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Obama's Nobel Farce
Jim Young, Reuters / Landov
President Obama said on Friday morning he was "most surprised and deeply humbled" by being awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize," he added. The Daily Beast's Peter Beinart on why the award only aids the right’s arguments that Obamamania bears no relation to reality.
George W. Bush launched a “preemptive” war. Now the Nobel Committee is trying for “preemptive” peace. I had always thought the way these things worked was that you helped bring peace or democracy to some corner of the globe first, and then you won the Nobel Prize. But this year, the Nobel Committee has turned that logic around: It clearly likes what Obama is trying to do: on nuclear disarmament, climate change and Middle East peace—and so, in a “preemptive” strike, it’s giving him the award now, in hopes that doing so will boost his chances of success later. It’s an interesting idea. Perhaps next they’ll start giving Oscars not to the people who have made the best movies of last year, but to the people who have the best chance of making the best movies next year. After all, once you’ve already made the movie, you no longer need the encouragement.
Perhaps next they’ll start giving Oscars not to the people who have made the best movies of last year, but to the people who have the best chance of making the best movies next year.
I like Barack Obama as much as the next liberal, but this is a farce. He’s done nothing to deserve the prize. Sure, he’s given some lovely speeches and launched some initiatives—on Iran, Israeli-Palestinian peace, climate change and nuclear disarmament—that might, if he’s really lucky and really good, make the world a more safe, more just, more peaceful world. But there’s absolutely no way to know if he’ll succeed, and by giving him the Nobel Prize as a kind of “atta boy,” the Nobel Committee is actually just highlighting the gap that conservatives have long highlighted: between Obamamania as global hype and Obama’s actual accomplishments.
• Gallery: American Nobel Peace Prize Winners
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But Obama will survive this award. The damage to the Nobel Committee itself will be greater. They’ve clearly fallen in love with celebrity, and with the idea of shaping the course of history—in other words, they’ve fallen in love with an absurdly grandiose conception of their role. The Nobel Prize Committee should be in the business of conferring celebrity on unknown human-rights and peace activists toiling in the most god-forsaken parts of the world; the people who really need the attention (and even the money). It should be in the business of angering powerful tyrants by giving their victims a moment in the sun. Choosing Barack Obama, who practically orbits the sun already, accomplishes the exact opposite of that. Let’s hope Obama eventually deserves this award. And let’s hope the Nobel Committee’s decision meets with such a deafening chorus of chortles and jeers that it never does something this stupid again.
Xtra Insight: Big Fat Story: Crib Notes on Obama's Nobel
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is a professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation.
For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June.
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Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June.
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Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June.
GPatton
I think Madonna and Paris Hilton should receive Nobel Peace Prizes; or is that Nobel Piece Prizes! George Patton
Glenda1976
Where's Kanye when you need him?
sonofloud
lol
AngryJ
"I know you just won the Nobel Prize and all, and Imma let you finish, but John Lennon wrote the best peace song ever..."
splinter
Barack Obama does not care about white people.
gak001
Yo, Barack, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you finish, but Michael Jackson was the best peacemaker of all time!
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n--Y--PortmanteauThinkAgain
I can imagine his teleprompter... You like ME! You really LIKE ME! I'm King Of The World!
Mercy1981
gak001 Too funny
Pimpernel
Apparently they give out the "Nobel Peace Prize" to the most empty promises made in a single campaign and now presidency.
This is one lefty who finds this one hard to swallow. At least I know my gag reflex is still working.
Zoolander
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kanye should be in the Nobel Prize Committee.
estcruzer
Think about this, the Norwegian Nobel Committee is made up of men and women that have to live in this world just like the rest of us. Maybe they decided to give this years prize to the person most likely to bring peace. According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Doesn't that sound like who Obama is going to be?
artois
You're an imbecile!
wolverine1987
"Going to be?" Holy shit.
gak001
To an extent, what he's already doing. Though we haven't seen much of the fruits of this yet.
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n--Y--Portmanteausippewissett
Right on. This award is about aspiration and hope. Critics need to name another world leader deserving of the award, one who has proactively sent envoys into hotspots and who has personally been proactively in engaging with countries that we have as allies and need as allies. Who is that more deserving leader? SILENCE.
leftygoleft
Who are these sarcastic imbeciles posting vile? Why? Everybody hated Bush because he was an idiot with an ignorant religious based policy. Everybody loves Obama because he is intelligent and sets policies based on benefitting the majority not the elitist minority. Obama haters are simply a cry baby minority of ignorant jackasses with little education or common sense. Obama in no way deserves a peace prize, this was a not so gentle nudge by the nobel committee to remind President Obama what he is obligated to do.
drkaza12
he should win it just for enduring the birther movement -- kind of like a bowel movement -- and the tea baggers.
isabella
.."to the person who shall have done the most or the best work". Past, not future.
diskipulo
estcruzer, right on. artois must not have read any of the coverage before insulting you. The prize is political and preemptive. The same was done re: South Africa, Northern Ireland and the middle east peace process in the past. perhaps the President is not the MOST deserving this year, but he has and will continue to do good things. Thanks for finding supporting documentation. And you are not an imbecile.
