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Obama Snubs the King
Katarina Andersson is a New York-based freelance reporter for Swedish Broadcasting. She previously hosted a popular radio talk show in Sweden and covered politics, economy, and arts for numerous Scandinavian media outlets in the U.S. She lives in Brooklyn with her son.
Alex Brandon / AP Photo
Finally some Europeans are angry with Obama—the very ones who are awarding him his Nobel. Katarina Andersson on the president's decision to decline lunch with King Harald and skip his own Nobel exhibit.
A day before President Obama receives his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, the president’s treatment of his Norwegian hosts has become hot news across Scandinavia.
News outlets across the region are calling Obama arrogant for slashing some of the prize winners’ traditional duties from his schedule. “Everybody wants to visit the Peace Center except Obama,” sniped the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, amid reports the president would snub his own exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center. “A bit arrogant—a bit bad,” proclaimed another Aftenposten headline.
“It’s very sad,” said Nobel Peace Center Director Bente Erichsen of the news that Obama would skip the peace center exhibit. Prize winners traditionally open the exhibitions about their work that accompany the Nobel festivities. “I totally understand why the Norwegian public is upset. If I could get a few minutes with the president, I’d say, ‘To walk through the exhibition wouldn’t take long, and I’m sure you would love the show. You have no idea what you are missing.’”
Meanwhile, the Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet is reporting that the president has declined an invitation to lunch with King Harald V, an event every prize winner from the Dalai Lama to Al Gore has attended. (The newspaper’s headline: “Obama disses lunch with King Harald.”)
Also among the dissed, according to news reports: a concert in Oslo on Friday that was arranged in his honor, and a group of Norwegian children who had planned to meet Obama in front of City Hall.
“The American president is acting like an elephant in a porcelain shop,” said Norwegian public-relations expert Rune Morck-Wergeland. “In Norwegian culture, it’s very important to keep an agreement. We’re religious about that, and Obama’s actions have been clumsy. You just don’t say no to an invitation from a European king. Maybe Obama’s advisers are not very educated about European culture, but he is coming off as rude, even if he doesn’t mean to.”
Indeed, judging by statements surrounding the president’s trip to Europe this week, it is beginning to appear as if the European love affair with Obama—which culminated in giving him the Nobel Prize—is over.
The Swedish news agency TT reported today that 44 percent of the Norwegians found Obama's diss to King Harald V to be "rude." Even more—53 percent—are upset about the fact that he is not attending the traditional concert. And by now a third of the Vikings believe that the U.S. president doesn't deserve the Peace Prize. At the same time, 20 different Norwegian organizations have applied for a permit to demonstrate during Obama's visit.
• Samuel P. Jacobs: Obama Goes for the Gold But some news outlets are cutting him a bit of slack, noting that he is dealing with two wars and soaring unemployment back home and a new war, and that his main focus this week should rightly be on the climate-change summit in Copenhagen. Taking part in all the activities surrounding his Nobel Prize could send the wrong message.
That may have something to do with Obama’s uncharacteristic shunning of the press. Whereas other prize winners have viewed the standard Nobel Peace Prize CNN interview as an opportunity to address the world for a full hour, Obama seems unwilling to answer any questions at all. There will be no press conference, just a statement from the president.
“It’s very strange that he is unwilling to meet the press,” said Marie Simonsen, political editor at Dagbladet, one of Norway’s biggest daily newspapers. “I’m very disappointed. You get the impression he is not proud of the prize.”
“You just don’t say no to an invitation from a European king. Maybe Obama’s advisers are not very educated about European culture, but he is coming off as rude, even if he doesn’t mean to.”
Obama is the second sitting American president to visit Norway. Ten years ago, President Clinton traveled to the country at the invitation of King Harald. “When Clinton was here he was walking into cafes in downtown Oslo, shaking hands with Norwegians on the street,” said Simonsen. “It doesn’t seem as if we are going to experience something similar with President Obama.”
