Updated October 27, 2009
Obama Cannot Accept Nobel Prize Without Congress' Consent, Three House Republicans Claim
FOXNews.com
In a letter penned to President Obama on Monday, Florida Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite claims Obama is obligated under the U.S. Constitution to obtain Congress' approval before he formally accepts the prize.
As critics continue to mull over whether President Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite says the U.S. Constitution does not allow him to accept the award without the consent of Congress.
In a letter to Obama delivered on Monday, Brown-Waite, R-Fla., along with Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, claim the president is obligated under the Constitution to obtain Congress' approval before he formally accepts the prize.
Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution, the emolument clause, 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."
The five-member Nobel commission, which awarded Obama the prize earlier this month, is elected by the Norwegian Parliament -- the Storting. The award is therefore made by a group representing a foreign state, the writers argued.
"As the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee appointed by the Parliament of Norway, the Storting, the prize is clearly subject to the requirements set forth in Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution. Obtaining permission from Congress should be straightforward," Brown-Waite wrote in the letter.
"I urge President Obama to affirm his devotion to our Constitution and seek the consent of Congress before accepting the award in Oslo, Norway, on December 10," she said.
Latest Politics Video
Most Active In Politics
Most Read
Most Commented
-
Reid Compares Opponents of Health Care Reform to Supporters of Slavery
December 07, 2009 1,529 comments
-
Gibbs Scrawls Grocery List on Hand in Jab at Palin
February 09, 2010 1,492 comments
-
Brown Scores Upset Victory Over Coakley in Massachusetts Senate Race
January 20, 2010 1,186 comments
-
Palin to Join Fox News as Contributor
January 11, 2010 1,147 comments
-
House Passes Health Care Bill
November 08, 2009 1,138 comments
Real Clear Politics Poll
| Job Approval | Approve | Disapprove | Spread |
| Obama | 47.9% | 46.7% | +1.2% |
| Congress | 23.0% | 70.3% | -47.3% |
| Direction of Country | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Spread |
| RCP Average | 35.3% | 58.2% | -22.9% |
-
Obama, Republicans Seek Accord
February 10, 2010
-
Union-Backed Nominee Blocked in Senate
February 09, 2010
-
Gridlock in Senate Fuels Frustration
February 09, 2010
-
Washington Builds a Snow Mountain
February 09, 2010
-
Reid Hopes to Complete Jobs Bill This Week
February 09, 2010
-
Home Loan Demand Drops Despite Dip in Rates
February 10, 2010
-
Euro Zone Holds Intensive Talks About Greek Rescue
February 10, 2010
-
Senate Jobs Bill Includes Tax Incentives for Hiring
February 09, 2010
-
Fed's Bullard: Central Bank Needs More Regulatory Power
February 09, 2010
-
Small Biz Tax Incentives Will Create Jobs: Summers
February 09, 2010
-
Narrative Preaching 2
February 10, 2010
-
Seminary Re:mixed
February 09, 2010
-
Linday Lohan = Jesus Christ?
February 09, 2010
-
Incredible time lapse of "Snowmaggedon"
February 09, 2010
-
Atheism and our inhuman nature
February 09, 2010



recommend

Subscribe to Comments







