President Obama should thank the Nobel committee and ask them to hold on to the Peace Prize for a couple more years. The prize should be awarded for achievement, not aspiration, and so far Obama’s main achievement has been getting elected President, which is in a different category. He shouldn’t contribute to the unfair accusation that he is all talk by accepting an award based on speeches he gave in Berlin, Prague, and Cairo.
Andrew Sullivan (initial reaction):
If any person has done more to advance some measure of calm, reason and peace in this troubled word lately, it’s president Obama. I think the Cairo speech and the Wright speech alone merited this both bridging ancient rifts even while they remain, of course, deep and intractable. He has already done more to heal the open wound between the West and Islam than anyone else on the planet.
Andrew Sullivan (after some coffee):
Reading through all the reactions, there are two obvious points: this is premature and this is thoroughly deserved.
Both are right. I don’t think Americans fully absorbed the depths to which this country’s reputation had sunk under the Cheney era. That’s understandable. And so they also haven’t fully absorbed the turn-around in the world’s view of America that Obama and the American people have accomplished. Of course, this has yet to bear real fruit. But you can begin to see how it could; and I hope more see both the peaceful intentions and the steely resolve of this man to persevere.
This president has done a huge amount to bring race relations in this country to a different place, which is why the far right has become so vicious in attacking him and lying about him. They know he threatens their politics of division and rule. He has also directly addressed the Muslim world, telling some hard truths, and played a small role in evoking a similar movement of hope and change in Iran, and finally told the Israelis to stop cutting their nose off to spite their face.
He’s been largely absent on Sudan, Congo, Burma and global poverty and health issues, and doesn’t even have a USAID administrator. I think he has the right instincts on these issues and expect him to get engaged, but shouldn’t the Nobel Peace Prize have a higher bar than high expectations? Especially when there are so many people who have worked for years and years on the front lines, often in dangerous situations, to make a difference to the most voiceless people of the world? I think of Dr. Denis Mukwege at the Panzi Hospital in eastern Congo, or Jo and Lyn Lusi at the Heal Africa Hospital also in eastern Congo, or Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners in Health for his tireless work in Haiti and Rwanda, or Greg Mortenson traipsing all over Pakistan and Afghanistan to build schools, or Dr. Catherine Hamlin working for half a century to fight obstetric fistula and maternal mortality in Ethiopia, or so many others. In the light of that competition, it seems to me that it might have made sense to wait and give Obama the Nobel Peace Prize in his eighth year in office, after he has actually made peace somewhere.
Unnamed White House aides, according to ABC News:
Two key White House aides were both convinced they were being punked when they heard the news, reported ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
“It’s not April 1, is it?” one said.
In a stunning turn of events, President Barack Obama has swept baseball’s postseason honors in both leagues, a feat never before accomplished and long considered impossible.
At a hastily scheduled press conference, Commissioner of Major League Baseball Bud Selig announced that Obama has been named Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award Winner and Most Valuable Player in both the American and National Leagues. These honors come on the heels of Obama’s surprise selection as Rolaids Relief Man.
Dan,
I couldn’t agree with Nicholas Kristof more.
Obama doesn’t deserve the prize now. There are far more people deserving of it today. I believe there is a “cult of personality” surrounding Pres. Obama. It predates his presidency. It is some of his followers/fans (like the Nobel Committee) that greatly worry me.
Here’s Fareed Zakaria’s very thoughtful take on it:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/…
Not bad for a president who’s worse than Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler and Genghis Khan combined.
Wingnut headz mus’ be ‘asplodin.
It’s a shame how much the neocons hate America, our Olympics bid, and our President so much.
They should burn their socialized medicine Medicare and Medicaid cards and move to Iraq.
Obama won the “We’re Really Happy That Bush is Still Gone Prize.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/wo…
One day after the deadline for nomination.
@4 I’m not sure if I understand who the Neocons are. Do you?
Here’s what Ari Shavit wrote in 2003 for Haaretz.com
In the course of the past year, a new belief has emerged in the town: the belief in war against Iraq. That ardent faith was disseminated by a small group of 25 or 30 neoconservatives, almost all of them Jewish, almost all of them intellectuals (a partial list: Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, William Kristol, Eliot Abrams, Charles Krauthammer).
of course he deserves the prize, he’s been on both Leno AND Letterman! gah.
As usual, Kristof nails it. If Obama were to decline the prize, would it go to the runner up? Is there such a thing as a runner up for the peace prize?
If simply providing a “promise” of something great gets you a Nobel then I promise to invent warp drive! Where’s my Nobel Prize for Physics?
s’OK – when he finally does negotiate some treaty or whatever, they can give him the Nobel Prize for Literature.
When Congress passes some appropriations? Economics.
Fir a beer summit with White House home brew: Chemistry!
Very interesting choice, indeed.
I wonder if this decision is an attempt by Europeans to bolster Obama’s domestic popularity, which has shown some signs of eroding?
The timing is definitely awkward, but Obama should accept the $1 million prize and do something meaningful with it, perhaps relevant to healthcare, like helping someone who needs a life saving operation but who’s insurance won’t pay for it.
obama’s words and promises hold more power than most people’s actions. his words and promises shape actions, opinions, sentiment, and the direction of our nation as well as the political climate of the world. the prize is rewarding him for his attitude, recognizing the power it has due to the position he holds, and considering the immediate affect of that attitude on the peace process.
Every Beauty Queen in recorded history has hoped for World Peace.
The Nobels have gyped these lovely ladies….
You know, it’s not like Obama campaigned for the prize. Why should he be faulted in any way for receiving it? IMO, it would be insulting to the committee if he refused it.