Obama's Nobel Prize triggers another wave of America-bashing from right-wing media
October 09, 2009 10:37 am ET by Eric Boehlert
Well, at least conservatives are consistent in their open disdain for American achievement under Obama.
Reminiscent of the Friday Freakout that followed the glorious news that Chicago, and the United States, had been denied the honor of hosing the Summer Olympic Games (Hallelujah!), the same Obama-hating voices in the right-wing media are outraged that the President of the United States has won the Nobel Prize.
In other words, Obama/America loses = good. Obama/America wins = bad.
And no, unhinged critics aren't simply wondering if it's too early in Obama's first term to win such a prestigious award. They're letting loose the divisive hate rhetoric (you'd expect anything less?), and demeaning the international achievement.
In the right-wing blogosphere, Obama's global honor is unfolding like a nightmare.
Question: Why does the conservative media hate America?
Maybe they just really hate his hair, but somehow can't think of any way to make it a nut busting issue.
Apparently they reasoned that if they waited until all the goals had been accomplished - some of them may not have been met. Did they then lose their opportunity to guide the process by taking this most positive step now?
Certainly makes good sense to me.
Why are so many people stuck on stupid? I guess listening to Fox News will have that effect on white folks.
We are talking about the President of the United State, not George W. Bush. Obama has ALWAYS stood for peace, now he is in a position to make a difference. Obama has since talked to the world and make it clear what he stands for, and it is peace.
Folks need to start using common sense and stop listening to envious, hateful people who can't see any good in their own President.
On the other hand, on his orders, the U.S. continues to illegally detain people in Guantanemo and continues to occupy Iraq. He eschews his responsibilities in afghanistan by depriving his own armed forces the appropriate force level and supplies that would allow the troops stationed there to defend themselves and stem the escalating violence. And due to his policy of appeasement with Iran, the regime there will soon develop nuclear weapons, with the result of widespread proliferation among every country in that region.
Now someone please tell me, what has Obama accomplished to deserve the nobel peace prize?
I'd like to see some specifics on the meme that Pres.Obama has tried to work with those that hold opposite views.
When has he offered to cede his stance on an issue with republicans...in the interest of reaching out for a compromise?
I understand that compromise is a two-way street and that republicans don't have much of a record of compromise...but that is not my question.
My question concerns Pres.Obama's record of actual compromise.
Dropping the public option if it means getting a few Republican supporters.
The President has offered to work with Republicans to reform malpractice laws to bring down the cost of health insurance.
He's attempted to compromise with Republicans on off shore oil exploration.
He's tried to work with the Republicans on every issue and on every issue they've been unwilling to work with him.
He's compromised more in eight months than GWB did in eight years.
HE'S NOT GEORGE BUSH!!!!!!!
"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.
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.
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."
Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics.
Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.
The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations.
Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play.
Your delusions nonwithstanding, Obama is exactly the kind of person who has earned this award.
Please stop.
If Alfred Nobel hadn't already invited dynamite, we would definitely have it now, in the form of these wingnut skulls exploding. Feels like the 4th of July.
I agree...irrespective of the stated motives and requirements by the Nobel group.
The IOC could make a rule that they have decided to award medals based on the entrant's efforts rather than the actual results...well within their jurisdiction...but it doesn't mean that others have to agree with their methodology.
There are, without a doubt, some on the right who will condemn any action or inaction by Pres.Obama...and some on the left that will defend his every action...all one has to do is read the comments made on this site.
My disagreement with giving the award to Pres.Obama is that it appears to me to be nothing more than an shallow political ploy...and nothing to do with hating anyone.
I appreciate your candor. While we disagree on the politics of Pres.Obama...we don't have to flame his every action or mindlessly support everything concerning him.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee hasn't changed their standards. They have given these prizes to many people and groups who only have aspirations and haven't accomplished much yet.
The flaw in your argument is that your ignorance of the standards that the committee has long used to make their selections is no defense.
