Nobel Envy?

I'm really annoyed by the negativity, envy and outright bitterness of the Sunday morning bashing of the president because he won the internationally prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

What's up with these folks?

The banter on the morning talk shows went from suggesting the president should have declined the award to berating his selection and even calling the choice anti-American and an insult that now lessen the importance and prestige of the honor.

It's becoming clearer every day the President Obama can't win with his critics on things like this because it has now surpassed disagreements on foreign policy, health care reform and how to deal with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is about a Black man in the White House and how it is being translated into "anti-American" rhetoric.

This theme took root and has been nurtured by the right and ignored by the left. It's not new. It started during the campaign with reports Obama "wasn't a Muslim" (rather than he is a Christian) and the question continued to arise. All of this just feeding the doubt he was not "one of us."

Since his election it has persisted into his policy with suggestions defeating health care would be a personal defeat for Obama; and just last month conservatives called U.S. loss to host the 2016 Olympic a vote against Obama not a blow to the U.S.

I'm not privileged with the information the selection committee used to select Obama but neither are any of the other folks bashing Oslo's decision and the president so freely this weekend. The Nobel committee said they based their decision to select Obama because his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

But I do know this, President Obama is now the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, he isn't giving it back, it hasn't loss the prestige and folks need to understand he is the president of the "United States." Let's try uniting.

Comments

[biglongnfat]

12:59 PM on 10/14/2009

You are so right, the haters object to anything Obama does, be it even breathe! They would say he has used up all the O2, if they happen to be in the same room

[faith2hope]

11:23 AM on 10/14/2009

The Republicans have set there strategy course and that is to bash, hate and go against anything that may be pro Obama, even if it means going against the country they say they love and serve just to be against Obama. That actually spells out hatred, why? yeah I get it, its his color and no matter what is said that is the reason behind all of this. No not all are racist some of it is just fear, fear of the unknown and the ignorance of another culture & race.

I think he deserves the award simple for the peace he has shown in the face of the critcism, hatred and racist action that have been directed his way, he has maintained a level of peaceful response.If he were truly the Hitler and the terrorist they claim him to be, things would be so much different if he were out for revenge of some sort.

We have to chalk the response from the GOP and all the other opposers of the award to their ignorance and hope that as time moves on that they will be educated in there thinking of our President and of other countries. For the disrespect that they have shown Oslo is the very thing this President is trying to remove from the image of our country and yet they continue with this level of arrogance of Bush & Cheney. This may speak to why neither of them were even considered for such a prestiges

[faith2hope]

11:50 AM on 10/14/2009

That would be considered for such a prestiges award :>)

[mjtaylor22]

11:05 AM on 10/14/2009

he won for his atitude and positve direction for the nation and the world has brought our allies together in a much better way than anything the last 8 years of screw you diplomancy has....
his call for cooperation and diplomacy instead of pre emptive invasions of foreign nations.

the inspiration he brings ...that is why he won the prize.
i know it is hard for a war mongering, selfish, right wing nutts to under stand admiring something other than greed and power.
but maybe if you actually allow GOd in your life, you could gain some compassionate insight

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pamela-gentry/nobel-envy_b_318153.html

[Angiefranci]

09:35 AM on 10/14/2009

It's true--the viitriol coming out of the right is just revolting, and just seems to get worse. I mean, what do they hope gain other than grinding Obama down? It's just so sad that this is the way certain people play their cards, hoping to gain an advantage. Hard work and thought is the best way to win, but bullies scream, shout, and muscle to get their way. It's a pity.

[EbonBear]

02:28 AM on 10/14/2009

I'm honestly unsure if he could have declined it. As I understand it, he would be listed as winner whether he accepts or not. More to the point, why should he decline it? The international community chooses to give the American president what is probably the highest honour that the international community can bestow and that's supposed to be a bad thing?

Look, we all know the right's strategy. Whatever Obama is for, they're against. If Bush had won the Nobel Prize, they would STILL be crowing about it. If Obama walked on water, they would complain he couldn't swim.

