Obama’s Nobel Prize Money? It’s Still Waiting For Him To Claim
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Someone on Twitter recently directed a question at Jake Tapper and me: Where did the President donate his Nobel Prize money? Included was a link to a Big Government post that alleged that he had already received the money.
Of course, I knew the answer to that one, as Robert Gibbs addressed this question a couple of weeks ago. The President hadn’t even gotten the money yet, let alone decided where to donate it (but has decided where not to). I also pointed out that the Obamas had made a sizable donation to Haiti relief out of their own pockets.
Here’s Gibbs’ response to that question: (thanks to the encyclopedic ABC News’ Sunlen Miller for locating this quote)
Q A totally new topic — any update on where the President is going to donate his Nobel Prize money?
MR. GIBBS: I know they continue to talk about it. I think he has not received any money yet. But as soon as they — as he makes those donations, we will let you guys know.
Gibbs gives the clear impression that the President is waiting for the Nobel organization to make the funds available.
Still, knowing as I do how the President’s opposition tends to harp on these things, I decided to find out when the Nobel organization actually releases the funds to the winner, and so I’d know when to follow up on this again. Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer to that question on the Nobel Prize website, just that the diploma includes an IOU for the money.
I emailed the Nobel Prize press office, and asked when the actual prize money is given to the winners. Nobel Public Relations Manager Annika Pontikis told me “It totally depends on when and how each individual Nobel Laureate wants to have his/her prize money transferred. I can only say that it is always within one year from when the Nobel Prize was awarded.”
Tommy Christopher: To be clear, though, the money is available to winners as of the Dec. 10 ceremony, and then dependent on the winner’s wishes?
Annika Pontikis: Yes.
While Gibbs is technically correct, (and Big Government is wrong) the President is probably never going to “receive” the money (as it will be transferred directly to his beneficiary), but it is available to him now, and has been since he was presented with the award.
I get that it’s crass for people to try and make political hay with what will be an extraordinarily generous act by the President, and I also get that there are probably lots of good reasons for him to wait, reasons his opponents will ignore.
I also believe that when we ask Gibbs a question, we do it on behalf of the people, all of them, and they deserve an honest and forthright answer. When I interviewed Chip Reid, and he said that the Press Secretary’s first duty is to protect the President (rather than to inform the people through the press), I asked him if he thought Gibbs would concur. Looks like I have the answer. Again.
The White House has not returned requests for comment on this story.
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18 comments
Another investigative expose into the….never mind. Epic Fail! Soiled himself again.
Tommy says:”I get that it’s crass for people to try and make political hay with what will be an extraordinarily generous act by the President,”…
Receiving a “boatload” of cash for doing absolutely nothing except not being GW Bush and simply passing it on is not exactly “extraordinarily generous” in my book. It’s a wash, at best.
crass: 2. being beneath ones dignity.
I thought it was crass for President Obama to accept the award, which was clearly a politically motivated ploy by European socialists to contrast Mr. Obama with Mr. Bush. More deserving recipients include Iranians, Chinese, Tibetans or Zimbabweans who are engaged in life or death struggles with autocratic governments.
If President Obama had refused the award, and given as the reason that there are more deserving recipients, it would have been a gallant gesture and won him a lot of respect.
Why doesn’t he hold onto the money until the end of his presidency. If he lives up to the hype, and achieves “world peace”, he can keep the money. It would be a great investment in his daughters educations.
And if he doesn’t live up to the Prize, he can donate it, plus interest, to a charity selected by the public.
“European socialists”? What a joke! Raw capitalism thrives in Europe.
So, world peace is hype? That may be the most superficial statement ever made on this blog.
yes, you got me, world peace is the hype. that is exactly what i was saying. *eye roll*
Party’s with most seats in respective parliaments:
Sweden: Social Democratic Party- The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has a base of blue-collar workers and public sector employees. It derives much of its power from strong links with the National Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which represents blue-collar workers. The party program combines a commitment to social welfare programs and government direction of the economy. (US Dept of State)
Norway: Red-Green Coalition of which the Norwegian Labour Party is the largest component (in 1923 they split from Comintern-that’s Communist International for leftists who prefer to write their own history instead of learning it)
And just what is a red-green coalition? “In politics, a red-green alliance is an alliance of “red” social democratic or democratic socialist parties with “green” environmentalist parties. The alliance is often based on common left political views, especially a shared distrust of corporate or capitalist institutions. While the “red” parties tend to focus on the adverse effects of capitalism on the working class, the “green” parties tend to focus on the ecological consequences of unrestrained capitalism. (Wikipedia)
Sorry Real Royal A, but we’re trying to have an intelligent conversation here, and for that to happen, you will have to leave.
I see Azarkhan, if you disagree with the politics of an individual or sovereign nation, he, she or it is a socialist.
What you fail to take into account is the free market economies in both of the nations you described. Vibrant, capitalist countries which manufacture products and provide services throughout the entire world.
Really, no intelligent adult would ever cite Wikipedia.
I’m afraid this conversation is far too light for me.
The Real Royal Pain sez:
February 9, 2010 at 12:57 pm
“European socialists”? What a joke! Raw capitalism thrives in Europe.”
Obviously, when the Democrats alley trolling vote bus picked you up they gave you the good crack & ripple, eh?
Yeah, that Europe, what a bunch of Capitalist Pigs they are!
Actually for me, Real Royal A, Red-Green Coalition was self-explanatory. I just tossed the definition in for mentally challenged leftists.
Now, I personally would have preferred to use the online Encyclopedia Brittanica’s definition, but, unlike wine-sipping leftists, I can’t afford to subscribe to it. You see, I’m just poor white trash, not an elitist like you and your pals.
Actually, encyclopediae are merely background materials used before you begin real secondary and primary research, Azarkhan.
See, now I would never have known that if you hadn’t told me. Like I said, I’m just white trash. Thanks, Royal A. It’s so kind of you to help an inferior. Noblesse oblige?
Noblesse oblige? No. Simply a burden thrust upon me by my education, acumen and work ethic.
That’s why they call it the “white man’s burden”.
No, Azarkhan. It may surprise you to learn that I have African American colleagues and friends who are well educated and possess intellectual acumen and a strong work ethic.
I’m not surprised at all that you have black friends who are well educated. But I should be very surprised if you have black friends who are not. But, let’s not appeal to some nebulous “friends”. After all, they are not responsible for the person you have become.
He should just keep it. Since he was the recipient and not the American people, it is really nobody’s business what he does with it.
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