ANSWERS: 84
  • good for him
  • I do like him, but I don't think he's earned it. He's not even a year into his presidency. I don't know who else was in the running, or what the criteria are, but this seems quite premature.
  • I'm very prObama, but really what did he do to win it? Replace Bush? While I'm sure that does greatly stabilize world peace I haven't really seen anything that's peace prize worthy.
  • Congrats Mr. President! +5
  • For What, I am still trying to figure it out? He hasnt DONE anything.
  • "The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 to US President Barak 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." http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/22602/1/ This is well-deserved recognition for a world leader who sees further than the borders of his own county.
  • I'm not sure yet. I believe that before he leaves office he will have earned the award but since nominations had to be postmarked only 12 days after he entered office...I feel it was a bit premature.
  • YAY!!! I'm so pleased with him and proud of him! :D
  • He deserves it.
  • When I was younger, I thought it was a big deal when an actor got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ... then I found out that anybody can get one if they give $50,000 ... kinda makes it not as impressive ... i've learned that when the UN and most of mainland Europe supports something so enthusiastically, it's not something that I really want to be a part of ...
  • "...his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." When did he do that? When he was apologizing for all the evils the US has done around the world? What a sham.
  • I do not get it, he has NOT done anything to earn this Nobel Peace Prize.
  • He has done nothing since in office...he hasn't even read the health care reform package...He is smoking his cigarettes in some room in the whitehouse..What has he done, there are others who deserve that..
  • i don't understand what he did to earn it.
  • The article that you linked to seems to explain it pretty well: "The Nobel Committee lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation but recognized 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." Besides, if Al Gore can get one, then Barack Obama surely should.
  • OMG!!!! Firstly, let me start by saying I think Obama was the best choice for US president. Now, according to the BBC "The Nobel Committee said he won it for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples"." Huh? He has been strengthening international diplomacies??? How? When? Where? This is the SECOND time in two years the Nobel Peace Prize has been a joke. It used to be something people would win for actual contributions towards world peace, not something they would win due to their position in the political world! Do I hear "bung" anywhere??? What a disgrace!!!
  • I think it sucks. (Please read -- don't jump to conclusions.) Let me say up front. I like him. A lot. I campaigned for him. I voted for him. I'm proud he's our President. As a White Southerner, I'm proud that our country has grown up enough that the idea of an African American President doesn't freak out my fellow Americans or at least doesn't freak out most of them. (I'm a Democrat, but I worked for George Bush for 4 years -- on one of the few issues on which I agreed with him -- and for Bill Clinton for three years. My Republican friends, even though they didn't vote for Obama, and they don't agree with his policies, are proud -- really proud -- that our country hurdled a barrier of race in the last election.) It is precisely because I like Barack Obama that I do not like this decision by the Norwegian Parliament. (Bear in mind that Alfred Nobel deliberately put the decision-making power on the Peace Prize in the hands of the Norwegian Parliament, rather than the Parliament of his native Sweden. Norway was a Swedish possession at the time he established the prize, and Sweden was insufficiently devoted to peace at the time for his taste.) As someone who likes Barack Obama, I think this award is utterly premature. People who don't like Obama are going to have the same reaction -- what has he done? One thing: He has successfully not been George W. Bush. On behalf of one former boss (President Bush), I'm offended because this is a slap to him. I disagreed with him on almost everything, but found one area where we did agree and quite proudly worked in his Administration. (And found one or two more areas where we did agree that I didn't know about before.) On behalf of our current President, I am profoundly disappointed in the Nobel Committee. I am quite confident that after six or eight years, President Obama will have accumulated a record of achievement that will be more than deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. (My conservative friends will, of course, disagree with that prediction.) But the bottom line is that he got the Nobel Peace Prize under conditions where his private reaction had to be, "WTF?" This should be an award for a job well done. I think that will happen. It hasn't yet. And so this award of the prize is a mistake -- it takes something that should be a "thank you" from a respected foundation, and turns it into a "You rock!" from a bunch of groupies.