A smart man knows you used your position (power)to advocate peace. That is what Obama is doing. It is incumbent for nations and people to accept this call and carry out the initiative. This is what is asked of a peacemaker.
When nations and people heed Obama's call and peace prevails that would be the result (the actions of others).
Stop watching Fox. Fox hates their own President. Use common sense and think for yourself.
The labeling of anyone who doesn't agree with you as a FOX viewer is highly obnoxious and entirely uncalled for. Pete has a solid track record as a liberal here, that doesn't mean he has to agree that Obama should get the prize for his intentions.
Get medicated.
The only mystique here is the ability to sit up and take nourishment.
Idiot? Hypocrite? Lame-brain?...not hardly.
Pete...an avowed staunch liberal...dares to offer an independent thought...and is admonished by a radical that can't except divergent thinking if it is critical to Pres.Obama.
This isn't a case of "drinking" liberal Koolaid...it's a case of taking it right "in the vein"...proving that neither liberals or conservatives have a lock on insanity.
You are silly; "nourishment"? what is healthy about the sick state of affairs in America today where stupidity and treasonous behavior florishes? You sound like a man who likes things the way they are. That means you have no idea where America is heading if we don't change course. I do. We are heading to self-destruction. Republicans no longer give a damn about democracy or their image. Just look at who they are listening too. Their listening to the lowest form of man: Birthers, Deathers, Tea-baggers, Rush Limbaugh, Sean (the biggest liar in the world) Hannity and the outright nut Glen Beck. All of these devils want to overthrow the government. You think I'm "radical?". These are the ones you should be concerned about. What is insane is watching Republicans spit on democracy [we had an election and the people have spoken] and put politics ahead of country and accept it as responsible leadership. I disagree with the concept of conservative and liberals because right and wrong is left out the equation, replaced by idiology and Party loyality. It is hard to come together for the sake of truth and right when you are separated by lables.
It's especially nonsensical to bring up race here. It's not like conservatives applauded the award when it was given to Carter or Gore.
"Out of however many nominees, does that in itself put him above anyone else?"
Apparently the panel who decided on the nominee believed Obama was a great candidate for the Prize and they gave their reasons, like it or not. That's what counts.
I believe Obama is an excellent choice, based on his peace stance, his effort to bring about peace in the world. His speech to humanity. Obama is the leader of the most power nation in the world and he spoke to the world about Peace. Whether you agree or not, Obama is a great choice and the selection panel agrees.
"This is a pretty subjective matter, really. It's not like if you don't think that he deserved to win this year based on intentions over a couple of hundred other nominees, then you must be a FOX viewer. There's some discussion to be had there".
Fox News is a lying propaganda network who show their distain for the President. This is where most idiots get their information and talking point. You seem to follower Fox News deceptive "fair and balanced" line of BS.
How hypocritical can a News show be, yet they have huge ratings. That means there are a lot of mis-informed people out there.
You may vent your disagreement all you want, but there is no need for more discussion on this issue. Obama is the 2009 Nobel Prize winner. Obama accepted the award and that's the name of that tune.
"It's especially nonsensical to bring up race here. It's not like conservatives applauded the award when it was given to Carter or Gore".
Those who have a problem bringing up race are the very ones who needs a reality check. All of these daily obnoxious criticism and attacks on this President is due to Obama's race. Thats a fact. Those who deny this is the case should no longer be a part of the discussion. They need to join the mis-guilded Birthers and Tea-party idiots.
Race is behind the senseless reactions to everything Obama does. You won't admit it but this is why you have a problem with this years Nobel Prize winner. Were you this outspoken when Gore won it? Gore wasn't an advocate for peace, although he was considered a peaceful man.
You think I am insane; do me a favor and examining my previous posts. You will discover that a great deal of people agrees with with my observation and perspective.
What is insane is white people trying to convince intelligent black people that race has nothing to do with their sudden dislike and childrish behavior toward their own President. You think black people are not aware why Republicans won't help this President? You think we don't know why Republicans are a Party of no? You think we don't know why they don't (as a group denounce Rush Limbaugh, Sean [Klan]nity and that nutcase Glen Beck? I can go on and on, but race is behind Repubicans/conservatives treasonous actions.