KatGalore
In response to sippewissett: The Nobel Committee doesn't have to give the Peace Prize to a world leader. While that's often the case, they've given the prize to "average" (if highly activated) "citizens," such as Rigoberta Menchu and Jody Williams, and organizations like MSF. I strongly support Obama and hope he'll be successful in his efforts, but I think there are many, many other individuals and institutions that already have made significant changes for better in the world and have done a lot more than inspire hope -- often at great personal sacrifice. I think Obama would agree that any one of those individuals or institutions is more deserving than he is at this point in his life.
KemCho
Shame on Nobel Committee! Even, Mahatma Gandhi, the world's greatest peace leader was not rewarded this prize. Obama talks, talks and talks. I did not know that you can win this award just by talking and hoping. Yes, we can! Yes, you can win Peace prize by talking and not doing anything
RAPProds
The Nobel Peace Prize committee is a travesty devoted to far Left anti-Americanism, just like our President who has traveled the world on his "apology tours" running down America, kissing the asses of America's enemies like Chavez, Islamic fascists, and any petty dictator he can find. Be afraid America, be very afraid when the forces of anti-Americanism give your President a prize.
slayer2369
It's presumptuous. Obama is now in charge of two wars, which he did inherit, and though it seems Iraq in drawing to a close who knows what he's going to do in Afghanistan.
canamjay
I am continually amazed by the naivete, shall I say ignorance? of (even Americans who should know better), of people who do not live in America and their impressions/feelings about America and American people. As someone who has lived in many countries, including USA for many years, I have affection and even appreciation for many things American. However, their skewed vision of themselves as well as their (lack of) understanding of how they and their leaders are viewed by the ROW (rest of the world) would be even more amusing if it were not so pathetic. Part of the story is the fact that way over 50 percent of the population does not possess a passport, but the remainder of the story baffles me. Nice to see at least one (estcruzer) gets it.
bisonbison
@ isabella:
Um..."shall have done" is future perfect, not past. As in after another action in the future. Brush up on your grammar.
isabella
Reply to BisonBison:
Ummm, Bison. Good try but you are wrong.
Nobel's will directed that the Peace Prize should be awarded to the person who:
"...... DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR [...] shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
(emphasis mine).
Nobel probably didn't understand the finicky rules that arose in the course of adapting German to English but his meaning is crystal clear.
The prize is for the LAST YEAR'S performance. Not next year's.
UpstateNY
Sour grapes!
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n--Y--PortmanteauGranite
What, no Nobel Prize for George W. Bush? There's no prize for starting wars and being in bed with major corporations? Shocking!
:(
camfield
As with all things concerning this president, his detractors will pick at nits and ignore the big picture. This prize was awarded on the basis of the overall ambience of the world scene, not on minutiae. Fox News should be having a field day, what with their penchant for digging about in corners to come with some particular nit or other to magnetize beyond recognition over the air.
isabella
Shall have done. Not ambience, actual achievement. If ambience is the criterion, Michelle should have won for her vege garden. Very nice ambience in her own little corner of the world scene.
winkingchef
As a liberal, it's hard for me to say, but I'm calling it. Obama has jumped the shark.
Tulku2
What you are not "getting" is that this is a Nobel for all Americans. We are being thanked for electing Obama. What you do not "get" is the huge sigh of worldwide relief that Obama now heads the biggest military the world has ever seen.
This is a prize for every American who voted for Obama.
maspring
I think it was jumped for him in this case.
But I must agree: Somewhere a shark has been jumped.
qazwsxl
All this complaining and other drivel is useless. THE PREZ GOT THE AWARD. Now sit down and shut up.
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n--Y--grumpyguyisabella
Your view of Europe is spot on. Withdrawal of that support for Israel might very well be the winning act. It goes right along with the resurgence of anti-Jewish sentiment in Europe. Did it ever go away? The new Holocaust is on its way and America must decide which side it will take. Not a good start.