  • Obama in no way deserves the Peace Prize. He's made a couple speeches that maybe helped to alleviate tensions that Muslims hold against the U.S. but it doesn't mean he helped to bring about peace. It's ridiculous. Actions speak louder than words and Obama has sent more troops into war zones. Is that peaceful? Killing civilians, is that more peaceful? I don't think any one person deserves it and definitely NOT Obama. Lead by example and his example will lead to being a warmonger.
  • I have already answered or commented a half dozen times on this. It is a political thing. He is being tossed a bone by the Norskies. They are fascinated that there is a black (?) President of the US. They feel they must give him some recognition. I think they are more than a little premature in giving him the Peace Prize. I can't think of a thing he has done as yet to earn it.
  • This was the first bit of news I saw this morning when I woke up. It has had me in a cross mood ever since. This is the man who is sending additional troops to the middle east, and cranking up a war in Afghanistan, is it not? Or is it still only a conflict over there? I have a hard time keeping abreast of his panel of spin control experts. This is the man who repeatedly gave the promise, prior to his election, that he wouldn't destroy American families who had illegal immigrants as spouses, his first year in office. The Hispanic vote won him the election based on that promise alone. Interestingly, the healthcare in this country has been a sore spot for decades, but suddenly, it becomes a national emergency that MUST be addressed immediately! So much for the Hispanic populus. He has pissed off so many people by breaking that promise, that I can hardly see how that fits in with winning a peace prize. Thirdly - and I would be remiss if I didn't add this - he hasn't done jack to strengthen international diplomacies, except for those countries who are cheering in the cheap seats, gleeful that he is continuing the wars in the middle east. Hey, it isn't costing THEM anything, right? All he did was make a promise that got him elected (which he broke), and be born half black. If that's why they like him, then he should have his award sliced down the middle, be given one half of it back, and the US citizens who voted for him should all have tiny copies of the Nobel prize, since we're the ones who voted him in. Bring in the long range missile destroyers, aim them at North Korea and the middle east, and bring our troops home. Now THAT would bring some damn peace. +5
  • The Prize Committee should have their heads examined. A blatant attempt at political toadying. +4 Rosie
  • The Prize Committee should have their heads examined. A blatant example of political toadying. +4 Rosie
  • I have no idea what he did to deserve it, but who am I to say. +5 Ailsa. Missed you and all my AB friends, just back from almost 3 weeks of travel. I hope all is well with you and your children Sweetness. Best Always, Jonathan
  • It may be a bit preemptive, but I'm cool with it.
  • I stopped watching the nes a long time ago, so this is the first I've heard of it. What a joke!
  • It must be the easiest prize to get. What has he done to deserve it?
  • i don't understand what he has done to deserve this. +5
  • who is obama?
  • I have no clue why he got the peace prize!! I don't think he does either, I think he is still in shock!!
  • U know i've been surfing the web for about time now and i didn't find anything special that obama did to deserve this, and i might be next year's winner for sending happy thoughts!
  • I am surprised. But after thinking about it, who else deserves it? Everybody else have been hostile and warlike. At least, Barack is doing something. Not much, but something. - This is a testament to how deep in crap the world is. Nobel Peace Prize voted for the least evil. Much like US presidential elections.
  • My thoughts? In my opinion, he did not deserve it and it is way to early in his presidency to receive it! I honestly don't think he is really living up to his campaign promises either. I think the ones who deserve the Nobel Peace Prize is our military men and women!
  • My initial reactions was, you got to be f-ing kidding! Then they went on to explain it was because of his promises. Then it was about 15 minutes of ranting to myself and the tv screen about how well his promises have worked out so far. Someone please tell me what in the holy hell the man has done?
