Wow. President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.
As Americans, can we celebrate that? When the world bestows an important award on an American, can we just be happy about that? As John McCain said, “As Americans, we’re proud when our president receives an award of that prestigious category.”
It won’t help him a lick domestically. But it will help America’s agenda around the world, since the president’s stature will be heightened.
That said, let me say this: What the heck?
Let’s be clear: President Obama didn’t ask for this award, didn’t seek it, didn’t know he was being considered for it, and is probably embarrassed that he got it. OF COURSE he doesn’t deserve it. He knows it, everybody knows it.
Melinda Henneberger of PoliticsDaily.com wrote a column called “Obama won the what?” She says, “The Nobel Committee has itself located a rare point of agreement between left- and right-leaning Americans. I think it’s fair to say that the most common reaction among both groups this morning is, Huh?”
Joe Klein, writing on Swampland: “I’m as relieved as anybody that the Bushian gunslingers have been given the gate and, as regular readers know, I’m a big fan of patient, rigorous diplomacy….But let’s face it: this prize is premature to the point of ridiculousness.”
On Morning Joe, Chuck Todd said, “My response is, for what?”
Peter Beinart of DailyBeast.com wrote, “I like Barack Obama as much as the next liberal, but this is a farce. He’s done nothing to deserve the prize.”
Mark Halperin: “I predict right now that he will find a way to basically turn it down. I think he is going to say, I share this with the world or whatever. I don’t think he’ll embrace this. Because there is no upside.”
Poland’s Lech Walesa: “Who, Obama? So fast? Too fast–he hasn’t had the time to do anything yet.”
Gideon Rachman, a columnist for The Financial Times: “I am a genuine admirer of Obama….But I doubt that I am alone in wondering whether this award is slightly premature….While it is OK to give school children prizes for ‘effort’–my kids get them all the time–I think international statesmen should probably be held to a higher standard.”
Don’t blame Obama for getting this award. Don’t knock him around. I think he’s clearly embarrassed about it, and put in a difficult situation. He can’t turn it down. But yet, he can’t claim that he deserves it. His statement today, I thought, hit as good a note as he could. But SNL, Leno, Conan, and the rest will have great fun with it…and deservedly so. I can’t wait to hear what the comedians have to say.
I guess the key to understanding this is recognizing that it’s a
European award, and it’s granted from a European perspective. They see
things differently. We’re accustomed to dominating, to doing whatever
we want. But nobody likes a bully.
Fareed Zakaria: “I think it’s more an award to America for rejoining
the world than recognition of President Obama per se. People here
underestimate how relieved the world is to have a more engaged, less
bullying America.”
Wrote Jennifer Loven of the AP: “The Nobel prize has a long history of
being awarded more for the committee’s aspirations than for others’
accomplishments….In those cases, the prize is awarded to encourage
those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical
moments….The Nobel committee, it seems, had the audacity to hope that
he’ll eventually produce a record worthy of its prize.”
And not just Europe, but the rest of the world. They’ve been yearning
for American leadership on a range of issues, and we’re finally
providing it. Haven’t accomplished anything yet, but we’re pointing in
the right direction. Read the statements of many leaders from around
the world. The American perspective is not the only one that counts,
unless you’re totally arrogant (which is how the world has seen us
recently). Read some world reactions here and here.
More specifically, it’s an award from the Nobel Prize Committee. They
have an agenda, they have perspectives. And they obviously have
partisan axes to grind. Most everyone recognizes this isn’t so much a
commendation of Obama as it is a jab at George Bush.
Again, the European perspective is that they’re glad the Bush days are
gone. That America’s attitude of “Who cares what the rest of the world
thinks?” has been replaced by an administration willing to listen to
and engage with other nations. We’re a community of nations, and that
requires attitudes that the Bush Administration sorely lacked.
Fareed Zakaria: “For decades, it’s been thought deadly for an American
politician to be seen as seeking international cooperation. Denouncing,
demeaning and insulting other countries was a cheap and easy way to
seem strong. In the battle of images, tough and stupid always seemed to
win. President Obama is gambling that America is now mature enough to
understand that machismo is not foreign policy, and that grandstanding
on the global stage just won’t succeed.”
The world is happy that we’re engaging with them again–not just telling them what they need to do, but seeking cooperation.
But I’m peeved that the Nobel Committee would use this prestigious
award to make such a trite political statement. They have trivialized
the award.
Having said all that, I still congratulate the President for receiving
the award, and I know it’ll help him provide leadership in our world.
I’m reminded of Tom Hanks at the end of “Saving Private Ryan,” whispering into the ear of the young Ryan, “Earn it.”
Peter Beinart wrote, “Let’s hope Obama eventually deserves this award.
And let’s hope the Nobel Committee’s decision meets with such a
deafening chorus of chortles and jeers that it never does something
this stupid again.”
