Story of Obama’s life: “Rather than recognizing concrete achievement…”

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 9, 2009 08:58 AM

Isn’t it so fitting?

From community organizer to Illinois state senator (present!) to U.S. Senator for 143 days before moving into the White House…and now, the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize — not for anything he’s actually done, but for the symbolism of what he might possibly accomplish sometime way off in the future:

President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

The stunning choice made Obama the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize and shocked Nobel observers because Obama took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline. Obama’s name had been mentioned in speculation before the award but many Nobel watchers believed it was too early to award the president.

It’s the final nail in the Nobel Peace Prize Committee’s coffin.

A Chinese dissident and an Afghan women’s rights activist lost out to this:

The Nobel committee praised Obama’s creation of “a new climate in international politics” and said he had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the U.N. to the center of the world stage. The plaudit appeared to be a slap at President George W. Bush from a committee that harshly criticized Obama’s predecessor for resorting to largely unilateral military action in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Rather than recognizing concrete achievement, the 2009 prize appeared intended to support initiatives that have yet to bear fruit: reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, easing American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthening the U.S. role in combating climate change.

I can’t capture the incredulity this morning any better than Allahpundit has: “Am I awake?”

Erik Erickson at RedState quips: He’s Becoming Jimmy Carter Faster Than Jimmy Carter Did.

Michael P. Leahy asks: Where’s Kanye West when you need him?

Crikey:

Obama’s press secretary woke him with the news before dawn and the president felt “humbled” by the award, a senior administration official said.

When told in an email from Reuters that many people around the world were stunned by the announcement, Obama’s senior adviser, David Axelrod, responded: “As are we.”

The World Apology Tour yields dividends.

***

Mary Katherine Ham looks at the nominees who were passed over.

If Obama had an ounce of real humility, he’d refuse to accept the award.

***

11:30am Eastern. And he speaks. Obama acknowledges he doesn’t deserve the award, but he will accept it anyway. He’s “deeply humbled.” But not really.

It’s about “aspirations,” not achievement. It’s a “call to action.”

Reporter shouts: “What will you do with the prize money?” No answer.

I think he should give it to the nominees he beat out. What do you think?

***

Christian Science Monitor on the international politics behind the Nobel decision: “The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Barack Obama appears to be an effort to spur on, rather than reward, peacemaking.”

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Comments


  1. #301
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:07 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Obviously, he got the award for his two biggest accomplishments:
    Jack and Squat.
    (credit to SNL)

  2. #302
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    I hereby nominate our gracious hostess Michelle Malkin for the Nobel Peace Prize next year.

    MM has accomplished more as a journalist than the KBPOTUS has done in his life.

    Sadly, the best president to not receive the Nobel Peace Prize is the late President Ronald Reagan.

    GSP

  3. #303
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm, John Deaux said:

    On October 9th, 2009 at 1:32 pm, Kingfish said:

    Still does anybody find it ironic that jug ears gets the peace prize on the day we bombed the moon?

    That’s the only place we can be sure there won’t be any civilian casualties. Now he can take credit for saving us from the Moon Menace.

  4. #304
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm, Savage24 said:

    Ten thousand comedians out of work and this is the best laugh I’ve had in years.

  5. #305
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:19 pm, cnredd said:

    Maybe the other people would’ve had a better shot if they lived their lives with scripts from a teleprompter and had astroturfing campaign experts at their disposal…

    cnredd
    Political Wrinkles
    http://politicalwrinkles.com

  6. #306
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:20 pm, John Deaux said:

    NJ,

    Sarkozy called him naive because of the timing. Obama had an opportunity to call out Iran and instead, A-jad announced it himself. How foolish would they have looked if Obama had announced Qom on the floor of the U.N.? Ahmedinejad would have had no idea it was coming. Instead, A-jad disclosed it himself and Obama’s announcement became an afterthought. Which was really more important? Getting the upper hand with Iran or calling for nuclear disarmament?

  7. #307
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:23 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    That’s the only place we can be sure there won’t be any civilian casualties. Now he can take credit for saving us from the Moon Menace.

    Waiting for the Moon Liberation Faction to demand the environmental clean up.

  8. #308
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:26 pm, Lindsay said:

    Call me crazy but I wonder if this is why he was dragging his feet on moving more troops into Afghanistan. Just wondering.

    sergeantmajorbill, you are not crazy as I think this is the reason he has not done anything to support our troops in Afghanistan, a platform he ran on and promised to find Osama before he was elected emperor. Guess he would not have gotten the Nobel if he had acted with any care towards our soldiers and Marines.

  9. #309
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:28 pm, 24Klady said:

    Kingfish/John Deaux/Dexter/Savage
    You could take that show on the road. Absolutely great!

  10. #310
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:32 pm, Flyoverman said:

    This award isdesigned by the world’s liberal elites to put Obama in a box….