Katarina Andersson is a New York-based freelance reporter for Swedish Broadcasting. She previously hosted a popular radio talk show in Sweden and covered politics, economy, and arts for numerous Scandinavian media outlets in the U.S. She lives in Brooklyn with her son.
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orkaambe
Ten years ago, there was no 9/11, no global war on terror - as such Clinton could move about freely - walk the streets of Oslo and do what not. Today, the situation is different as the security imperatives of being a US president are vast. Obama has to cut down on schedule - there is no gain glorifying festivities of an award the recipient is truly undeserving of. Obama is smart and he knows he's done nothing to deserve the award. Why dine with the king or have a Q&A with the press to ridicule himself.
vane777
well...he took the money that was awarded with the peace prize, did he not? i hate to say this and its difficult to imagine that a Harvard graduate and president of the US behaving in this manner at such a critical point in the world. this peace prize is an honor and highly respected award which the norwegian people bestowed upon our president and his behavior is rude and inappropriate. as for not facing the press...please! when you are leader of the free world let us hope with great sincerity you have the cajones to deal with the press even in the darkest of times. it is truly a missed opportunity for president Obama. there are no excuses to snub a reigning king. our prez seems to be surrounded by a bunch of social hicks...i am starting to feel we have a left version of "gorge dubbya" on our hands. personally i dont get how anyone can receive a peace prize after sending 30,000 soldiers into afghanistan, where's the peace in that? gosh i am truly surprised. if you cant stand the heat...get out of the kitchen!! this is sooooo disappointing ;-(
stjam8
Considering the amount of criticism our president has received for the Nobel Peace Prize, it's understandable that he wouldn't want to give his critics any more to whine about .As far as Afghanistan goes, if we don' deal with it now, perhaps we will be dealing with it in the future. Those nukes in Pakistan are a worry, since the borders between these 2 countries is porous.
dailywackos
"this peace prize is an honor and highly respected award..."
Not true any more from the moment they gave it to Obama for doing something he may have done, or will be doing, or hoping to do, or willing to do, or looking to do, or maybe doing, or, well you get the picture.
stjam8
dailywackcos Bishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize 10 years before apartheid was achieved.
camfield
Damned if he does; damned if he doesn't. Fox News and the usual crowd of Obama-haters would just love to see the President spend an extended amount of time in Oslo in connection with what they would describe at the very least as a controversial awarding of the Peace Prize--while the world is going to hell elsewhere. He would be accused of all manner of posturing and reveling in a personal moment--while troops continue to die in Afghanistan.
It's not difficult to predict the actions of the usual hatchet-wielding crowd at Fox, not to mention the comments of slack-jawed bloggers, some of whom already are present here on this site today.
drafter
Come on people, hasn't anyone ever read the Constitution? Members of the government cannot accept gifts of any kind. They have to turn over anything they receive to the government.
bluemarbles
Anyone who perceives Barack Obama as lacking cojones must be blind, deaf and dumb.
bbc-ranger
WOW! That's the most uneducated, incoherent statement yet to be made. "he took the money that was awarded..."? You might as well start reading news. He's giving out the whole sum to aid agencies. What better cause is there than that?
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Margot62
You Obama-philes are truly irritating. Obama causes these faux paux wherever he goes... Please stop using George Bush, 9/11 and the war on terror for every slight (both big and small) Obama makes. His handlers are obviously inexperienced and ignorant.
Pupster
"Faux paux"? Listen, you moron, don't pretend like you wouldn't blame Obama no matter what he did. Mostly because Bush was a disaster for our country and the rest of the world, you and your kind supported it, and now you have to justify your misguided support by tearing down the next guy.
Frankly, Obama could go over there, crap on King Harald's rug and the Norwegians would still respect Obama more than they do GWBuffoon.
Obama is sticking with his plan to make this Nobel situation as low-key as possible, then get back to business. Is that too complicated for you to understand?