Utaneus
A lot of good points here
Tulku2
You get it.
milkyrakes
The Nobel committee's decision expresses the relief the world feels that our former alcoholic-in-chief Bushboy is no longer able to do additional damage. Barack Obama represents the end of hate-filled conservative christian nonsense. christian nut-job Sarah Palin and her whacky followers do not represent America and do are not welcome on the world stage.
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n--Y--Portmanteaumarietheinformed
I see you have rushed out in front of the pack to prove to your conservative critics that you are "one of the good ones" in the so called "liberal" media. It's sad to see someone so young and so wrong about so many things bowing and scraping so early in the morning. Tell me again Peter...how many things did you get right about the Iraq war?
Phenobarbarella
Oooh! Oooh! I think I know the answer to that one (in case Peter's chosen to forget). Failing upwards, that's our Pete! No wonder he felt such affinity for The Connecticut Cowboy.
amanda07070
He and Meghan McCain should hook up. Clueless, brainless and talentless.
Lustron59
Couldn't agree more! It's the cheapest of shots to denigrate this award, this man and those who made it. Callow youth at its most flagrant. You shoulda spared us this, Tina.
bleedingheartmex
boy these are the same people who cheered when chicago or better yet the u.s. did not get the olympics way to go sorry losers
butterflymqn
envious and bitter.....so blinded by hate Peter cannot see straight....is it any wonder that black people used to have to go to Europe to be seen as human beings.....that blind prejudice warps and poisons all who are in its posession......
whipmawhopma
I agree. Obama has done nothing to deserve this prize and it being awarded is more about the previous POTUS than the current one.
It reminds me of meeting my in-laws for the first time, who took an immediate shine to me mostly because I wasn't a wife beating, child beating egotistical jackass like my wife's ex-husband.
marietheinformed
Some in-laws. Thank goodness you had no vote on the prize.
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n--Y--Portmanteausplinter
Class act. You simply ooze refinement.
majormoderate
Yea, besides the fact that he's proved to the world that black people can be elected to the top of the political game in the most powerful country in the world, and completely shattered that glass ceiling, is making nuclear disarmament one of, it not the top issue for the UN and is trying to set a clear path to a world with no nukes, plus if the first president who is actually tackling the Israeli Palestine issue in HIS FIRST YEAR of presidency, and is continuing to bring the US away from an economic disaster which clearly effects the whole world... But yea, he's done nothing worthy of this award. I'm not saying he's the only one who deserved it, but this is clearly not a mistake.
scotm33
Yes, and all of that has what to do with winning the Peace Prize? There are plenty of people who "set a clear path" to any issue you can imagine. Trying should not be enough to win you the Peace Prize.
artois
The fact that "he's proved to the world that black people can be elected to the top of the political game in the most powerful country in the world" is surely worthy of an NAACP award. The rest of your statements on his "accomplishments" are inane drivel. The UN, as a body, is completely ineffectual in every respect. The idea that nuclear disarmament somehow is a UN agenda flies in the face of the facts and even its charge. I seriously doubt that even Obama the Messiah is seeking a "clear path to a world with no nukes". Are you suggesting that the "most powerful country in the world" will give up its nukes? His "tackiling the Israeli Palestine issue" has demonstrated that Israeli and US interested are not aligned. What is there in his presidency (or in his tackling of the issue) that is novel (as it relates to this issue) or even noteworthy? Have either Israelis or Palestinians been illuminated by the President? On this issue he all but channels Rodney King "Can't we all just get along?" Finally, how exactly is he "bring[ing] the US away" from the economic disaster that affected the whole world? Has demand improved in the economy as a consequence of thefact that he became president? has productivity improved by any objective measure as a result of any of his actions or policies? His election was not a "mistake" it was good press. Unfortunatley it only underscores the joke that they are..
seakiev
Major, the point is that Obama has made some nice speeches, started some 'initiatives' (frankly on projects started by his predecessors: nukes, Isreal-Palestine) but he hasn't accomplished anything....so what's the award for? The 'promise' of his accomplishments? Surely in this whole wide world there has to be someone more deserving, someone who has actually completed a project before being given an award for it....
Obama's presidency may have just 'jumped the shark'.
