Why Was Obama Awarded the Nobel?

Robert Gibbs had the common reaction: "wow." It is a huge surprise. The White House saying Pres. Obama wasn't even aware he'd been nominated.

In his remarks this morning, Pres. Obama seemed almost embarrassed.

After I received the news, Malia walked in and said, "Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize, and it is Bo's birthday!" And then Sasha added, "Plus, we have a three-day weekend coming up." So it's good to have kids to keep things in perspective.

[...] But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.

The Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to Obama through an international eye on world events, having nothing to do with U.S. domestic affairs. Good thing, because he's got trouble at home, from health care to Gitmo to Don't Ask Don't Tell, so many promises left on the campaign trail. The Nobel committee looking instead not just to achievements, which clearly was not the measure here because Pres. Obama has just begun, but something more foundational.

Pres. Obama should thank Dick Cheney and his sidekick George W. Bush, because it's obvious after this announcement that never has an international community looked to America for a change in direction more than they did in last year's election. Longing for something beyond fear, the "axis of evil," preemptive foreign policy, smaller yield nuclear weapons, and that all time Bush-Cheney favorite, "war on terror."

This is going to put Rush, Sean, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and the conservative townhall brawlers right off their weekend, with Joe Scarborough & Co. leading the way this morning; Mark Halperin of ABC and Chuck Todd of NBC making fools of themselves, joining the Mickey Klaus "Obama will refuse it" chorus. Cue up the "Yasser Arafat won it too" brigade, which is exactly what the UK Times did; but considering they're also the outlet that used our soldiers for their own purposes yesterday I'm not surprised. Ignorance is seldom gracious. Michael Steele being, well, Michael Steele: 'What has Pres Obama actually accomplished?'

But beyond stepping away from Bush-Cheney's tailspin, why was Obama awarded the Nobel? For his outreach to the Muslim community, which is nothing less than historic; when you look at his preliminary preparations for Middle East dialogue; when he took the bold step to demand a freeze in Israeli settlements; taking up the charge of nuclear nonproliferation. Barack Obama's beginnings foreshadow what could become manifest if partners come forth. In Afghanistan, his determination to help the Afghans help themselves, but particularly the women of that country rise up.

From Foreign Policy, "Dangerous Prize" reveals the mixed blessing of Obama's award:

The Nobel Peace Prize's aims are expressly political. The Nobel committee seeks to change the world through the prize's very conferral, and, unlike its fellow prizes, the peace prize goes well beyond recognizing past accomplishments. As Francis Sejersted, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the 1990s, once proudly admitted, "The prize ... is not only for past achievement. ... The committee also takes the possible positive effects of its choices into account [because] ... Nobel wanted the prize to have political effects. Awarding a peace prize is, to put it bluntly, a political act."

It's a huge honor of promise given to a man who represents the best of America in his rise to the presidency. But with the Nobel Prize for Peace also comes expectations that have not yet been met. I just hope Obama's words that it is a "call to action" pushes him harder and farther, with more energy and focus than he is currently expressing.

But even as the Nobel Committee bestows this honor, representing the international communities full embrace of the new America President and his obvious change from what came before, in America, living with the lack of results so far, the jury remains out.

Taylor Marsh, with podcasts available on iTunes.

Follow Taylor Marsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylormarsh

Comments

[geriak]

Surprise is the reaction! Peace Prize - I think not - This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I rather enjoyed Scarborough's reaction. I had to laugh too! I can think of others that are deserving. The only good about his is that the President will have to do something to show he desered this!

[Stringer32]

Obama doesnt have to do anything to earn the award, its already his, you know how I know the people who's job it is to decide who wins says so. Get over yourself.

[CologneCitizen]

Obama is a very rational man who got elected to be the most powerful man on the planet. Usuallly we get bully types in that position. I remember Bush being proud to be a "war president", what a jerk.

The committee honors a man who may not have achieved that much but already has changed the tone between nations in order to solve conflicts. This is nothing small but something very precious. It breaks my heart to see even on the day of what I feel is a success for America his opponents badmouthing him. Obamas election was a small step for America given the choice between the McCain/Palin ticket and the winners Obama and Biden, but it can be a giant leap ahead when we get down to a nuclear free world. In that sense I congratulate Obama and hope he can push some of his issues. It is so strange that all over the world he is understood and appreciated yet on his home ground he has to deal with birthers, religious nuts and racists.

[customgreen]

At best it is a head scratcher. There are certainly more deserving candidates. President Obama gives everyone hope, but he does need to prove a few things first.

[jhamm1]

"But with the Nobel Prize for Peace also comes expectations that have not yet been met."

The h3ll it does. Look around at all of the previous recipients and you will find many who never came within ICBM range of actually earning it.

[Kaviraj]

Let us wait and see, if he finally steps up the plate.

[smartsense]

To say that this president does not deserve this award because he has not solved nuclear proliferation or ended the wars he intends to is like saying that Al Gore does not deserve the noble peace prize because he has not solved global warming. The criticism doesnt make sense. Go president Obama. I have never been more proud of you.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/09/obama-wins-nobel-peace-pr_n_314907.html

[rasil]

Ditto and well said. The critics are both jealous and envious. There is a distinct difference between the two words. Pathetic souls.

[synergie]

Ah the they're just jealous defense! Many a person has consoled themselves with this when they refuse to accept the facts. No one is jealous or envious, they're just wondering what those Norwegians were smoking. Out of all the nominees, he's not near the top when it comes to actually falling within Alfred Nobel's requirements for the honoree for the peace prize. A commander-in-chief of an army (which he currently seeks to augment by 40,000 more souls) fighting in two hopeless situations, while bombing two other countries, and not even stopping to count the "collateral damage". The cognitive dissociation needed to label that "jealousy" or "envy" ... incredible. Pathos here, begins with you my friend.

[synergie]

Excellent refutation, now if only someone had said such a stupid thing. He basically was given this award for making some speeches about doing these things, he has not taken the first step yet, thus it is premature. No one is asking to have the problems solved, but to move beyond the rhetoric, even the first baby steps would be welcome. That he has not done, and thus this is premature.

[Stringer32]

I suppose you could boil many NPP winners efforts down to giving speeches. Why dont you tell us exactly when in your mind someone becomes worthy enough to win the award, since those pot smoking committee members who actually make the decision yearly dont know what they are doing according to you.