.

He did?? what an azzhole

[alienlovechild 75]

I would be more impressed if Obama had gracefully declined the Peace Prize. With his ego, I guess he just figured he'd get one later anyway so what's the difference?