Bunx05
Agreed. He was nominated just so they could say they did it, but over the last 8 almost 9 months, his agenda impressed the Nobel committee. Funny how we Americans actually care about the Nobel Peace Prize now. Quick ... don't go look it up ... off the top of your head tell me who won last year. I'll wait. Right.
clearthinker
so, if your idea of "peace" is kissing the ass of all world leaders, both friend and foe, while alienating your own country, then I agree....this is the award for him.
majormoderate
artois-
Lets break your comment down here... Nobel is awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". Turning the most powerful country in the world, the US, from a direction of unlilateralism and the Bush Doctrine to multilateralism and cooperation between nations was the biggest thing to happen to the world since 9/11. And the US does NOT need to be aligned with Israel 100%, that would mean we don't have a soverign foreign policy. I'm Jewish, I support Israel, but to support any other nation absolutely is dangerous. Obama starting peace negotiations this early in his presidency is unprecedented, and shows he is willing to gamble political points for a real result.
His philsophy is not "Cant we all just get along"... It's "OK, everyone has differences, lets find common ground and move forward." Admit it, you just dislike the guy, and everythign he stands for. So, you'll find any reason to bash him. I'm not saying he should have won the thing, but he definitely has done enough to be considered
penscott
Pathetic rationalization for a ridiculous award. And by the way "which clearly effects the whole world" should be "which affects".
isabella
majormoderate: "And the US does NOT need to be aligned with Israel 100%, that would mean we don't have a soverign foreign policy. I'm Jewish, I support Israel, but to support any other nation absolutely is dangerous. Obama starting peace negotiations this early in his presidency is unprecedented, and shows he is willing to gamble political points for a real result."
You cannot have peace "negotiations" when the other side has vowed to annihilate your country and all its people and will not resile from that position.
Such discussions are properly called appeasement (which is what we have now) or surrender, which is what is coming down the pike for Israel.
majormoderate
penscott- coul dode thasnks fore tha spel chack. I'm glad you're patrolling Daily Beast for gramatical errors until they get a spell check here.
isabella- first of all, Mahmoud Abbas does not call for the destruction of Israel. And he's the chairman of the PLO. Second, concessions need to be made on both sides. And third, theres a difference between NEGOTIATING and appeasement/surrender. What a ridiculous comment. Allowing the Palestinians to have an economy and freedoms we all enjoy is surrender? OK George Bush thanks. Your talkign about more of the same, and thats unacceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians. Actaully, to be hoest, I dont think you know what youre talking about, no offense.
isabella
Reply to majormoderate from Isabella: your reply to me is incomprehensible.
Negotiation: give and take on both sides.
Negotiation majormoderate style: They vow to annihilate you. In return, you agree to let them have their own economy. What are you smoking?
whipmawhopma
marietheinformed & majormoderate - I'm sure Obama will be a great president, if one goes by what he says and tries to do, which is why I voted for him, but it's a little early for the Nobel peace prize.
Let's see some results as well as lofty goals. Unless of course you're willing to concede that the Super Bowl trophy should be awarded to the Pittsburg Steelers today.
marietheinformed - Yes, my in-laws are an interesting bunch. For whatever reason(s) they hated my wife's ex. Of course, so do his children, so he has his reward.
Portmanteau - Thanks for the observation.
Chuckv
While it is true that the prize "being awarded is more about the previous POTUS than the current one," it is not true that Obama has done nothing. The last POTUS made at best desultory efforts at peace between Israel and the Palestinians, did little about global warming, started a war, ignored many of our traditional allies, and generally made a hash of things. Obama has acted, or at least begun to act, to change the direction of our foreign policy on all these fronts. That is no small thing. Evidentially the Nobel Committee decided that they wanted to reward his for changing the direction of our foreign policy and increase his prestige and possibility of success now, rather than award his accomplishments eight years from now, assuming he has any. One may argue about whether this is a good thing for the Nobel committee to do, but to say that Obama has done nothing is wrong.
kirkles
Bush also obligated more money to international aid that every other president combined. $80 billion for PEPFAR is a ton of cash.
dmgmarie
Well said!
sippewissett
So you are saying that Bush is your wife's ex and you are Obama? Good. Show us your creds. What efforts have you put in place in your Cabinet to make sure there are special diplomatic efforts to engage with countries that your wife's ex ignored or disdained? What proactive efforts have you personnally put in place to inspire other countries to work towards mutual respect and reconciliation? C'mon. Share that us so we can learn how your analogy works.
StopConRhetoric
Flashback to the first week in April...
Nearly eight in ten Americans said President Barack Obama's first foreign trip is improving the U.S. image abroad, according to the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll.
Seems even Americans thought this President, who has traveled to more foreign Countries in his first year than ANY previous President, was changing our International outreach...
Should someone be rewarded for stepping up and addressing the mess made by their predecessor? Apparently the Nobel committee felt that was a factor.
Now back to getting your panties in a wad....
whipmawhopma
Analogies can only go so far. Obama's good works are a work in progress. It's a little early for the award.
