Via the NYT: Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize for Work in Diplomacy
In a stunning surprise, the Nobel Committee announced Friday that it had awarded its annual peace prize to President Obama “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” less than nine months after he took office.
Stunning, indeed.
When I saw the e-mail news alert a few minutes ago I had to re-read it to make sure that it said what I thought it said (after all, the coffee isn’t finished brewing yet). This award strikes me as quite the head-scratcher as the president has, as the paragraph above notes, only been in office for a very short time. And while he has shifted US foreign policy into a more multilateral direction than was the case with his predecessor, I can discern no extraordinary actions in that foreign policy that would warrant a Nobel Peace Prize.
In all honesty, Obama’s foreign policy record is an incomplete, at best.
Perhaps the committee felt sorry for him after Lula won the Olympics for Brazil…1
Sphere: Related Content- And yes, I am being facetious in that last sentence. [↩]
October 9th, 2009 at 7:30 am
Is this serious? It is clear that the Nobel committee wants to reward and encourage a certain kind of politics. It is incredibly premature because Obama hasn’t actually done anything. If he had brought a Mideast peace accord or something, I could see it. But, it seems that the committee is awarding a direction that they agree with, which only politicizes the award and rewards someone for ideas rather than concrete accomplishments.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:05 am
[...] all, voted for Obama and on the basis of his foreign policy at that) Jim Henley, Robert Farley, Steven Taylor, and most commenters even at the lefty blogs where the poster defends the decision think it bizarre [...]
October 9th, 2009 at 8:09 am
[...] Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize ?!? [...]
October 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I am shocked at this!!! I am embarassed for the President–because there is no worse feeling in knowing that you really didn’t deserve an award. Now he has to go on TV and give a “humbling” speech and ‘pretend’ that he deserved it. I am not saying that maybe one of these days, he would deserve it, but no one can see into the future as to what is going to happen. One thing that he really needs to do, is either give our boys in Afganastan enough troops to win, or bring them home. He is endangering their lives everyday with the existing situation.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I was surprised. I still am surprised. Have there been any other presidents whose legacies were shaped before they actually made a contribution to it? It just seems as if history is being written prematurely in regards to this administration.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I wonder if the reason why Obama has been playing with the lives of our soildiers and not acting on the request from his General for more soidiers and supplies is because he knew this was in the works and if he gave more troops he would not get the Nobel Peace Prize? This is more than a conspiracy theory. He has wanted everything else instantly and never for any other issue taken this long to make a decision. Even when he did not know the facts on an issue that did not stop him from talking about it so why would it take him so long to make a decision on our troops? The only reason could be he knew he would not get his Peace Prize if he took a stand and acted like a leader
October 9th, 2009 at 11:59 am
What is actually less of a surprise than Obama winning the Nobel Peace prize is the reaction of Republicans. Only right-wingers would actually find a reason to complain about the President of the United States winning such a prestigious award. The fact that some of you can’t understand why he won it is also no surprise. You do not set the criteria for this award, nor do you know what things were considered in this decision. It is ignorant to criticize the judgment of the Nobel committee when you don’t even know what they based their decision on. To suggest that Obama is undeserving because he has failed to achieve world peace is absurd. His Cairo speech alone shifted the tone of politics in the most troubled part of the world, and the way he has altered the world’s perception of the United States after 8 years of George W. Bush borders on the miraculous. This award was obviously a gesture meant to encourage the President by recognizing his pivotal role in getting the world’s last remaining super-power pointed in the right direction. Every American should take pride in it, rather than continuing to play self-destructive politics.
A lot of white people, especially in Congress, didn’t think Martin Luther King deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, either.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
What a joke. If Obama is such a peacemaker, send his butt over to Afghanistan or Iraq and have him wave his hands over the people or something.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
The nominating closed for this award in February. Obama was in office seven days. HE DID NOTHING TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD AS PRESIDENT. This could theoretically hamstring the president in important decisions regarding our national security since he and members of his administration are so concerned with how we are “SEEN” throughout the world. Just imagine this character needing to make a decision to sednd more troops to Afganistan, or take action against Iran. It’s another attempt, in my opinion, of international organizations interfering in our internal politics.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Hey, what do we tell our school-aged children now? You can win the Nobel Peace Prize if you kiss the right guy? Or…what??? What exactly should young children learn from this? What skills can we point to? How can we help children see why Obama deserves this over everyone else???
