Posted on 02/12/2010 11:59:18 AM PST by American Dream 246
what Obama will do is simply leave the money in the bank, drawing interest, until he leaves the Oval Office, and everybody forgets about it. At that time, he'll press a button.
Byron York says there's some buzz going around the net over the question of what Obama has done with the $1.4 million he won as part of the Nobel Peace Prize. Well before Obama accepted the award, the White House announced he would give the money to charity. Yet it's been two months since he went to Oslo, and there's no word of him giving it away.
Some commentators have speculated that Obama is hanging on to it himself. But the White House says Obama hasn't yet received the money, so it follows that he hasn't yet given it away. "I know they continue to talk about it," spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a January 19 briefing. "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."
The situation seems a little odd. If you win the Nobel Prize, don't they just give you the money? Why doesn't Obama have it yet? It turns out there's a reason.
"He hasn't received it because they haven't asked to have it transferred," says Geir Lundestad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. "It is up to the laureate to decide. My understanding is that they are looking into certain legal questions, and once those legal questions are settled, it will be done…once they ask for it, the money will be transferred immediately."
Prize winners can have the money without delay, but Lundestad says it is not unheard of for a laureate to leave the cash with the Nobel Foundation for some period of time after winning. "The most difficult cases are with laureates who are in prison," he says. And there is no time limit for Obama to receive the money. So for the moment, the money remains deposited with the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm. "The money is in the bank," Lundestad says. "We are leaving this entirely to the White House."
To some in the White House, and to many of the president's supporters, the Nobel was almost an embarrassment, the symbol of the too-much-praise that has been heaped on Obama in the last couple of years. In an effort to de-emphasize the whole thing, Obama made short work of his trip to Oslo to receive the award. And now, it appears he's in no hurry to deal with the money he won, either.
It seems that our constitutional law "professor" believes Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution is flawed. He must, because it says:
"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
I don't remember Congress giving the OK for Obama to accept Nobel money, but we know Obama is flexible about the Constitution, and, after all, he won, so he gets to make the rules..
If Congress should give the thumbs-up, though, I have a few suggestions for Obama.
First, do something for half-brother George. The poor son-of-a-gun has been living in a hovel on a dollar a month. Some bloggers sent him a thousand dollars and he spent it all on drugs and got arrested. Now he's back to his $1-a-month hovel, there's rumors that he's in therapy now, and the bills are piling up -- and he's hiding from his dealer.
Next, aunt Zeituni needs some new clothes for her court appearances -- there's photographers and press -- and the lawyers are asking for money -- and it would really be nice if auntie Zee could move out of the projects and into Charles River Park.
Then there's the Barack Obama School.
He could honor the pledges of assistance that he made to a school named in his honor in his father's village of Kogelo, when he visited there amid great fanfare in August 2006.
At that historic homecoming, Obama was greeted as a hero with thousands lining the dirt streets of Kogelo. He visited the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School built on land donated by his paternal grandfather.
He told the assembled press, local politicians (who included current Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga), and students: "Hopefully I can provide some assistance in the future to this school and all that it can be." He then turned to the school's principal, Yuanita Obiero, and assured her and her teachers: "I know you are working very hard and struggling to bring up this school, but I have said I will assist the school and I will do so."
No one has heard from Obama and he hasn't sent them a dime.
Back to the Nobel money, though -- what Obama will do is simply leave the money in the bank, drawing interest, until he leaves the Oval Office, and everybody forgets about it. At that time, he'll press a button.
I suppose I shouldn't bring this up, but that's a interesting phrase, buried in the report at the link, honor the pledges. The phrase?
"At that historic homecoming in August 2006..." -- homecoming? -- coming home? Kogelo, Kenya?
Lets see if it makes it on his Tax Return as income or even gifting it away.
I’ve been waiting to hear something about that money. I’m a ‘prizer’ as someone here on FR labeled us. heh
How are we ever going to know. I posted that when he won, he would lie, and keep it. I still think so. We are talking REAL scum here.
Palin gets ‘flamed’ for accepting $100k speaking fee. ZERO get’s $1 Million for “what?” - trashing America?
Obama’s favorite charity - come now that is a no brainer - Himself. The 1.4 million is the only money he ever will get a prize. The people in the US cannot be that stupid to realize the money will never go further than his pocket.
Maybe the Nobel Foundation inadvertently requested his birth certificate or some other vital records in order to give the prize money to him, and the request understandably caused a panic in the administration which explains the holdup.
...no doubt he will give it to his church.
He bought a lot of shiny stuff! You know...bling! Has anybody checked his teeth?
to me it’s obvious he’ll stash the money just where it is until he leaves office THEN have it deposited into his account as a private citizen.
Or to his reelection campaign?
ozero was given 1.4 million by his fans at nobel. That sounds awfully close to the 1.6 million rumored to have been paid to the law firm that has all his adult life records sealed. Coincidence?
“...no doubt he will give it to his church.”
Yeah,
The Church of The Proletariat Which Overthrew the Bourgeoisie
Here is the answer:
$250,000 to Fisher House
$200,000 to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund
$125,000 to College Summit
$125,000 to the Posse Foundation
$125,000 to the United Negro College Fund
$125,000 to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
$125,000 to the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation
$125,000 to the American Indian College Fund
$100,000 to AfriCare
$100,000 to the Central Asia Institute
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