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International News Title: Obama Snubs the King Finally some Europeans are angry with Obamathe 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 presidents 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 arroganta bit bad, proclaimed another Aftenposten headline. Its 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, Id say, To walk through the exhibition wouldnt take long, and Im 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 newspapers 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, its very important to keep an agreement. Were religious about that, and Obamas actions have been clumsy. You just dont say no to an invitation from a European king. Maybe Obamas advisers are not very educated about European culture, but he is coming off as rude, even if he doesnt mean to. Indeed, judging by statements surrounding the presidents trip to Europe this week, it is beginning to appear as if the European love affair with Obamawhich culminated in giving him the Nobel Prizeis 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 more53 percentare 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. 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 Obamas 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. Its very strange that he is unwilling to meet the press, said Marie Simonsen, political editor at Dagbladet, one of Norways biggest daily newspapers. Im very disappointed. You get the impression he is not proud of the prize. You just dont say no to an invitation from a European king. Maybe Obamas advisers are not very educated about European culture, but he is coming off as rude, even if he doesnt 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 doesnt seem as if we are going to experience something similar with President Obama.
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#1. To: borntoweardiamonds (#0)
Of course, we all know.......
What's the difference between Racism_Boot's mouth and anal pore? There isn't any, they both spew gas and feces.
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