The idea that President Obama can turn down the prize and therefore solve his narcissism problem is interesting, but I think misguided. The reason is that if somebody wants to criticize the President, they can do it whether he takes the prize or not. If he turns it down, the Obama-bashing headline the next day will be: "Obama Thinks He's Too Good for the Nobel Peace Prize" It doesn't matter if, as he declines, he says that he doesn't think he deserves the prize yet. Because to somebody who wants to think that the President is a narcissist, the response will be, "Yeah he says he's humbled, and he says he doesn't deserve it, but we all know what he really thinks."

I think that a better political move would be to accept the award, but to claim to do so on behalf of all Americans, and to perhaps invite a few key figures from both major parties in Congress to share in the spotlight by attending the ceremony and getting some camera time. That way, he can make it not about him, but rather about how Americans collectively are putting their best foot forward in the post-Bush era, and maybe shore up some support for later.

That is an excellent suggestion!

No offense, but that's B.S.

95% of the people that heard this today laughed. They expect him to accept it on behalf of the "American People". A smarter move would be to politely decline and justify it with all of the work that still needs to be done.

That would go a long way toward discounting the egotistic label we've seen attached recently.

The "arrogant" meme only has traction among the frothing right. Considering that they think Obama is an appeasing Hitler, a conviction-less radical, and a socialist who's just continuing Bush's policies, it really doesn't matter what he does. Whatever he chooses the same crowd will find invent new reason to hyperventilate about it.

Whatever he chooses the same crowd will find invent new reason to hyperventilate about it.

this crowd is IMO a minority, very vocal one for sure, but i'm not worried about it too much. it also seems they are losing some of their punch.

he should refuse because the prize award at this atage IS absurd, premature at best, and it would be the right move. i do believe that this will improve his image with many people in the middle, but this should be regarded as a bonus maybe, certainly not a reason to do it.