October 9th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Ever since Nobel set up the Prizes to atone for inventing dynamite, (which has saved more lives then it has taken, even in warfare), the awards have been weighted to the left if politics were even remotely involved. In recent years, though, they have gone to the extreme left. Gore won one for a fictional documentary that would make Michael Moore proud. That Obama won the award isn’t surprising. He is very far to the political left and fits well with the politics of the judges. The surprising thing is the speed with which it was awarded. The POTUS hasn’t had time to do anything to earn it yet even by their standards. Most have to wait years to receive the award. This is NOT for what he has done, it is to encourage him to continue in the way he is going. If Obama won the Boston Marathon I would be happy for him. As this direction is destructive to the US, to expect us to celebrate it is disingenuous.
MLK earned his award in an earlier time before the awards had gone so far to the left. He was espousing REPUBLICAN (his party) ideals of freedom and equality, rather than entitlement, that haven’t changed. Those who believed he shouldn’t have won it would include mostly Democrats like Robert Byrd & Al Gore Sr. NOT Republicans. And today that is still where true racism resides.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Richard, you are a conspiracy theorist.
Clif, MLK’s children never confirmed or denied what his party affiliation was–or if he even had a party affiliation. Your comment is based on something his niece said with was used by the NBRA to create an ad that claimed he was Republican. Not only was that ad condemned by his immediate family, but it was vehemently criticized by the people closest to him during the movement. That is your history for the day. Here’s your reality check: this might be a shock to you, but “freedom and equality” are American ideas that are not restricted to just Republicans. I am curious to see what your definition of “true racism,” given that term would insinuate that there is a such thing as “false racism.” And where is your evidence that the Democrats have a monopoly in that category? BTW, Fox News is not a credible source.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Obviously, the Nobel committee made a decision either to extend it voting deadline, or to re-vote based on unfolding of dramatic world events. Obama’s Cairo speech alone makes him worthy of this honor. I don’t understand why the Nobel committee has to be to held to such a monolithic standard and adhere to its self-imposed process if it thinks that current events warrant a change in voting procedure. I would agree that most Nobel laureates have been on the left, since most right-wingers are anti-intellectual type A personalities who would rather invade a country with half-baked intelligence than find Osama Bin Laden. Few scientists and great thinkers are on Sarah Palin’s side regarding the belief that human beings walked alongside living dinosaurs. Only people who move the civilization forward, as opposed to backward, will ever qualify for this prize. If I were a Republican, that would bother me. But, then, having a conscience and compassion for my fellow human beings rather than a political objective would disqualify me from that honor.
By the way, Senator Byrd used to be a member of the KKK, too. Years after MLK won the NPP, Byrd made a decision to enter the 20th century and put his prejudices behind him. Some people can actually change.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Obama winning the NPP is like a rookie pitcher being inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame during his rookie season having gone 5 and 3 and having an era of 4. “Well, we inducted him because he seems like a great guy, and could one day show himself to be one of the great pitchers of all time. We are trying to use this award to encourage him to keep working on his curve ball.” And btw, JohnRJo8, it is liberal elitism such as yours that makes it difficult to have intelligent, thoughtful dialogue between democrats and republicans. Do you honestly believe that republicans have no conscience and no compassion for their fellow human beings?
October 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Wonder who nominated him? (I understand the nominations closed just one month after he took office.) But still since the voting took place more recently ‘they’ have had time to take more of his actions into accout so it doesn’t make sense. What is this world coming to???????
October 9th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
CNN’s reporting of President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize is horrible. Their correspondents are projecting an attitude that contends he is undeserving of the award because he has only been in office for nine months. But how can a man be undeserving of the Nobel Peace Prize when his whole post-graduate life has been dedicated to helping people help themselves? We must all remember that he was a community organizer long before he was elected to the United States Senate and American presidency. He is, and always has been, a proponent of national and international peace.
My prayer is that CNN will spend more time listening to Americans who understand the importance of this moment. Ever since America responded to the 9-11 attacks eight years ago by taking military action in Afghanistan and Iraq, the world has been in a state of moral decline. Some would argue that the pace of this decline has quickened. Add the Bush Administration’s blatant lies to the mix, and you begin to see that this Republican president allowed partisan politics to influence his decision to begin two wars that will never be won under his leadership, or the leadership of any future president.
We all agree that President Obama has yet to accomplish his lofty goals. But we Americans must also agree that we have a stake in whether he achieves these same goals. When media outlets like CNN constantly sensationalize the negative without giving credence to the positive, they impair American’s willingness to work diligently with President Obama to achieve the established goals. More importantly, though, their correspondents don’t operate as impartial witnesses to history; they manipulate us into taking sides.