  • I really don't get it. Don't get me wrong, I am a Obama fan and have huge repect for him. But there seems to be this trend to think Obama is going to save the planet!!! He's just a man, he can't fix everything. He will (i hope) achieve great things as President of the U.S. but can anyone name 3 things he has done since being in office that constitutes being awarded this? I heard his speech on the radio and I think even he acknowledges that this is a surprise choice. President Obama, IF you do read this, please keep your feet on the ground and keep doing what your doing. I suspect one day you will have earned this but not now. To the rest of the world and especially the media, BACK OFF the guy, he's not going to save the world so stop setting him up for a fall.
  • My own comment is that, if the committee can award the prize to Yessir YoureAFart, they can award it to Fidel CastroOil next year, or Kim's Jong's Ill.
  • How, a lot of ass kissing. Why, refer to first answer. I disagree the guy didn't do anything but drive the country further in debt and make the country weaker.
  • i was shocked but why
  • My initial reactions was to ask what the Nobel committee was thinking. My consternation was deepened when I learned that the deadline for nominations was just twelve days after he took office. What did he do in those twelve days that could have earned him this prize. While I may have disagreed with the decisions, at least Arafat and, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter had actually done SOMETHING. What had Obama done by that point? NOTHING. This just shows how far the Nobel committee has sunk.
  • I thought the world must have been so relieved to see a change of leadership in the US, that they gave Obama this prize. The contrast of his demeanour with that of Bush is great. People outside of the US thought of Bush as a bully and an idiot, they think of Obama as a mature potitician... I think just what he symbolizes is why they gave it to him ... shouldn't the people who voted for him get the prize in that case?
  • I honestly do not know why?.... What has he really done? I seen the episode of SNL was it last week? That was truth. What has he done that he has promised... and that in which he has done, what has brought peace? I honestly do not understand.
  • Are we finally going to admit that just his being black got him so many points that even he is surprised sometimes when he receives certain accolades. He seems like a good bloke generally; I wonder if it disappoints him sometimes that he often isn't judged on what he does but is instead reduced to a token figure representing change and black and anti-traditional expectation etc..
  • I'm all for Obama succeeding, I'm a liberal. But I saw that and my reaction, which apparently I'm not alone in was: For What Exactly? Don't you have to like, uh, y'know, do STUFF to earn this? He had no control over it so I don't blame him.
  • Go-Bama!!! Yay! I'm so proud of him!
  • HEY, I love the guy! I'm glad I voted for him! ...but are you freakin' kidding me?
  • The Nobel Peace Prize has lost its meaning and value.
  • Who gave it to him? The same people who gave it to Henry Kissinger? O.K., that was a long time ago, so it couldn't be the SAME people, but it's the same committee, consisting of how many people? And who are they?
  • Can we all have one as well, then?
  • WTF?! I was wondering what that persistent whine that resembled a mosquitos' wings that woke me up this morning. Then I found out- Republican's whine. But then, the Nobel committee also gave Yasser Arafat the Peace Prize. Which is similar to giving Josef Mengele the Nobel Prize for research into Medicine.
  • I find it rediculous. It must be the easiest award to get. Obama doesn't deserve it. He hasn't done anything to deserve it. There are alot more people who were more worthy of that honor.
  • Nobel Peace Prize is only a party favor the lefties. They give this award away like they are handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.
  • I honestly thought it was a practical joke. Nothing against Obama, but don't you actually have to do something to win the prize?
  • Cool. When do I get mine?
  • YAY!! I could not be happier with him or prouder of him! Good on him, I say! :D
  • I thought, "Good Lord! Like they don't have ENOUGH already to attack him with!"
  • Delete this answer please.
  • Laughter. He hasn't done anything yet. But I guess that's why he received a peace prize
  • So what? After awarding it to Yaser Arafat, it just doesn't seem to carry the same significance.