(I must credit "Sky Pete," who used the logical contradiction to tweak the outraged wingnuts at townhall.com this morning.)
Limbaugh's reasoning in particular for cheering the rejection of Chicago's bid was that it supposedly served as a referendum of sorts of world opinion towards Obama. Now, a week or so later, it turns out that Obama won the Nobel Prize. Sort of defeats the purpose of all that right-wing joy, now doesn't it?
Admittedly, I'm torn on this. The Nobel Prize ought to be awarded at the summit of one's acheivements towards world peace. It is usually a recognition of long years of toil for a cause. With that said, I am glad they gave it to him... the committee does not make such decisions lightly. Turning around world opinion of the United States after the previous presidency is an enormous task and President Obama has been doing beautifully.
The right-wingers have been going on and on about the futility of the so-called "Obama Apology Tour" in the wake of the rejection of Chicago's bid for the Olympics. They called it a rejection of President Obama and ridiculed the hell out of him for even trying. Now he's been awarded a Nobel Prize for those very efforts, something far more prestigious than having your country host the Olympics.
Looks like the Far Right was wrong again. We should push this for all its worth - it's nice to see their awful rhetoric blow up in their face. It's also nice that we won't have to listen to them go on-and-on about what a failure President Obama is because of Chicago.
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.
I believe you and I could go tit for tat forever and I invite you to continue to respond to any of my future posts.
It is obvious you and I are on different planets because you somehow can find an issue with everything I say. Could I be that bad? Not a chance. Like Fox News you see things from a Conservative, Liberal perspective and I see things from right and wrong, good and bad, God and the devil.
That will put us at odds on every issue and that is exactly what is happening here. I do not try to dispute everything someone says because nobody can be all wrong. According to you I am wrong on everything. How is that possible?
For the record I disagree with many of your post an responses, but I have to admire how you hold your composure and maintain decorum. You are a first (white guy).
Now we have remarkable similarities between the response to Mr. Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Fox News, et. al., here in the United States.
As a matter of fact, what are substantive differences between what the Taliban has to say about this and the representatives of the American Taliban - Faux Noise?
I believe you are correct.
Clearly the NPP org is putting the carriage before the horse. But what else would one expect from a thoroughly politically leftist club.
I wasn't aware that being committed to world peace was a "leftist" ideology.
And listen to Beck, Hannity, Limpaugh... Over and over I hear them profess the foreign policy of the right being that as long as there is a country that doesn't agree with America - the greatest most moral country ever in the world - the persuasive powers of our awesome military is just wasting oxygen.
The DNC nailed down haters like you in their response.
"The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists -- the Taliban and Hamas this morning -- in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize, Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize -- an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride -- unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it's an embarrassing label to claim."
According to your guys, he's destroying America, the Constitution, and Western civilization via a coup. In just 8 months. Are you saying none of that is really true???
he has done nothing yet. nada. zip, zero. he has a war to either end now or continue, "man of peace" well that remains to be seen doesn't it. both in Iraq and Afghanistan. both are his wars now, bush is over, done, fini. Iran? that also remains to be seen. at least make an effort to think for yourself first before making assumptions.
No, he does not deserve such an honor at the moment. In a few years after all his lofty promises become realities. I'd even settle for one.
Read why they gave it to him.
So, maybe you should rethink your opposition - that would be the reasonable thing to do. I don't care what your political philosophy is. It doesn't stop you from from not understanding something and failing to even try to understand it, and it doesn't give you an excuse to have a knee-jerk reaction to it.
But let's take a moment and reflect--if it was "ridiculous" that Obama won it, then who do you think should have received it, instead? Does any particular statesman or diplomat, anyone exercising influence in a peaceful cause, even any organization have a greater claim right now than Obama?
Please explain who and why someone else should have won the award. If you can't, then it's not "ridiculous" to give it to Obama.
