VIDEO: Obama Statement On Winning 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

I found President Obama's statement to be very good. He didn't embarrass the Nobel Prize Committee (although they should be) but better, he turned it into an American as a whole win. Some will still think it is narcissistic of him to even accept the award in those terms. I say bollocks! He showed humility and class.

I'm still waiting on some American jobs but I digress... hahaha

I'm still waiting on some American jobs but I digress... hahaha

Maybe you should write Bush and as him why he screwed things up so bad... hahaha.

Excellent speech. I swear, though, that's the closest he's come to appearing somewhat rattled. You can almost see him thinking, "WTF, Oslo? I'm sort of busy here..."

Well said, with humility and grace.

SteveK, why does EVERY time someone says something "not in line" with President Obama, you just fly right back to Bush? I'm VERY aware of President Bush's failings in the arena of American jobs. But he's gone and I have to target the current administration. Nothing personal. Just business.

I agree wholeheartedly. And those that want to turn that statement into some "messiah complex, narcissism unhinged" are just plain loopy. He basically shifted the award to America. Heck, that's patriotic!

SteveK, why does EVERY time someone says something "not in line" with President Obama, you just fly right back to Bush?

Actually T-Steel, I only do this when replying to people who can't (or chose not too) say "well done" to Obama for something he has done without interjecting something negative. If you backtrack through my comments you will find this to be the case. Thanks for asking.

It was not for him in my opinion, it was for the US populace that changed their minds and their foreign policy habits. Obama was the face of that movement so he got the prize much like Gore did though bigger eco warriors can be found, he has become the face of a popular movement.

To be honest from a US perspective it seems odd but in an international context it makes perfect sense. The 2008 election was watched with interest from around the world and gave many people and nations hope in the seemingly impossible which his election was considered to be right up until election day. He did accept it well in a good context though I thought.

Obama was probably as surprised as the rest of us by this. He gave a good prompt speech about it, like digging up a wild ground ball in the infield -- nice pick-up.

This award was stretching things by the PC Committee even by that committee's demented standards. Did Obama really need this? An accurate depiction (cartoon) about this would show the award around his neck, as an albatross. (And actually, that's what it may do for, or to, someone's reputation given what the award really is and what it has stood for so many times in modern years.)

Ok SteveK. I got ya. I did come off as a little snide there with the last sentence. And yes, it could have been left out.

Ya got me and I back away... humbled. :-)

It was a great speech. Thanks to Obama, we can actually be proud of who is in the White House these days. Thanks to Obama, the world looks at America in a different light and again looks towards America for leadership.

I completely understand why the Nobel committee have him the award. Anyone that does a lot of traveling out of the US knows exactly how Obama has changed the world's view of America and Americans.

This isn't exactly unprecedented...excuse the pun.

I think what Steve is saying is that it takes more than just one year to fix the complete f*** up that was GWB. You're asking Obama to work miracles with the pile of poop that Bush handed him. You're asking Obama to clean up a nuclear waste dump in less than a week and forgetting about who put the dump there in the first place.

your such a class act T. Acknowledging your little quip was stupid. I still luv ya you big lug..... (T-Steel and I have known each other for a LONG time).

here in Japan (why am I up so late), many people I know found this statement bigger than the award. I agree with DLS, nice pick-up.

Thanks shika! I luv you too GURL! (Sorry TMV readers)...

Your right shannonlee. I'm very impatient on the jobs front. Maybe because I had to deliver the bad news several times to co-workers. Makes ya real old.

Nevertheless, this is a day to be proud of our President for making this statement regarding the Nobel Peace Prize.

He was nominated two weeks into his presidency What did Obama do, not say, to win the award?

To answer the question, What did Obama do?

"Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics."

That's what this (political) award is all about:


The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."


http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laurea...

Passing gas changes the environment as well. What did the man actually do? Nothing. Pathetic.

"What did Obama do, not say, to win the award?"

He replaced George W. Bush in the White House.

I believe Larry Neal's early remark won't be bested:

"The earth and I are more like cousins than actual friends, but I have to admit that it and the sun did a darned good job with the tomatoes in my back yard this summer. I can assure you that represents a decisive break from the past. I don't expect a Nobel for my bright promise of next year's tasty Beefsteaks and Early Girls, but now that they've started giving Nobel prizes for good things that could happen in the future, I'm as eligible as the next guy, right? As for now, well, I'm no Hendrick Danckerts -- who is? -- but I'm still a little disappointed to be overlooked. I even think they knew about my plans to build a shed."

I agree with most everything that everyone has said on this thread. Especially T-steel.

The President showed humble class with his acceptance.
I'll be a conservative that says, "Congratulations, President Obama!"

But please be careful with the "finally be proud of who is in the Whitehouse" comments.
The President dips our pride with every negative comment abroad (whether the comments are truthful or not). He must represent us proudly, as a proud people, and as our President - not our critic.

Always criticize, but do the criticizing in private, and the praising in public (that's page one of any leadership handbook).

I agree. I haven't read too many of the responses on the right yet, but if some are saying that Obama is narcissistic for accepting the award as a call to action, on behalf of people everywhere, that's really rich, because you know that if he had accepted it on behalf of his own accomplishments (which I'm glad he didn't), they would be saying the same thing, only louder!

"But please be careful with the "finally be proud of who is in the Whitehouse" comments."

The last time I was "proud" of our President was a little after we completely dismantled the Taliban and drove the terrorist elements in Afghanistan out of the country, underground, or 6 feet underground. From that point to the end of his Presidency, Bush was an embarrassment.

As far as criticizing our country overseas...sometimes a little self debasement goes a long way after you have treated the world like a rug mat.

Side note...I feel awful edgy today about this nobel prize thing...I haven't been at all tolerant of anyone that has something negative to say about it. I truly did have a serious sense of pride this morning when I heard the word.