OldCrow
another example of amateur hour in the Obama administration.
Obama doesn't want to meet the king because he's confused over how to bow.
papist
hey pupster, first of all, prove that Bush was "a disaster for our country and the rest of the world." Next, why is Obama trying to "make this Nobel situation as low-key as possible"? Mother Teresa didn't. Of course, maybe that's because Mother Teresa had something to say.
bigwurzz
You can't say anything when we use Bush as an example everytime your side gets all worked up about some perceived "faux paux". You are the idiots who elected Bush one and a half times. You never get to say anything about any politician on our side until you get your own loony bin of a house in order. Arguing with people like you is like arguing with two year olds.
Tiger01
Actually bigwurzz, it's the Norwegians who are getting worked up. And Pupster, hate to tell you this, but Bush's relationships with European leaders were actually quite good. Far better than those of the current idiot circus freak occupying the WH. And Bush was also highly respected in Asia and Africa. Listen, I know it hurts to see your guy failing so miserably. Barry 0's poll numbers are the lowest of any president in recent history. He's a laughing stock here and abroad. You people are embarrassed about how you got caught up in the hopenchange and elected an inexperience, incompetent community organizer with a paper-thin resume based on his ability to read a teleprompter. I know, it hurts. All I can say to make you feel a little better is that it will all be over in 2012. Now, feel better? You're welcome.
Tiger01
dfsdasdfsdf
Pupster
Tiger, you must be joking. Obama would have to invade 2 other random countries before hitting the low approval levels that Bush and Cheney reached in 2008. And European leaders liked Bush better than Obama? Are you deluded? Ask Sarkozy and Blair/Brown. Ask Angela Merkel if she isn't relieved to not be getting inappropriate and uncomfortable back rubs. And no, Bush wasn't respected in Asia, though he got a little love in Africa.
Are you just making up facts like Bush did with intelligence or aiming for "truthiness" saying nonsense that just feels right to you? Enjoy the next 7 years out of power. This world is gonna look a whole lot different than it did at the end of 2008.
KemCho
No, USA is falling apart. He can not leave this country more than a day. BO is the only one who can solve this. He has ego - bigger than anybody in history.
Bulldoglover100
PROVE THAT BUSH HURT OUT COUNTRY??? ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU BRAIN DEAD? LOOK AROUND YOU!
Jacamina
Pupster... You need to get your facts straight. Obama has the lowest approval rating of all Presidents in their first 11 months. Bush didn't sell our country short and didn't go around the world apologizing. People feared Bush because he would take action against them if they tried to hit us with violence. I'm proud to have had Bush as our President. He did his job keeping us safe for 8 years after 9/11, which, IMHO, was caused by a Democratic President who lost sight of what his job was! Obama's job is not to go around the Consitution and fundamentally transform our nation. Our nation is perfect just the way she is! We are the last FREE country of the world. Why do you think people are flocking here daily? They are leaving a repressed country to live in freedom.
Maobama is only for himself. He is the most narcissistic POTUS I have ever seen. He says he's for the poor, but answer one question? If he's so much in helping the poor with aid (welfare, food stamps, housing, etc.), then why did he say, in the last President Debate with McCain, that he wants to eliminate school vouchers? These vouchers help the poor to get a better education so that they can get out of the low poverty area and make something out of their lives. Answer that question for me, would you please? Maobama is a joke!
charo111
The peace price awarded to Obama after he'd been in office only 2 weeks, with no world leadership experience was a "sham" The US public knows it....too bad they didn't give the prize to an organization or person who truly deserved it....what can you expect from an organization who gave a peace prize to the terrorist Arifat who robbed his own people and wasn't interested in any peace plan demonstrated with his meetings with former president Clinton during his administration. Why not a peace price for the world leaders who were responsible for the Berlin Wall coming down?
theserex
Seriously? His security duties? He doesn't believe terrorism even exists anymore, not to mention that didn't stop him from going to the Olympics selection conference, or whatever it's called.
