An American Lion

Norwegians are a pretty even-keeled folk. How can you tell if they’re really mad about something? I don’t get this at all:

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.

See? They “were told early on” that President Obama could “not commit to all of them.” So where is the outrage, then? If the Obama Administration told the organizers early on that he couldn’t make all of the traditional events, why are they up in arms in the first place?

Ideologically opposed elements inside of Norway have seized upon something in order to make an American president look bad. That’s wrong. That’s a kneejerk response. President Obama has done nothing wrong, and this sort of thing should unite Americans. I realize that liberals would never say the same thing about President Bush, but still. Allow me to say that President Obama has every right to decline certain events and maintain his schedule. No foreign political intrigue need sully the reputation of our President.