As the committee said, "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."
Like South Africa's Desmond Tutu getting the prize before Aparteid had been ended.
Like the prize Al Gore won, before much progress had been made on global climate change - he got the award for his vision.
Like the man and the organization who are working to ban landmines - did I miss when that goal was anything close to accomplished with tangible effects, or is it still a pie-in-the-sky vision?
I think they would have preferred even more visionaries to give this prize to over the years.
It seems early for me, especially with all of the issues left from Bush still up in the air. If Obama had made huge strides in those areas, then it would make a little more sense. And to suggest that it's their decision, therefore it can't be questioned by anyone else seems pretty shaky. Not to put too fine a point on it, but "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle" could have won "best picture" at the Academy Awards and you could use the same reasoning to shut down any debate on that decision.
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."
This is a man of hope and peace and all they can say "there is no upside [to winning the Nobel Prize for President Obama]. They want us to believe this is an Affirmative Action and there is no upside? What the hell are they talking about? Better yet, on what planet do they spend most of their time on? The Nobel Peace Prize is a world honor and recognition and has 1 million dollars attached to it. These idiots are envious and mad that Obama is nothing like they define him.
They claim Obama is this and that, but Obama defines himself. He said he was a man of peace. Now he has the Nobel Peace Prize to booster his position. It’s the idiots on Talk TV and Radio who calls Obama naive, but how often are they right? I submit to you that they are wrong most of the time. This is another example.
Obama is doing his part to bring about peace in the world and he is doing it on a world stage, but of course he will need cooperation from others for it to be effective. But that is not why they award people the Nobel Peace Prize. They award the peace prize for your stance, belief and effort. On that qualification alone, Obama deserves the Prize.
What you expect in un-realistic and stupid. The Nobel Peace Prize is in recognition to Obama's stance and effort. As far as Obama being a "weak finisher", I’m sure you don't realize how stupid that sounds. Obama has dedicated his life to peace, and he is not even half way through his first term in office
I see the rightwing did not disappoint and were throwing that around rather quick.
Mostly, the rightwing gives themselves away again. their biggest problem outside of their intense, unfathomable hate for Obama is that the last republican to win the award was Teddy Roosevelt.
I'm also thoroughly enjoying the reaction of the right.
Me too. It is fascinating to see them react to having to reconcile their "Obama is a dangerous man!" mantras with this Nobel Peace Prize.
This award is a manifestation of raw hatred towards Bush, expressed in the genteel way of a committee that isn't allowed to express raw hatred.
It's okay to hate someone who did hateful things.
Answer, they don't really hate America. They simply love themselves more than they love anything else. It's called 'narcissism.' They are drama queens, and they are upset that *they* didn't get a big prestigious award, too. Thus they throw a tantrum, defaming the recipient of the award they, themselves, wish they had gotten.
They'll never admit this to themselves or anyone else. But it's clear to see that they are jealous of anyone who's smarter or has achieved more than they have.
With this in mind, I propose a Nobel Runner-Up Award to give to each these critics, in hopes that the feeling of achievement related to receiving it will allow them to lighten up, just a little bit.
"We hate his policies so the rest of the world should hate him too!"
so you're admitting that the sole purpose of the Chicago bid was to to engage in an unprecedented, even by IOC standards, orgy of greed, graft and patronage on a scale of gall that might even make a veteran Democrat blush?
how decent of you to admit the truth, even if it was a Freudian slip on y'all's part.
we don't hate America: that's your raison d'etre, and your efforts to destroy it are doomed as long as people still believe in personal freedom. America isn't a place, it's an idea. if you hate my country and my fellow citzens, here's who you hate:
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek.
An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.
An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need.
When the Soviet army overran Afghanistan 30 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.
Americans welcome the best, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome the least!
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001, earning a better life for their families. The World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must.
Hitler did.
So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world.
But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
it's too bad you don't feel that way, but hey: it's still a free country, despite your best efforts.
you're welcome.