Glenda1976
I'm agreeing with Beinart. You know this is a crazy Friday!
JohnnyAces
Crazy Friday indeed. This is the second time in as many days that we agree with each other Glenda. Kind of scary.
I'm generally a supporter of this President, but give me a break on the Peace Prize. He has done nothing substantive to deserve this "distinction". The Nobel Peace Prize will forever be seen as a joke from here on.
suzannewynn
JohnnyAces, what do you mean he has done nothing? Did you not listen to the people that bestowed the award on him? Are you better than these people? Smarter? More worldly? Try understanding people outside of the four corners you live in.. it is not all about you or everyother US citizen! We live in a global world or had you not noticed? Well go to college and take a college course and they will ram it down your throat b/c it is not all about the US anymore idiot!
sippewissett
Previous winners of the Peace Prize have not "done" anything. The point you are missing because you are going down Beinart's rat hole is that Obama has consistently worked for world peace and nuclear disarmament and has put lots of effort in the State Dept. to these ends. If you wait for world peace to give out this award, we will all be dead and buried. Instead, recognize his proactive outreach to other countries and their positive reaction to him over Bush as someone who WANTS peace.
StopConRhetoric
If that is the case, than the Award should have been a Joke after it was given to German Chancellor Willy Brandt one year into his term, for introducing Ostpolitik to reform relations with the Soviet Bloc...NOTHING had been accomplished, it was merely a policy...
Or it was a joke after Gorbachev was awarded the prize for proposing Glasnost...
Both these World leaders were awarded the Prize prior to any "results" of their efforts...
Wonder if the Germans and the Soviets b-tched that their leader won the award?
JohnnyAces
Suzanne, I'm not exactly sure how diatribe about a US perspective, or me being an idiot, or not being educated (I actually have an a degree from the University of Maryland and Georgetown University thank you) is an appropriate and reasonable response to my opinion that the President did not deserve this award. Even he agrees with me.
So clearly you disagree with my opinion. That's fine. But perhaps you might try to intelligently inform me why you think I'm wrong and maybe lesson the hysteria a bit. Tell me, without personal insults, why he should be considered the most deserving of this award.
amanda07070
Johnny - Did you read the other posters comments carefully? It seems their arguments have some valid points, so I don't want to be redundant.
The following is a myth/truth that I've posted throughout the day regarding how the Nobel Peace Prize is determined in most cases (I got it from the AP):
Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.
Truth: More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.
The statement above seems to be precisely why President Obama won. Encouragement is a good thing. Hope is a good thing.
Now. . . If he screws up, we can look BACK on this and say he never should have won it!
JohnnyAces
Thanks for the thoughtful response Amanda. I'm still not sold mainly because to date there has been a lot of wonderful rhetoric and not much in terms of progress (note I did not say "results") or a tangible plan on a number of fronts. As much as I like and respect this President (I voted for him) I'm not totally convinced that he can do more than talk the talk. If anything this just permits the wingnuts to tee off again.
CDT1969
Lucid and succinct.
-CDT
JohnnyA
The award is announced with a list of reasons.
Like the author of this article, I haven't seen the Nobel Peace Prize Committee's reasoning for this award.
I will base my criticism based on their reasoning, unlike the author who knows all and tells all:
The Nobel Committee has...
The Nobel Committee is...
The Nobel Committee itself will be...
The Nobel Prize Committee should be...
piktor
Gee, thanks for the bitterness, Mr. Beinart!
eurydice9276
It is a peculiar choice and kind of condescending, like they've given him a lollipop and a pat on the head and said "go out and make us proud." And I can imagine other sitting heads of state muttering to themselves, "hey, I've got good intentions, too."
Oh well, it's always nice for an American to get an award instead of a pie in the face. Maybe we can say, as they do in the Oscar speeches, that this award really goes to the little people, without whom he'd never be president.
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n--Y--Portmanteaueurydice9276
Oh, I think he knows this already. :-)
sophia5
( "go out and make us proud." )
Maybe "premature" as a way of trying to influence
decisions involving future troop deployments to Afghanistan ?
Bunx05
I don't think so. Norway has no stake in the Afghanistan conflict. the Nobel committee is chosen by the Norwegian (I don't think I speeled that right) parliament. So, they probably don't care too much about the Afghan conflict. If they do, it's in the area of civilian deaths.
eurydice9276
Sure, it's possible. The Nobel committee has explicitly stated that the Peace Prize is political and that they're actively trying to affect the world's politics through it.
dreaday19
I agree... and/or possibly other present/future worldwide political decisions, too.