But the side that needs to be taken is the one that is right. Yes, right does depend on one’s worldview, but who prefers bomb attacks over world peace? No one, I hope. The right thing to do in this case is to engage in activities that lead to most, if not all, of the things that President Obama has set into motion through his righteous words and deeds. If we Americans don’t get on board with President Obama, then our country is going to be worse off than it was after Republican President George W. Bush left office.
One of America’s greatest strengths has been the way it is viewed by the world citizenry. The world’s negative perception of America is slowly being melted away, being replaced by a more positive perception. I think this more positive perception is a tribute to President Obama’s charisma, his willingness to be the kind of chief diplomat that shows us how to love our families (fellow Americans) and neighbors (foreigners) again.
But Republican senators and representatives are even trying to undermine President Obama’s efforts on the world stage. I have heard reports about Congressmen refuting reports about global warming/climate change. Sarah Palin even stated her opposition to President Obama’s policies during a speech she delivered in Hong Kong, China. Such behavior is somewhat unprecedented, but it is a sign that the Republican Party is focused more on scare tactics (in this country and abroad) than helping America and the world recover from the Bush Years (2000-2008).
President Barack Obama is not a tyrant or a socialist; he is a concerned citizen of the world working with like-minded individuals to rebuild the global village.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Of course he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize…. he is the first President in a long time that will and would sit down with any leader to negotiate Peace. Doesn’t anyone get it PEACE PRIZE. He would sit down with Asama Bin Laden. The very nature of Obama is Peace. Wars take lives… as do terrorists, but to wave red flags in their faces is ignorant. We have seen enough ignorance in government to get us into the present state of affairs. I have been watching Presidents since FDR, yes FDR, and few have been subjected to the verbal abuse this man has and he just turns away and goes on with his Peace Course. Apparently so have others observed this Nobel trait.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
So, read for yourself what she said: http://www.trustedpartner.com/docs/library/000143/Alveda%20King%20article.pdf. If those aren’t really her words, a law suit should be easy. This is your history lesson. Read the rest of it to see some examples of where true racism is. False racism is what the majority of the right has been painted with for a long time. If you disagree with the policies of the left you have to be racist. The same now if you disagree with the President. After a Congress Critter yelled “You lie!” during his speech, it was widely said that it had to be racism. One even said that the unspoken word “Boy!” hung in the air in the silence after the shout. Manufactured racism.
On the main subject, as I said before the fact that he won isn’t surprising given the political leanings of the committee, but, it took 9 years for the award to be given for the discovery of DNA. In the few days he had as POTUS before the deadline he hadn’t even managed to triple the deficit record yet.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:07 am
IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE BESTOWED ON AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES HIS LIFE PROMOTING PEACE AND HARMONY, LIKE JESUS CHRIST DID. REMEMBER, JESUS WAS HANGED ON A CROSS FOR HIS PEACE EFFORTS. HE DID NOT OPEN SCHOOLS, BUT TAUGHT IN THEM, DID NOT PREACH HATE AND TELL JOKES ABOUT WHAT OTHERS ARE NOT DOING, BUT RATHER TALK PEACE AND TRUTH TO ALL WHO WOULD LISTEN. THE KEY IN THE LAST SENTENCE IS ALL WHO WOULD LISTEN. IT TAKES ONE MAN’S WORD TO SPARK A CONVERSATION, WHICH SPARKS A MOVEMENT THAT WOULD CHANGE PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS. PEOPLE’S POSITIVE THOUGHTS WOULD LEAD TO MORE POSITIVE ACTIONS IN THE WORLD. THE MAN DOES NOT NEED TO BUILD MONUMENTS, WAVE A MAGICAL WAND LIKE IN A DISNEY MOVIE AND MAKE ALL OF OUR VERY BAD DECISIONS AND ACTIONS DISAPPEAR IN SECONDS OR DAYS. IT TAKES COURAGE AND STRENGTH FROM GOD TO NEVER GIVE UP ON PUSHING PEOPLE TO BE THEIR BEST (INSTEAD OF RIDICULING EACH OTHER FOR A JOB LESS THAN WELL DONE OR NOT DONE AT ALL), PROMOTE AND DEMAND POSITIVE ACTIONS FROM ALL PEOPLE (NOT YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND APATHY), AND PURSUE PEACE REGARDLESS OF THE NAYSAYERS. OBAMA HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF THIS (PROMOTING PEACE FOR YOU NEGATIVE COMEDIANS), AND WE AS AMERICANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THE WORLD’S NATIONS