This is absolutely comical!!! I wonder what the exhibition showed? It couldn't have been that extensive. He probably felt his own achievements weren't worth revisiting. I feel sorry for the poor people who had to fabricate such an exhibit. I'm sure it was not an easy task.
If O's doing this to be modest, that ship sailed when he accepted an award for doing nothing! Instead, he ducks out of state events with foreign leadership, insulting them, and making the whole of the US look like a bunch of pompous, unrefined idiots. I hope there's a word in Norwegian for gullible.
baptox
That some Europeans are angry that he has breached some imaginary protocol, not because he recently escalated the war in Afganistan, tells us all we need to know about his pompous critics.
That having been said, President Obama should not receive the Noble Peace Prize because he is using war and combat operations to attempt to achieve peace, not other means.
AlaskanInfidel
Your attempt to defend the indefensible is just pathetic. Obama is a walking, talking insult. Ask the Brits. Ask the Poles or the Czechs. Ask the French. Ask those in the Honduras. Hell...just ask anyone in the US that is not drinking the Kool-aid you so clearly imbibe in.
You Obama apologists make me sick to my stomach. How hard will he have to slap you before you realize that you mean nothing to him?
seakiev
Actually I think Pres. Obama is skipping the events because he's embarassed that 67% of his own countrymen don't think he deserves the award.
If he was a real leader he would have declined the award and suggested they give it to Greg Mortenson (of Three Cups of Tea fame) who has contributed to real peace in Afghanistan through building schools.
Lynettema
I'll bet you are one of those complaining that he got the prize to begin with. Just proves our point: you have only ONE agenda - to rag on the President. I doubt this decision was made to please YOU.
amybelle2000
Subject: OBAMA, he is a rude arrogant man. Who wants to ruin America, because he believes in Markism. He ruins this country he ruins all countries. That is rude that he declined a dinner with the king and it is rude he would not even attend getting the Noble Peace prize, inwhich he doesn't deserve. Open your eyes people.
Aurora
That would be St. Mark? he of Gospel fame?
SimonSaize
he admits "others are more deserving" yet, oddly, didn't mention who "they" are, and accepted the award and money regardless.
Was Tiger Woods in the way of his "game"? We shall never know.....
Tennis anyone?
Monk66
here comes the flood of comments about how bad potus is..
bring them on. he at least deserves these
ThinkAgain
I don't know. If the fact that he's snubbing them or that they at least think he is, gets wide attention here, his approval here might well go up.
Europe is watered down and washed out. Looking to them for acceptance and direction is beyond absurd.
mindlessmissy
Last time I checked he DID NOT ask for any prize ...
[ And no one should spout off that he should then have refused it ... Because THAT will be considered a WORSE snub than skipping a couple of the pre-planned festivities ... ]
AlanD2
Please don't confuse conservatives with the facts, mindlessmissy.
Their minds are already made up...
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stjam8
Connie47: I've noticed that. If you try to debate many on the issues, what you get back besides insults is something they heard on fox, so it must be true. Your "so-called conservatives" are Tea partyers, and proud to be called so. Just don't make the mistake of calling tea baggers, they now know what it means so they stopped using that term, and it makes them mad if any one continues to do so.
ThinkAgain
lol Go to your leftwingnut sites where they carefully parse and cut and paste the 'facts' to make sure your fragile brains aren't confused into actually making up your own mind. The fact that they moderate out dissent really reveals how much confidence they have in the liberal mind doesn't it? And your won't even recognize the vulgarity, nastiness and hate because it's not airmed at your ilk. Enjoy!
Soonchurcher
As are yours.
ShyGuy
Connie47,
And just how do you "trash" trash?
Neat trick if you can accomplish that.
Or perhaps you may actually mean recycle trash????
