Obama's Title of Nobelity

President Obama's recent acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize is an affront to the United States Constitution. Yes, I know that two prior sitting presidents have received the award. I don't excuse them either. But in this case, since the award is intended to influence our President's future actions, it constitutes direct foreign meddling on the office of the President. Roosevelt and Wilson were still free to place American interests above those of the Nobel committee because their awards were for specific past accomplishments.

The spirit of the Constitution's emolument clause is to prevent undue foreign influence:

Article I Section 9.8: 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.

The Nobel Peace Prize is a title. The money is an emolument. And the Nobel committee, though not a foreign state, is a foreign entity. (Some argue that since the committee is elected by the Norwegian Parliament, it is an extension of a foreign state) . It is good that President Obama intends to donate the money to charity. But he is retaining the title and intends to let it guide his future actions. This clearly go against the principles of republican government.

Federalist Papers 2,3,4,5, and 22 all warn of the dangers of foreign influence. George Washington warned in his Farewell Address:

As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils. ...

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.

I understand that the President has tried to make the best of a difficult situation. Part of me believes that he would have rather this never happened. But why didn't he consult the constitution before quickly accepting the prize? He was sworn to protect that document. Whether he is conscious of it or not, he now has another set of puppet strings.

P.S.
A movie was made in 2006 which also considers Nobel winners to be "nobility".
Here is another good writer on the subject.