  • Um am I the only one that remembers him shifting the foreign policy of a country, the development of new nuclear weapons will be stopped, a sharp change from the Bush administration that pushed for a new generation of warheads, and the new administration will work with Moscow to take US and Russian missiles off their current hair trigger alerts, or closing US torture facilities at Guantanamo Bay etc, etc, etc and some of you think you should get one for what answering questions online? Please stop hating he deserves it and he should have it.
  • I think it's ironic that he gets the NP Prize on the day that the US bombs the Moon! ;)
  • I thought it was premature. Nobel prizes, as far as I'm aware, are awarded for achievements, sometimes for work done over an entire lifetime. His achievements as president may show promise but there are yet to be concrete results. I presume awarding the NPP was more or less a public acknowledgement of his stance toward some issues and to give him additional leverage on the world stage, but ti still doesn't sit right with me. Nominations for this award closed two weeks after he came into office; he's only been in power for 8 months. The NPP committee made a statement along the lines that they wanted to make the award now because there would be no point in doing so in three years time. Why? Are they expecting him not to last that long?
  • It reduces the credibility of the Noble Foundation to the level of a baithing beauty contest. I took the Universal Studios tour once. Do you think I could win an Oscar?
  • I think it is a huge joke, I voted for Obama, but I see no reason this man should be put in the same category as the people who actually worked their whole lives accomplishing things, he hasnt done anything he is getting an award for thinking about doing stuff, it is CRAZY!
  • Both the Taliban and the American Republicans are equally pissy about it. Hmmmm.
  • well George Bush should deserve a mention in the Nobel Peace Prize because he inadvertently helped Obama get the price due to 'CONTRAST EFFECT' And the American People need to exercise the inalienable right to question and to seek answer !
  • Hummm...Interesting.
  • The instant reaction to that was, "For what?" ....it still is
  • Well, when I woke up and heard the news, I knew I had crossed over. Crossed over into....
  • It is awesome. Everybody wants to be an Obama hater, and this is Obama's way of saying f you dang mofos. I am so proud of our negro president.
  • I don't know. Maybe he got it for not being a dumbass like Bush.
  • My intitial thought was: No, seriously, who won?! ;) jk If Obama he were a nobel sort of fellow, he'd turn it down, and tell the committee find someone who HONESTLY deserves it. Basically, he became President, and thats it. Thats the award we, Americans gave him. He's not lived up to any Nobel Peace prize standard in my eyes.
  • I voted for him in the end, but the things he has done have not had much impact on my daily life. Still trying to get my house refinanced, job, etc. Instead of sending a rocket to the moon, we should have sent it to Congress!!! ;))
  • Fantastic.
  • I am thrilled. What a way to slam these aholes that are hounding and threatening this poor man's office. Hooray. Well played.
  • Wha..What?! Why.. don't get me wrong but what he do to deserve this? He's sure seems to be a good president but.. I don't significant change in the overseas americans policies.. I just can't understand.. it's a little too soon for that..
  • the Presidents of US declare war for fun and kill thousands of inocent people to display and sell their superior weapons. all that is enough for one to win the Nobel for peace is not to go at any wars! it is a position that we all take for granted that war will be declared you know...lets see what happens next years. i'm sure Obama will kill and bomb and eliminate like every US president. and dont forget that the super-killer president George Bush was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize.
  • My heartiest congratulations, Mr President! You are worthy to receive this great honor.
  • My first reaction was: a shameless bribe!
  • I don't give a fuck and i hate America
  • Total disbelief!
  • i hate it.
  • Pretty cool. At least I thought. I know he didn't do much to earn it and isn't the picture image as what i would view a Nobel Peace Prize winner. I look at people like the Dalia Lama and Mother Teresa, Martian Luther King kind of people. But once I heard more about it I understood it. Yes I thought there were better candidates, but he has defiantly improved public relations and how other countries view America. So ++ for him
  • CONSFISCATE IT BACK SINCE HE HAS'NT EARNED IT, ONLY EMBARRASSES AMERICANS.

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