ARE LOOKING AT US NOW IN A (WAYYYYYYYYYYYY) MORE POSITIVE LIGHT. THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS COMMENTARY ARE CRITICAL OF HIM RECEIVING THIS AWARD TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THEIR TIME THAN PROMOTE PEACE IN THIS WORLD. YOU NAYSAYERS ARE THE REASON WHY AMERICA IS FALLING, NOT PRESIDENT OBAMA. STOP BRINGING US DOWN WITH YOUR SHORTSIGHTEDNESS, AND START SHOWING AMERICA HOW YOU CAN AND DO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPRINT IN THIS WORLD WITH YOUR CHARITABLE ACTIONS (INSTEAD OF YOUR BLAND, NEGATIVE COMMENTS THAT LEAD TO NOWHERE). JESUS CHRIST WAS KNOWN FOR SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD, NOT BUIDING MONUMENTS AND RAISING AND CLOSING WARS MAN PRODUCED. NO DOUBT, HE WAS THE MOST POSITIVE MAN IN HISTORY, PERIOD. DO AS JESUS DID, NOT AS NAYSAYERS COMPLAIN ABOUT. YOU NAYSAYERS WILL NEVER BE HAPPY WITH OBAMA, REGARDLESS OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I PRAY HE NEVER LISTENS TO YOU AND GIVE IN TO YOUR WILLS, BUT CONTINUES TO BE THE POWERFUL VESSEL OF GOD, PROMOTING PEACE WHEREVER HE GOES AND LIVING A HOLY LIFESTYLE IN THE EYES OF GOD, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:58 am
You know, upallnit, it really bothers me when people compare Obama to Jesus Christ. He’s the PRESIDENT, ok? Not the Messiah. It’s obvious that, to some, Obama can not possibly do anything wrong, so it’s ridiculous to argue. But for Heaven’s sake - and for the sake of those of us here on earth - let’s set the record straight. He’s a MAN (a politician at that), not some sort of deity. If you want someone who lived a “holy lifestyle in the eyes of God, in Jesus name, Amen”, then look at Mother Teresa or someone who cared about every person whether they were still in the womb or taking their last breath. Besides, Jesus pointed to the Father, not to Himself. Who does Obama point to?
October 10th, 2009 at 11:08 am
[...] I have already stated my incredulity at Obama winning the prize after so short a period of time on the world stage, but the fact of the [...]
October 10th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Obama won the prize because, in a matter of just a few months, he has totally changed the political mood of the entire western world, not to mention reversing the terrible opinion of the United States in just about every other country on the planet. For a man with relatively little experience on the world stage, he has managed to gain the respect and admiration of world leaders, and he has shown by example that nations can resolve their differences through diplomacy. At the same time, he has shown that he will use the country’s power to fight terrorism, which is the enemy of civilization itself. The prize may have been given to him a bit prematurely, but I think it represents the promise he has come to stand for after 8 years of smug, unilateral behavior by the previous administration. Instead of bitching about Obama winning the Nobel Peace prize, every American should be hoping that he uses this recognition and the enhanced influence it gives his office to achieve some peace and economic stability in our troubled world. Playing politics with this borders on self-destructive.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
President Obama is not at all deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. He has accomplished nothing to warrant such a prestigious award in a relatively short time in office. He should have declined his acceptance graciously. His acceptance was a direct slap in the face to President Bush. Actually President Clinton was more deserving because of his humanitarian efforts recently. Two other people in my opinion have been given this award who were not deserving of it. Those were former President Jimmy Carter and former Vice President Al Gore.
October 10th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Carter, Gore, and even Clinton are deserving of the Peace Prize. Obama will be in the future. This is because the Peace Prize is neither noble nor no-bull. It is a political award NOT an achievement award. Perhaps that’s why it went so fast. Gore won one for a Fictumentary that has the potential to kill as many people as Carson’s “Silent Spring.”
October 11th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
[...] here again is the portion of Dr. Taylor’s post that Jack quoted: Look, I have already stated my incredulity at Obama winning the prize after so short a period of time on the world stage, but the fact of the [...]
October 12th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
bigvoice68, well put. I am so tired of the Obama bashing I could puke. You put in very good order the very reason this man deserved the honor. Surprisingly I have received more supportive mail than opposing and that is a very good sign. I hope you did too. Thanks for putting it all so well.
Shame on CNN.