UpstateNY
The Nobel Peace Prize is NOT a lollipop - it is given only once a year! Obama has made us proud!
sippewissett
Obama has done more than have intentions. He has envoys in key hotspots around the world, opening up dialog with countries we have disdainfully either labeled or ignored for the last 8 years. The rest of the world has been uplifted by this effort, even as we parochial Americans never look beyond our borders to see what the rest of the world thinks.
The "ittle people" get to enjoy this award vicariously for having put Obama -- and the Audacity of Hope -- into the White House. We all win when hope wins. Don't be petty about it.
eurydice9276
I didn't say it out of pettiness, the "little people" (a reference to Oscar speeches) are the ones who put him in office and deserve to share in the prize - Obama acknowledged that. As for his achievements, he has stated he's not as "deserving" (whatever that means) as other recipients, and the Nobel committee has said his award is based more on what they hope he will do than what he's already done. I'm proud that our president was given this award, but I'm not blind to the possibility that there were more deserving nominees.
TomasGordon
Mr. Beinart presents a nearly flawless explanation for this totally ridiculous development, but he is obviously incorrect in one important aspect. Despite the astronomical evidence first recorded by Copernicus, it is clear that the sun orbits Barack Obama, not the other way around. I have been, am and always will be a Dem, but this is embarrassing!
MatKen
If this is embarrassing to you as a "lifelong Democrat" perhaps you didn't realize that the rest of your Dixiecrat buddies left the party a few decades ago. Why on earth would you be embarrassed?
UpstateNY
I am also a Dem and I am an America - and I am NOT embarrassed. I am proud!
And I don't see why ALL Americans should not be proud of OUR President winning this prestigious prize.
sippewissett
Why are you embarassed about the granting of an award to a person who represents international aspiration for peace, who has put significant teeth into our State Dept's efforts in all hotspots in the world and who has proactively reached out to other countries on behalf of peace? Since when is aspiration a dirty word? Name another world leader who represents these same qualities.
SILENCE.
clearthinker
pandering and apologizing for our great country is not "reaching out in the name of peace". It is simply being naive' and weak. Leadership means standing on principal. Those principals won't get you a Nobel Peace Prize because most of the world does not agree with our principals or at least are envious of them.
Upstate: It is okay if you are proud of OUR President. THere are many level headed Americans who see the worship of OUR president as ridiculous and unnecessary.
theserex
Pinky swear - I will bring about world peace. Now where's my Nobel?
sippewissett
How crass and cynical of you. Too bad you aren't happy that America is percevied WAY more positively with Obama in office than during the last 8 years. You arrogant s*b. You haven't a clue of what this award means beyond the political spitefulness of our borders.
clearthinker
I have read all of your posts and you seem bitter about differing views. I agree we need to be seen more positive in the world, but we don't need to forget about our own people to do this and we shouldn't have to apologize for who we are as a country. I don't know of any president who has not stood for the defense of freedom and that includes Repub and Dem alike. This "last 8 years" argument has grown stale and tiresome. We are a free market republic and many countries around the world don't like that. Why should we apologize to them for who we are? I don't understand YOUR crass and arrogance thinking if we don't kiss their ass then it will spell trouble for us as a nation.
unclelew
This for clearthinker.
Yours is exactly the kind of jingoistic arrogance that has engendered the enmity the U.S. feels throughout the world, and the actions of the idiot Bush exacerbated that enmity. Do you such a short attention span that nine months ago is an eternity away.
You want to act like a bully, the kind o person who after beating up on little kids wonders why he has no friends left.
The U.S. showed its wonderful side with the Marshall Plan.
It showed its bully side with its intervention in Vietnam, Iran, Iraq and about 40 other nations in which it installed or backed dictators.
That mean side of Americans are part of who you are, and while you might not want to apologize for misdeeds of that nature, at least have the guts and maturity to acknowledge them.
All the world is asking - and Obama seems to be delivering - is that the U.S. quit acting like a petulant child who thinks the whole world his his toy.
As for the U.S. being a free-market country, who cares? Other systems work just as well, if not better.
If you want to defend and worship at the feet of bankers and people who pillage viable companies such as Simmons, be my guest.
Frenchmanaz
Mr. Beinart, the term farce, as it pertains to our President is a little too harsh.
I too was a little surprised at the announcement, however, I just took a look at the list of people who have won this same prize and almost all of the descriptions that follow the names start with " for his work on ", " for his efforts on ", in other words, very few have completed their objectives.
Granted one should have worked many years towards their goals before consideration, but most of past winners are not the POTUS, who whether it be Obama or whomever else can effect sweeping change in a short period of time.
