Obama's Nobel, and Europe's awakening

Europeans are up in arms that President Obama "snubbed" Norway's king by turning down the traditional lunch invitation at the Nobel ceremonies (he also said no to the traditional tour of the exhibit about his prize, and to being greeted by local schoolchildren). This is the first time that Europeans are seeing the President's true nature. Obama has faced heavy criticism from conservatives for receiving the prize overall, and for being seen with royalty. Thus, Obama tries to minimize the prize and avoid the king, all in one fell swoop. He accepts his Nobel, but refuses to follow the tradition of what the Peace Prize winner is expected to do. In an effort to avoid conservative criticism, rather than take it on, he cuts the Nobel baby in half, he caves on his commitment, as he does whenever an issue comes with a whiff of conservative controversy.