    Smart move on their part. DUMB move for Mr. Ego to take the bait.

  11. #311
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:43 pm, purealchemy said:

    I’d like to see that Peace prize bling as a hood ornament.
    Very ghetto fabulous.

  12. #312
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:55 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    John Deaux said:

    NJ,

    Sarkozy called him naive because of the timing. Obama had an opportunity to call out Iran and instead, A-jad announced it himself. How foolish would they have looked if Obama had announced Qom on the floor of the U.N.? Ahmedinejad would have had no idea it was coming. Instead, A-jad disclosed it himself and Obama’s announcement became an afterthought. Which was really more important? Getting the upper hand with Iran or calling for nuclear disarmament?

    I see. Thnx.

    Since Obama knew about this and sat on it so he could make it part of his G20 sermon, that tells us the answer to that last question. The latter of course. That’s what he believes will bump up his cred. Iran’s a non-issue for him. He’ll do nothing to force them to drop the program. Beside talk at them… firmly.

    And as expected, the MSM virtually ignored a foreign head of state publicly chastising Obama on the floor of the UN G.A.

    We’re living in fantasy land at this point. The only saving grace is Obama’s not walking around with an AK slung over his shoulder.

  13. #313
    On October 9th, 2009 at 3:57 pm, spaceycakes said:

    ‘Piece’ prize for Dolemite!

  14. #314
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:01 pm, purealchemy said:

    Kimora Lee Simmons could come out with a new Nobel Peace Prize line. For the masses. Great fabulousity potential.

  15. #315
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:10 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Bob and Jillian should have shared the prize for their efforts to combat obesity.

  16. #316
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm, tomg51 said:

    Does it come with an expiration date?

  17. #317
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Well, when The Prez finally meets Hu Jia (a human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, who was sentenced last year to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for “inciting subversion of state power”) and Wei Jingsheng (who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China’s communist system) he can say “I won”.

  18. #318
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:30 pm, simcoe said:

    What a cheap, little, nothing prize it’s become. I thought it was for accomplishing things not just talking about things. The nominations for this prize closed two weeks after he took office so he didn’t do anything.

    Now we have to suffer through another speech without teleprompters.

  19. #319
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:44 pm, floridaobserver said:

    A Peace Prize….give me a break!
    IMO Obama has declared war on the citizens of the US and its troops. He is taking over businesses, confiscating private and public assets, closing businesses, etc., and putting off any major decision regarding our troops and their support (until after the Nobel Prize announcement?????!!!!!) and on and on. The man is a menace, not a prize winner.
    When I read about those who actually deserved to win — and didn’t –, well, it makes me sick. What a joke.
    If he really thinks he doesn’t deserve to win, why didn’t he turn it down? It’s all about him.
    What a jerk.
    And I wonder which charity the money will go to. Anyone want to make a guess?

  20. #320
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Michelle Obama’s third happiest memories are sitting in daddy’s lap watching Carter and Gore…

  21. #321
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm, vatodio said:

    A stuttering (without teleprompter) and clueless SCHOLAR from Harvard is awarded Nobel “Peace” prize just for HOPING!
    I heard that he was nominated just two weeks into his Presidency!

    The mislabeled “Peace” award is actually a “He is not George W Bush” award.

    Deep down I always had funny feelings about Peace, Literature, and Economics awards.
    Now, I am convinced, that these are actually Joker’s awards.

    Although I had healthy respect for their Science and Medicine awards, I am having second thoughts about the competency of the people deciding the winners in Science and Medicine categories too.

  22. #322
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:57 pm, jeanie said:

    All those truly deserving folks—makes me want to cry.

  23. #323
    On October 9th, 2009 at 4:57 pm, Durangodarlin said:

    There should be an investigation into who nominated him. Follow the money. As President, he should donate the $1.4mil to a charity.

  24. #324
    On October 9th, 2009 at 5:11 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Headline: “Oblio gots the Noblio!”

    Obama gestures to the other candidates:
    “Yes. Yes. Oh, yeah. Can ya feel that, buddy? Huh? Huh? Huh?!”

  25. #325
    On October 9th, 2009 at 5:19 pm, Lockstein13 said:

    A question for anyone:

    WHO nominated Obama back in February?

  26. #326
    On October 9th, 2009 at 5:31 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    Lockstein13 said:

    A question for anyone:

    WHO nominated Obama back in February?

    The details of the award are kept secret for 50 years. I believe who submitted the nominations are among those things kept secret.

    But in general it can be any board member of Nobel folks, various professors of history and some other disciplines, gov’t officials and proably include now are any employee of ACORN or any Union Big Wig.