Many past winners have been awarded for their ability to inspire towards change and while too many discount Obama's oratory skills, let's be clear that the most critical moments we remember of such people as Martin Luther King were the speeches that inspired millions to rise up and effect change.
Suddenly the world is ready to sit down at our table and talk. When your the leader of the free world it only take the decision of this one man to decide which way to take things.
I agree that this award is a little premature but I suspect that the Nobel boards decision was partially driven as an effort to encourage Obama to now earn it 100%. While in America too few show this man enough respect, this is not the case for most of the rest of the world.
Hope is a human emotion that is far too often marginalized, especially after 8 years of the world having to live with a loose cannon, unsure of who would be next on the list of targets for the Bush gang of thieves.
Last but not least, I do find it a little insulting you Mr. Beinart seem to think so little of the accomplishment of first earning that seat in the White House and way way beyond that the fact that Obama is the first black man to reach this coveted seat. You don't reach this seat through luck.
A little premature, but in no way a " Farce ". Choose your words carefully next time Mr. Beinhart. I suspect you might just have to eat them in years to come.
LanceRH
Well put.
aninigma
"Last but not least, I do find it a little insulting you Mr. Beinart seem to think so little of the accomplishment of first earning that seat in the White House and way way beyond that the fact that Obama is the first black man to reach this coveted seat."
So someone who wins an election is now deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize? If I remember correctly, Obama was elected by the American people. It seems they are now giving out prestigous awards for being popular and having good intentions.
Frenchmanaz
No aninigma, but he did not win this prize for earning the White House, but to simply forget the magnitude of this achievement, as part of Obama's legacy is to forget the insane obstacles he had to overcome in order to get us to elect him. The cards were stacked so far against him, simply because the color of his skin.
Is this enough to warrant such a prestigious award ? well that's difficult to answer, if I were to momentarilly forget the objective of this award, I would say absofrigginlutely, however, given this is specifically for peace. then I must say no, it's not enough. But hell if it shouldn't play it's rightfully part in the decision making process.
Lest we forget that in the space of 9 months, the Russians are already talking about expanding nuclear abolishment, talks are slated with Iran and so on. A year ago none of this was even in the cards.
I am sorry to say but intentions is half the battle in getting peace accomplished. There is a very long way to go, but the fact that Obama did receive the award is proof positive of how the world is finally catching it's breath after 8 insanely stressful years standing on pins and needles.
As I said in my last comment, many of the winners of this prize have achieved it, for the most part, as a result of their intentions.
As I said, it's a little premature but when you put money in the stock market your hoping that a stock is going to make money. This I believe was the Nobel boards intention. They are putting their money on Obama to achieve and despite all of the " he hasn't accomplished anything " neighsayers, I am pretty confident he is going to earn this prize or burn blood sweat and tears trying.
Wellstone
The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize goes to President Barack Obama, "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".
What part of that do you not understand?
Darsan54
I agree with LanceRH, well put.
debbieqd
Ditto. Well said. Many of us continue to severely underestimate this President. It's been only 9 months. The fireworks have not even begun yet. Mr. Beinhart, we do look forward to watching you eat your very harsh, very ungracious words.
eurydice9276
I don't think the author is saying Obama is a farce, but rather the notion that the Nobel committee is in a position to encourage him to achieve whatever potential they think he has. As of last February, when the nominations were entered, Obama had been in office for a week and a half, so this nomination couldn't have been about anything other than his potential.
Obama doesn't need some kind of scholarship, he's President of the United States, he's got the ear of every head of state, he's got more press than anybody in the world, he's got money and power. He doesn't need a Nobel to be encouraged, recognized or remembered. But there are 204 other nominees who maybe did achieve their potential before February 2009 and for whom Nobel recognition would really help in continuing their work. If Obama is as admirable as we think, he would believe this too.
clearthinker
I agree. These braindead people have their feelings hurt because most people outside of the partisan hacks understand this award isn't earned......yet. That is the farce, not this president.
sippewissett
I agree completely on your points. As Obama has just expressed, this is not his award. It is a push for every leader with aspirations of peace to move forward. He was completely gracious in pointing out that the award is not about accomplishment, but about aspiration. Apparently aspiration has become a dirty word in America.
Shame on the GOP and RNC for their pettiness. Michael Steele made a reprehensible statement that will be quoted back to him at awkward points in the future.
dreaday19
Farce may be a bit harsh. A preemptive influence is more likely.
Also, peace is quite a difficult thing to attain, so yes "work on" and "efforts on", as long as they are somewhat effectual, do count.