Isn't that what you people want all of us to do anyway, recycle?
idajorgensen
As a Norwegian, let me tell you: this article is construed to the max.
mdzend
Wins the Nobel peace Prize then escalates an already illegal war.Has it not dawned on anyone that he realizes what a sham it is receiving it?
vane777
and? so now the president is a coward? no way! there is no excuse for recieving an honor such as this taking the prize money(there is some cash in this for his charity,right?) and then behaving this way this is just another version of American rudeness,a negative sentiment i must face every time i leave the U.S.
LiberallyConservative
For the record Vane777, He did promise to donate the money to a charitable organization.
stjam8
The war in Afghanistan was where the perpetrators of 9/11 were. The borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan are porous allowing the terrorists to travel freely between the 2 countries. The war in Iraq was started with false intelligence.
Pupster
Since when was this war in Afghanistan "illegal"? When the public and the world fully supported our actions back in 2001? When a coalition of 42 countries joined us in our fight?
Maybe mdzend can make a valid case that Bush&co screwed it up by letting Osama go in the hills of Tora Bora back in 2002, then further by diverting badly needed troops and intelligence to the real illegal war in Iraq. That GWB had 8 years of incompetence to mire us in Afghanistan instead of getting al Qaeda, shoring up Pakistan, then getting out. But mdzend is just outright wrong calling it "illegal", thus undermining anything he has to say on the matter.
Ciccina
Exactly. That is why the prize is an embarrassment to him. The prize committee put him on the spot, reminding everyone of his anti-war pre-election promises (including the speech on Iraq that made him a star). Now, every time he betrays those promises and, incidentally, takes the very actions that he berated his primary and general election opponents for supporting, the prize becomes a reference point for his hypocrisy.
This has nothing to do with whether you think his current Iraq and Afghanistan decisions are warranted. Rather, its about highlighting the difference between the pre- and post-election Obama, the Obama who fails to live up to his word. The prize was awarded to pre-election Obama. The man snubbing it is post-election Obama.
Anyway, his people care a lot more about his US image than offending an foreign country. Here's a good rule of thumb: if your event wouldn't look good as the backdrop in a campaign commercial, Obama won't be there.
And for the record, I'm not a conservative. Voting Democratic shouldn't mean you can't think for yourself.
steve-annie
Since when does "voting Democratic" mean you're not a conservative? It becomes more impossible by the day to tell the Democrats from the Republicans.
stjam8
Ciccina many have forgotten that President Obama campaigned on the war in Iraq was the wrong war. He repeatedly said we took our eye off the ball when we went in to Iraq. That the perpetrators of 9/11 were in Afghanistan and that where we should be.
aackc1
stjam8... and as POTUS he can pull us out. Think about all the money spent on Afgh, Iraq and supporting Israel. Let's bring 'em home and fix our own domestic problems first.
stjam8
aackc1:You make some valid points, but those nukes in Pakistan,while the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is porous is a big problem. Is there another way to deal with that problem? Then, I am all for bring our Troops home. I agree these wars have brankrupt us and demanded too much from our brave men and women. But unless we deal with this, things might get a lot worse.
Baddchild
He's pulling a dine and dash because him winning this farce has been nothing but an embarrashment to him. When gallup has him sitting at 47% approval ratings, the less he runs around winning pretend awards makes his presidency look like more of a joke.
Maybe if he took one of his Safe School Czars' fisting classes back in high school he'd know how the rest of America feels with what he is doing to them...
Pupster
Funny thing is that 47% approval is still about 25 points higher than what the public thinks of Congressional Republicans.
aackc1
and about 28% higher then the public thinks of Congress in general. Lead by the Demorats...
diogenes90278
Typical liberal. You are somehow forgetting the Congressional Demon-o crats are the major part of that 25% lower points. Interesting article I saw today is that congress rates lower than used car sales for morals. Perhaps you also computed figures for East Angican University climate
Pupster
Yeah, Congress isn't too popular. But the Dems still have overwhelming majorities in both chambers, and polls show higher approval numbers for Congressional Dems over Repubs. Since you want to make it an issue...
whywhywhy
Hey Europe: He's just not that into you.