  27. #327
    On October 9th, 2009 at 5:52 pm, tyromac said:

    Anyone know if Gene Roddenberry was ever nominated for physics? The stuff he came up with for Star Trek should have been worthy of the award with this criteria. He gave hope to physicists everywhere with the transporter and warp engine. Doesn’t matter if they never really happened — just putting it out there makes him deserving.

  28. #328
    On October 9th, 2009 at 6:10 pm, jones said:

    My boyhood dream of playing for the Packers lives! I’m waiting for the call Ted.

  29. #329
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:05 pm, mytake said:

    Just read that the beer summit is what put Obama over the top. I now think the Norwegians believe the relationship between the races in this country is like the relationship between the Catholics and the Protestants in Ireland. Not that some black leaders try to dispel this image.

  30. #330
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:11 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

    On October 9th, 2009 at 11:39 am, Lindsay said:
    If Obama really cared about his global warming issue, and the American tax payer he would ask that the medal be mailed to him instead of taking Air Force One overseas on a weekly basis.

    Well, you know he will fly over for the ceremony because it’s all about him.
    He said he’s going to give the prize money to charity. I have a great one.
    How about giving it to the Air Force to defray the costs of flying Air Force One over there.

  31. #331
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm, docjohn52 said:

    mmm mmm mmm, [popcorn!]
    Why hasn’t anyone, carved him at Rushmore yet?
    Seems the logical next step!

  32. #332
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm, FilmLadd said:

    Dagnabit! I had predicted he was going to get a Nobel in my next scifi movie Hive Mind. Wrote the script 7-8 months ago, but the movie’s not due out till November…

    Now no one will believe I’m psychic!

  33. #333
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pm, Rob said:

    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm, docjohn52 said:
    mmm mmm mmm, [popcorn!]
    Why hasn’t anyone, carved him at Rushmore yet?
    Seems the logical next step!

    You think you are joking….

  34. #334
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:43 pm, Jason L. said:

    When my wife asked me yesterday why President Obama was all over the news here in Japan, I did a Wiki check. I told her that he’d won the Nobel Peace Prize (a “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!” moment for me if there ever was one).

    Her response was: “For doing what?”

    I couldn’t have said it better myself…

  35. #335
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:43 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    he should have received the darwin award in the “No Shred of Sense” category…

  36. #336
    On October 9th, 2009 at 7:52 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Why hasn’t anyone, carved him at Rushmore yet?

    They’ve started on the ears in Montana and Minnesota…

  37. #337
    On October 9th, 2009 at 8:07 pm, docjohn52 said:

    I can haz Nobl Priz?
    http://tinyurl.com/yhqzjyu

  38. #338
    On October 9th, 2009 at 8:24 pm, regularguy said:

    The Nobel committee just wrote the obituaries of bad guys American soldiers will have to kill because Obama will be further inspired to appease aggressors we’ll later have to destroy on account of his idiocy.

  39. #339
    On October 9th, 2009 at 8:47 pm, Lindsay said:

    Read the comments in the British press…they are burning Obammy in effigy. The bloom is off the rose. The excitement of hope-n-change may be coming to a blessed end!

    If you read about the people who were nominated for this award and should have won, it is a disgrace that Mr. Popular Pants won. His dog,Bo, is more deserving, even if he does poop in the aisle on Air Force One.

  40. #340
    On October 9th, 2009 at 9:20 pm, ChicagoRobb said:

    BUSH deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He deposed an evil dictator, gave hope to Afghanistan, helped fight AIDS in Africa, and stood up for the unborn. We need to show love and respect for him and defend the good he did. Can we nominate him for the award?

  41. #341
    On October 9th, 2009 at 11:06 pm, Fauxrepublican said:

    Nah! Odumbo gets the NCAA prize. Neville Chamberlin Appeasement Award.

  42. #342
    On October 9th, 2009 at 11:23 pm, realitycheck said:

    The fact that Obama beat out some truly noteworthy nominees for this award is an insult to humanity.

    I hear that, next year, Al Capone is in the running.

    Garbage.

  43. #343
    On October 10th, 2009 at 12:05 am, ajmontana said:

    When I heard this my sides split wide open from laughing so hard I had to go to Eisenhower emergency to get sewn up. Of course the line of illegals was so long in front of me I just manned up and got the needle and thread and did it myself. 8)

  44. #344
    On October 10th, 2009 at 12:25 am, Vast Left-Wing Hypocrisy said:
  45. #345
    On October 10th, 2009 at 1:45 am, tbear44 said:

    I was pulling for Art Vandelay to win the Nobel Prize :(

  46. #346
    On October 10th, 2009 at 2:05 am, mattm said:

    The Nobel Prize is officially a joke. They are now awarding it based in intentions, that have not happened an may never happen.

  47. #347
    On October 10th, 2009 at 2:15 am, Papa Louie said:

    …citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

    They were nothing but speeches! What has he actually done? I know liberals judge by good intentions rather than results, but this is rediculous. Couldn’t they have at least given him a year in office before awarding him?