I personally just think that actions count more than intentions. But I hope (*hope*) the follow-through is good.
AuntBarb
Well, here we go. Something TDB's righties can get behind. It tells them exactly what they want to hear.
Way to keep the readership, DB.
jpelhamtn
More empty accolades for a man who has done nothing, achieved nothing except affirmative praise from a fawning media and now the already laughable Nobel Prize Committee.
A man who has never run a business, never served in the military or lead a state national guard...and who relied on government/taxpayer supported grants and paychecks for his education and 'jobs'...was handed the keys to the White House. This Nobel Prize will be derided (and already is so based on the Global Reaction) ... if the President had an ounce of class (rather than hubris) he would do himself a lot of good by refusing this award.
Wellstone
Another stupid right-wing comment. The man has achieved nothing?
He's the sitting 44th President of the United States, you idiot.
Frenchmanaz
LOL Wellstone, couldn't have said it better. I am still laughing =)
bdluttrull
So every President of the United States deserves a Nobel Peace Prize?
clearthinker
now this is a stupid comment. O deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for being President of the United States. Wow!
UpstateNY
Sour grapes! Obama is talking right now and is crediting America and American leadership. He is humble and humbled by the Prize. You, on the other hand, are a jack-ass!
sippewissett
Wow. A man who has "done nothing". Really? Let me see. With the help of his family, he turned his chances in life from being a go-nowhere teenager to graduating from Harvard Law as president of the law review (first black to do so), went on to work at a national law firm, taught constitutional law at U of Chicago, and left to become a community organizer because of his belief in the need to help the disenfranchised in our society. Then he became a state senator and a federal senator before winning a hard-fought campaign for the presidency.
Whew. I haven't accomplished that much in my life, let alone overcome the bigotry of minorities that he has faced all his life, including now in the small-minded objections to this award. This award is about The Audacity of Hope. Get onboard or wither from your hatred.
Truthfairy
You make me ashamed to be an American.
GaryBoldwater
Truthfairy: then leave... seriously.
clearthinker
man, that's some good kool aid your drinking.
dreaday19
Truth, what about O's story is shameful? Isn't this a part of your's and everyone's right to free speech (which you can openly disagree with)? Disagree all you want, but this is American as it gets, and O's story is very American-dream.
Bunx05
"Global Reaction" to our President is completely opposite to your myopic thinking. OUR President is more respected outside his own country than in; mostly due to the idiocy of his opponents waiting to jump on anything this man does in office and deride him for it. Luckily he doesn't seem to be a petty man, and he continues to foster change (albeit slowly ... painfully slowly in our instant gratification nation) for everyone whether they like or agree with him.
bettycracker
Well, you sure thought the "preemptive war" concept was a winner and were dead wrong about that. So maybe you're dead wrong about the efficacy of "preemptive peace" strike too.
As someone mentioned above, this is clearly a "thank you for not being George W. Bush" award. But is that really so farcical?
For good or ill, the US presidency is a position of almost unimaginable power and global influence. For Obama to come in and immediately and ostentatiously hit the re-set button -- to stop the saber rattling against Russia and Iran and instead offer an olive branch, to reach out to the 1 in 4 inhabitants of this planet who are Muslim and tell them in no uncertain terms that we aren't engaged in an existential war of civilizations against them, to begin a draw-down of the disastrous Iraq occupation (that you, Mr. Beinart, supported, to your everlasting shame, I hope), to articulate a vision of a nuclear arms-free world, etc.
Well, call it symbolic if you want. But the results are real. You're darn right there's a lot of work left to be done to bring that vision to fruition. And it certainly won't all come to pass under Obama's watch -- if ever. But turning the philosophy of US foreign policy around 180 degrees has an effect whether you'll admit it or not.
NorCalGladiator
Agreed.
Instead of just saying Obama doesn't deserve the award which is a debate in itself, try also adding who may have been a better candidate with some reasons. Many times critics of Obama say whatever he is doing is wrong, yet don't come up with any solution of other way of doing.
In a debate you not only say the opponent is wrong, but you also give emaples of how you are right.
sippewissett
Bingo. Ask the poisonous GOP and RNC to name another world leader committed to peace, committed to changing its own intransigence by putting "feet on the street" in hotspots around the world and proactively reaching out to other cultures and nations.
Anyone? Silence.
sippewissett
Thank you for your thoughtful posting. Obama would be the first to point out how much has to be done. However this is not an award for execution; it's an award that acknowledges the power of aspiration: The Audacity of Hope. And what about that is a bad thing, except in the Party of No?
Thank you.
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