Genni2002
"In Norwegian culture, it's very important to keep an agreement."
Huh? This is not just untrue; it is not practiced in the Norwegian culture that I have been exposed to, which has been a lot. Just take a look at the area of contracts, for example. Not to mention the fact that Norwegians are fiercely independent and should applaud an individual's choice to be just that. Finally, they picked a sitting president. Maybe he should just hang around and party to keep the peace. Who cares what pressing matters sit on the plate and wait?
whipmawhopma
Maybe he's just trying to cut back on the amount of bowing he has to do. To monarchs in general and to people that think they own him.
vane777
this is not the universe of america, ok? the world is comprised of MANY CULTURES AND COUNTRIES a statement that falls from his lips all the time...well when he was speaking to the press! norway does not 'own' the president. what is wrong with being a gentleman, dignified and gracious?
whipmawhopma
vane777 - He is the President of the Universe of America. Not Europe. Maybe he's busy. In any case, if he doesn't make time to meet the king-of-whatever he is criticized. If he does make the time to meet said king, he is criticized. What a farce.
truthiness2
"You just don't say no to an invitation from a European king."
Heh, heh. These people were dumb enough to award him the Peace prize because he made their legs tingle.Obviously they had not figured out that he has nothing but contempt for them. He does not care for European kings, he only bows to absolute monarchs!
Butch8844
A display of his accomplishements!! It must be an empty room
thebaker
Just what I was thinking.
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sophia5
Are Euros catching on ? Obama seems to be dissing
America's traditional allies, the Europeans.
Gordon Brown ? Sarcozy ?
Returning the Churchill Bust to Britain.
Obama's Evita-Like overture to Berlin was a self serving smoke screen.
Cue the Obama Greek Temple from the Denver Speech.
Everything this man does is deliberate and calculated,
bathed in arrogance, and delusional self importance.
" But some news outlets are cutting him a bit of slack, noting that he is dealing with two wars and soaring unemployment back home and a new war, and that his main focus this week should rightly be on the climate-change summit in Copenhagen. Taking part in all the activities surrounding his Nobel Prize could send the wrong message."
But, he has plenty of time to golf.
Rationalizing nonsense by Obama Sycophants.
He is a Saul Alinsky Community Organizer in President's Clothing.
whywhywhy
Well said... I agree 100%. Obama is a media-supported fraud.
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OldCrow
Maybe Europe is finally learning that Obama is a clueless, arrogant empty suit. Just listen to him talk without a teleprompter. He can't even string two sentences together.
orkaambe
really! how did he manage through election campaigns - town halls and debates? the guy isn't dumb, he's smart. it's an entirely different pie if we agree that his policies are yet to materialize or show promise.
Pupster
OldCrow is just parroting rightwingnut memes. Talk about not being able to think on one's own. Ignore.
papist
orkaambe, you ask how he managed through election campaings, town halls, and debates. To answer that question, apply even the most elementary processes of logic, and you will realize that he failed miserably as an intellectual force that should be taken seriously. As someone that appeals to the dumbed-down senses of people who watch hours of TV every day, he did quite well.
aackc1
The Nobel Panel voted for him so he could be an M.C. at events.
I applaud Obama, this contest was like a Miss America pageant. He won the beauty contest.
He does not need an hour to speak... He can make the 3 major networks set aside their schedule at anytime so he can speak for an hour.
eurydice9276
Oh please, first they saddle him with an award he doesn't want and that he and the whole world know he doesn't deserve, and then they want him to jump through all their ceremonial hoops instead of doing the work for which they gave him the award in the first place.
anna1960
He CAMPAIGNED for this position all over the world, remember? He declared himself a citizen of the world while in Europe.
seakiev
If he knows Obama doesn't deserve the award, why didn't he ask them to give it to someone who does, like Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea) who would have used the money to build more schools in Afghanistan.
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