Obama disobeyed oath in accepting gift

OK, let's assume that in his first 10 days in office - before the Nobel nominations closed - President Barack Obama had accomplished enough to warrant winning his “Ignoble Peace Prize.” The Nobel award panel members are appointed by Norway's parliament and represent her various political parties. These political relationships make the Nobel Committee a de facto instrument of the Norwegian government.

Here's the problem. Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution (that Obama swore to uphold) states: “No person holding any office ... shall, without the consent of Congress, accept of any present ... from any king, prince, or foreign state.” The Nobel's

$1.4 million award is certainly a present and a body representing the Norwegian Parliament surely counts as a foreign state.

Since Obama accepted the award and lacked the humility to ask the consent of Congress, he has broken his word and the law. But who will hold him to account? Not this Congress.

Ah well, if the Nobel committee can award mass murderers Kissinger and Gorbachev, as well as the terrorist Arafat, why not give one to a man who couldn't even write his autobiography?

Petitioning Congress, crediting domestic terrorist Bill Ayers for the book and returning the Grammy Obama won for the book would be the ethical and transparent steps to take.

Ed Dolan

Central City