Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

[Anonymous]

African American Ralph Bunche received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his late 1940s mediation in Palestine. He was the first person of color to be so honored in the history of the Prize. He was involved in formation and administration of the United Nations. In 1963, he received the Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy.

Obama seems less extraordinary IMHO.

[Anonymous]

After 8 years of Bush, Obama is being encouraged to pursue his diplomatic efforts around the world.

I hope he makes clear in his speech that he will try to deserve this award in the future!

He certainly doesn't deserve it now. And I'm on the left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the headline on WaPo's website. I am a Obama supporter and I don't quite get this. I thought it was a joke at first.

This is an insult to all the peace activists and human rights activists around the world who have made this struggle their life's work. I voted for Obama and I wish him well but I'm hoping he realizes how absurd it is that he was given this award. Shame on the Nobel voters!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This award is a slap in the face to other people who have actually earned the award. Nominations for the award were due in early Feb, about 11 days after the inauguration.

That's right after 11 days in office Obama had done enough to earn the award.

Is there any reason that the committee would not consider things that happened after the nomination? I can imagine that if someone is nominated in Feb., but in March pulls out a gun and kills someone in cold blood, that would affect their chances. So, why wouldn't Obama's activities since Feb. also be considered?

Hahahaha.

The one thing that people have a hard time understanding is that this is the Nobel committee's award. It is not your award. They can give it to whomever they want to for whatever reason they want to.

So what? I can criticize them for whatever reason I want.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This award is a slap in the face to other people who have actually earned the award. Nominations for the award were due in early Feb, about 11 days after the inauguration.

That's right after 11 days in office Obama had done enough to earn the award.

Is there any reason that the committee would not consider things that happened after the nomination? I can imagine that if someone is nominated in Feb., but in March pulls out a gun and kills someone in cold blood, that would affect their chances. So, why wouldn't Obama's activities since Feb. also be considered?

But why was he nominated in the first place?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

But why was he nominated in the first place?

You will have to ask whoever nominated him. It wasn't me. I suspect that just about anyone can nominated just about anyone. Even crazy John Bolton who never heard of a country he didn't want to bomb -- except Israel -- was nominated one year.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if Obama thinks he deserves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Obama thinks he deserves it.

If I were him, I'd be thoroughly embarrassed. To be put in the same category as mother Teresa, Einstein, and Nelson Mandela...I think not. But then again Arafat, Carter, and Gore are in the mix as well.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

If I were him, I'd be thoroughly embarrassed. To be put in the same category as mother Teresa, Einstein, and Nelson Mandela...I think not. But then again Arafat, Carter, and Gore are in the mix as well.

Einstein won a Nobel Peace Prize?

Arafat received the award along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. Do you also think those two were undeserving? Because the prize could hardly have been given to them without including Arafat.

Obama is probably much more comfortable being in the same category as Mandela than he is being with Apartheid leader F.W. de Klerk who received the award along with Mandela.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Obama thinks he deserves it.

That's why they keep saying "he's humbled." David Gregory said that I'm sure he'd rather have unemployment lower than have won this. Meet the Press might actually be interesting this week. I miss Tim Russert...

[jsteele]

When an award as significant as the Nobel Peace Prize is bestowed upon a sitting president, it is more than simply a measure of acclaim for that individual. It is a reflection upon the people and country that put that president in power. As such, this is more than simply a prize for President Obama, but an award for all Americans. With this in mind, the vitriol emanating from the right is unseemly and disappointing. But, at least one Republican was able to rise above petty emotions:

"I congratulate President Obama on receiving this prestigious award. I join my fellow Americans in expressing pride in our President on this occasion." -- John McCain.

Good for McCain.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If I were him, I'd be thoroughly embarrassed. To be put in the same category as mother Teresa, Einstein, and Nelson Mandela...I think not. But then again Arafat, Carter, and Gore are in the mix as well.

Einstein won a Nobel Peace Prize?

Arafat received the award along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. Do you also think those two were undeserving? Because the prize could hardly have been given to them without including Arafat.

Obama is probably much more comfortable being in the same category as Mandela than he is being with Apartheid leader F.W. de Klerk who received the award along with Mandela.

Agreed. You have to take your Begins with your Sadats. It's the reluctant cooperation of enemies that often produces the biggest steps toward peace. If there is any absurd test to this principle, it would have to be Henry Kissinger though. Someone told me that Lehrer called Kissinger's award "the day Irony died".

[Anonymous]

The right are not the only ones questioning the award. Here is a great summary of reaction from around the globe from various news media.

It come from Fox News so I'm sure some will claim the quotes are not accurate or in fact made up by Fox. You be the judge:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/09/international-media-reactions-obama-peace-prize/

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:When an award as significant as the Nobel Peace Prize is bestowed upon a sitting president, it is more than simply a measure of acclaim for that individual. It is a reflection upon the people and country that put that president in power. As such, this is more than simply a prize for President Obama, but an award for all Americans.

Actually he accepted it on behalf of all nations or something like that. Sounds like he'll do his best to play it down and move on. There's nothing about it on whitehouse.gov at the moment. No Drama Obama.

If he turned it down he would be in the company to the only person who ever turned down the peace prize: Le Duc Tho of Viet Nam who turned down the shared prisze with Kissinger. Which would prove he is a socialist. lol

Thank you McCain for once again showing patriotism over partisanship.

[Anonymous]

I really hope he helps with the peace in this country, he must fight against racism and anti-immigration feelings. And yes I am a very proud immigrant.