[freshnotbitter]

10:03 PM on 10/13/2009

What's up? I'll tell ya. American Presidents are supposed to pretend that they are in favor of peace but, by golly, you don't actually pursue peace as a policy when you get into office. Oh, no, you whine and wring your hands over the parlous state of the world and how there is danger and fear around every corner and everybody is our enemy. We will not go into the motivations for maintaining this illusion of fear. Instead, just sit back and relax and enjoy watching all the phonies run around in a tizzy because we actually have a President who acts like a sane, normal human being in the conduct of international affairs.

[trinidadgirl]

09:05 PM on 10/13/2009

What's up with these folks? Look no further than the shade of his skin. If it was a white pretender it would have been spun so that it was an honour. But, to the wider point of, 'where do these people get off trying to tell others who and why to give a prize to.... It's the fact that they really feel such a sense of entitlement and self-importance to their cynical comments and opinionising wanting to discredit more than credit, but, thank God for global world who can see the bigger picture.
A prize conferred on an individual is a prize. Prez O will go down in history...as to the opinions and pundits of the good ole US of A, they will fade in to the woodwork, only to be heard of when some-one's character is to be decimated!

[higherwoman]

07:37 PM on 10/13/2009

I'd love to know why the President should have declined the Nobel Prize. Had he declined, I'm sure something would have been made of that as well. Has there ever been a time when Americans cheered at the defeat of our President? The Republicans cheered when the Olympics were not awarded to Chicago. If I remember my geography correctly, Chicago is an American city. But this from the party of the most patriotic Americans. Now, they take issue with the Nobel Prize...why? I'd love to believe the disagreement has nothing to do with race, but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I'd be inclined to say it is a duck.

[pinkibus]

01:34 AM on 10/13/2009

Since Obama's mother was "white" and his father was "black", one might consider him to be white. He chose to consider himself black. He also chose to be a Christian. He also chose to be a lawyer. And he chose to get married. And he chose to be a father. And he chose to run to be president and the American people chose to elect him. He has also chosen to try to bring about a less horrific government by listening to those with whom he disagrees. But the best thing about Obama is he is not anotherr Bush - ignorant, spoilt, and willing to do anything to make himself look good. Lying - yes. Going to war and beggaring the country to maintain the war - yes. I don't agree with everything about Obama but I surely do believe he is a vast improvement. Those who are fighting him are big corporations and frightened ignorant men who do not like to think the world has changed since they were children.

[BruiserND]

01:17 AM on 10/13/2009

BREAKING NEWS: This just in!!! Obama wins the Heisman Trophy after watching a college football game!!!

[LeftisBetter]

12:04 AM on 10/14/2009

THIS JUST IN: Repubs use played out line

[mjtaylor22]

10:36 AM on 10/14/2009

THIS JUST IN COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM DESTROYED THE AMERICA OUR GPARENTS AND GRAND PARENTS CREATED FOR US.
THEY SET FAMILIES BACK BY 2 -3 GENERATIONS

[bob8jv]

12:42 AM on 10/13/2009

In less then nine months, Obama has built a strong foundation in critical areas: 1.By being honest & respectful in all areas & to everyone, which earned the American people & other countries trust. 2.By hiring & successfully managing top gifted political professionals in critical areas, which includes health care, energy, education, & infrastructures. Even thou Obama will invest large amounts of money into these investments, the American people still support him because they know that they will produce excellent results for generations to come. 3. By quickly using diplomacy to build partnerships with other countries. Diplomacy & sanctions must be exalted until our national security is threatened before starting a war. We must be trusted worldwide, assuring that the US will never start any war until the last resort has been reached & verified. Developing partnerships with other countries will help in sharing ideas, resources, & information in order to defeat and manage the war on terrorism. Trusted united partners & allies should be a strong deterrent in diminishing terrorism. The more trusted partners & allies we have, the better.