    They must have been afraid that his policies are going to fail miserably, so they had to hurry and award him now. Besides, next year’s award is slated for Amadinajab when he sees the light after hearing an Obama speech and signs a toothless agreement to eventually give up Iran’s nuclear ambitions on condition that we destroy Israel for them.

  48. #348
    On October 10th, 2009 at 2:17 am, Micheleeroo said:

    The Seinfeld Presidency solidified.

  49. #349
    On October 10th, 2009 at 2:17 am, Micheleeroo said:

    Btw, this is nothing. My rat terrier won the Nobel last week.

  50. #350
    On October 10th, 2009 at 8:45 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    On October 10th, 2009 at 12:25 am, Vast Left-Wing Hypocrisy said:

    Next: the National League Cy Young award.

    For wearing girls’ jeans to throw out the first pitch-

  51. #351
    On October 10th, 2009 at 8:48 am, graysonret said:

    I read on Rush’s site, that he talked about the NFL’s decision to award the Super Bowl win, in 2010, to the KC Chiefs. Of course, they are 0-4, but their intentions are good.

  52. #352
    On October 10th, 2009 at 8:50 am, graysonret said:

    BTW, maybe Hollywood would get the message and go ahead and announce the Oscar winners, this weekend.

  53. #353
    On October 10th, 2009 at 9:00 am, Jimmie said:

    This is not the final nail…the final nail was for me at least when the old Multi-Billionaire Murder Yasser got it. Oh Ya how did Yasser earn his Billions….well earn may be to strong a term, but most of the money came from the taxpayers of the USofA Suppose Obama will do as well?……

  54. #354
    On October 10th, 2009 at 9:57 am, Micheleeroo said:

    Who knew we’d see multiple major humiliations in a week for Obama? First, he puts himself on the line and badly loses the Olympics. Now this. Except for the money, this is uber humiliating.
    Not to mention his present failures in Afghanistan.

  55. #355
    On October 10th, 2009 at 10:01 am, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Nobel Peace Prize has now become a popularity contest. Empty and devoid of any substance. Just like our so-called president.

  56. #356
    On October 10th, 2009 at 11:27 am, DogBreath said:

    I can’t believe they awarded the prize to a fly MURDERER. Where’s the justice?

  57. #357
    On October 10th, 2009 at 2:31 pm, sbw999 said:

    If Obama had an ounce of real humility, he’d refuse to accept the award.

    I agree 100% with that statement. But he has no REAL humility. He is as non-humble, and egotistical as any person can be.

    I think this award actually hurts him politically, with independents mostly. Nobody (well except liberals) wants foreigners meddling in American politics and policy. I think there will be a backlash against Obama by moderates, for the audacity of some foreign liberal popularity contest known as the Nobel Committee telling us how great our President is, while he presides over, and leads an attempted socialist coup in the US. To Norway: Go Nobel Yourself.

  58. #358
    On October 10th, 2009 at 3:54 pm, sillygatboy said:

    Sorry, I don’t have to chat with you schlubs right now.
    I’m in the middle of writing my next novel.
    I’m hoping to win next week’s Nobel Prize.

    I’m still on page one.

    (Anybody know of a good title?)

  59. #359
    On October 10th, 2009 at 4:23 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    SB-
    May I suggest “The Wussification of America by His Holy Majesty Barrack Hussein Obama Limited Special Secret Edition”

    :P

    GSP

  60. #360
    On October 10th, 2009 at 7:04 pm, purealchemy said:

    On October 10th, 2009 at 11:27 am, DogBreath said:
    I can’t believe they awarded the prize to a fly MURDERER. Where’s the justice?

    Don’t worry. If he does give all the dough to charity, I’m sure PETA will be on the list.

  61. #361
    On October 11th, 2009 at 5:40 pm, MtsEdge said:

    Sorry folks, there is NO WAY he’s donating the $$$ to charity. He may say he will, but there ain’t NO WAY. If anything he’ll donate it to some shell group (ok, maybe not ACORN), who will later return a “grant” to him post-presidente.

    Just look @ his tax returns…

  62. #362
    On October 11th, 2009 at 5:54 pm, MtsEdge said:

    America is now guaranteed to become weaker, and, in turn, the world will become much more harsh.

    May these Norwegian clowns live to regret their folly.

  63. #363
    On October 12th, 2009 at 3:19 pm, CW4_KGP said:

    I knew I heard teh wons’ lilting and dulcet tones when this song came on the ra-didio today….

    “O lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.
    I can’t bear to look in the mirror, cause I get better looking each day.
    To know me is to love me. I must be a hell of a man.
    O lord its hard to be humble, but I’m doing the best that I can.”

    I have never heard a better description of hisself given by hisself!!!

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