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October 9, 2009 10:26 AM

Obama's Nobel Peace Prize: What's Your Opinion?

Posted by Kevin Hechtkopf
The world was shocked this morning by the announcement from Norway that President Obama had been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

What's your reaction? Take our poll here on whether the president deserved this unprecedented honor, or leave your response in the comments section below:

Did U.S. President Barack Obama deserve to win the Nobel Peace Prize?
 Yes
 No
 Unsure



More CBSNews.com Coverage of the Nobel Peace Prize:

President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Obama: Nobel Prize a "Call To Action"
Analysis: Nobel Prize Doesn't Help Obama
Mark Phillips: The Audacity of the Nobel Committee
Mark Knoller: Nobel Peace Prize an Unprecedented Honor for Obama
List of Past U.S. Winners
World Reaction to the Award
Read Excerpts from the Nobel Citation
Common Nobel Prize myths debunked
What's Your Opinion?
Watch video of Nobel award ceremony from AP Television
Watch a shocked Bob Schieffer's analysis
Watch Mark Phillips' report on the Prize



Tags:
Barack Obama ,
Nobel Peace Prize
Topics:
White House
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Add a Comment See all 113 Comments
by sculptor33 October 15, 2009 12:16 PM EDT
Something happend in the cut and paste.. the following line "etc?. I would have to question whether he hasn't earned the honor as of yet. Take a look at the list at.. " should have read, "etc.. I would have to question whether he has earned the honor as of yet. Take a look at the list at..."

Sorry about the confusion.

Scott
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by sculptor33 October 15, 2009 12:12 PM EDT
I was surprised when I heard that President Obama received this award.
My kneejerk response was that of many others, why would he be given this prize?

It is interesting that the Nobel jury is speaking out on the selection as this is something they generally are not known to do. One of the jury members noted that a contributing factor to the decision was, "Obama's efforts to heal the divide between the West and the Muslim world and scale down a Bush-era proposal for an anti-missile shield in Europe.", indicating that no one else has done as much to meet the following guideline, "Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year".

The announcement notes that, "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." (Wow!!)

As an American that is not heavily invested in the day to day of politics, and recognizing that we here in the states tend to be pretty myopic on our world view? I can't say that I see the validity to the perspective noted by the Nobel jury in this case.

American politics is fraught with promises and commitments that are often not met. While the vision he is expressing may be admirable, I tend to think that more time invested and a continuing commitment through his actions in the future should be something to consider prior to honoring him with this prize.

When faced with an Alumni of people the likes of Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., the 14th Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Jean Henry Dunant (a founder of the Red Cross), etc?. I would have to question whether he hasn't earned the honor as of yet. Take a look at the list at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_Peace_Prize_laureates

That being said, as noted by others in this string of comments, I am not on the committee and the decision is not mine?but I do think that there may be other factors involved in this decision that are beyond that of the guidelines set forth by Alfred Nobel.


Scott Fitzgerald
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by VRYANB18 October 14, 2009 3:28 PM EDT
Yes, We Can Bring Peace !

President Obama may not have deserved the Nobel Peace Prize as he humbly proclaimed, and his enemies wrongly concurred. But how many of us ever get what we truly deserve? Still, to many people, including those on the Nobel committee, Obama epitomizes a young world leader who effectively advocates peace on earth and goodwill toward all men. His is the style of leadership that challenges the status quo on behalf of widows and the fatherless. His words can eventually bring peace to warring factions. Obama brings an aura and spirit of peace that makes satanic forces be still and inquiring minds want to know more. In these dangerous times, we can?t afford not to encourage, honor, award, and reward any positive, influential leader to walk on courageously by faith, albeit he walks alone. We should be as wise as those Nobel officials who realize when mighty men like President Obama speak peace, evil men plan war.

Victoria Ryan-Bailey
St. Louis, Mo. 63108
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by mbridgham October 14, 2009 12:42 AM EDT
There is perhaps a legitimate argument about whether Nobel prizes should be awarded purely on accomplishments or on "promise" or something else. The pure arrogance of Americans, however, who question or worse project their own notions on the Nobel Commitee's decision is just astounding to me. First, there is some cynical assumption that the committee didn't know what it was doing or it did it to send a message to the last administration or some such. I don't know - and i could probably be accused of being naive, though I don't buy it - but I imagine that the committee is made up of fairly savvy, experienced people who think and discuss long and hard about who should get the award. I imagine they knew exactly the pitfalls and likely repercussions of awarding the prize so early in Obama's presidency. I imagine there was good reason that they saw fit to award it anyway. Maybe they knew exactly why and what they were doing and in their eyes they may have been right. Secondly, the notion that this is a mistake is seen through American eyes, not the world's. This isn't about us all the time any longer and we need to get over ourselves. We don't know the degree to which the world sees a sea change at least in tone at a global level from Obama as impactful or more impactful than any other current world leader. Can you name me the leader of another nation who has stood up to say the things he has about mutual responsibility, the need for global solutions, etc.? Third, I believe Obama has accomplished a change in the global conversation, I believe it has in fact changed. Naysayers tend to dismiss conversation as an accomplishment (all talk and no change) but all change comes or at least begins through conversation. And what's more, that sea change in the global conversation began during his campaign and in his writings as a junior senator. I get the impression from the "nothing has changed" crowd vis a vis foreign policy that the only accomplishment they would consider real is if America gets exactly what it(or they) wants from every foreign power - friend, foe or neutral - in two months. Once again, it isn't just about us. Our view of other nations, the world's problems and their potential solutions is not the only legitimate one. I think the world was headed for another lock-down with no options because of the stances most of the world leaders have been taking. I think Obama has changed that equation. Fourth, it is absolutely true, and self-admitted on his part, that Obama is no "peace" leader of the stature of many who have been given the award before. But he's not the most suspect either. And I'm not sure how you compare the impact on world peace of someone like an American president vs a courageous individual activist. Has Aung San Suu Kyi, who I consider a hero, done any more in this last year for world peace than Obama? Or any other individual peace activist, politician, etc.? Not to short-change any of their efforts or sacrifices which may be substantial and relatively more than a world leader's. But I say we need to stop being so provincial in our view of the world. I love this country - at least at its best - bt we are not the center of the universe and we are a mixed bag of glory and mess. I think that the recognition of an American president for his effort to change the conversations and relationships among the nations of the world is something we should be proud of, for which we should give the committee its due, and consider it a sign that even if we're not the center of the universe we could still have a significant leadership role to play if we'd stop fighting among ourselves and seize it.
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by Bernumber October 12, 2009 9:42 AM EDT
Where I come from, we know that a jackass with red stripes on its hooves is still a jackass.
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by rickahyatt October 11, 2009 11:00 PM EDT
Not only The Great 0 but Gary Condit as well are my biologically-engineered "Manchurian Candidate" half-brothers, the offspring of former East German Stasi (Ministerium Fuer Staastsshicherheit) General Markus Wolf.
You may note our distinctive features at www.rickhyatt.freeservers.com as well as many other group photos.
The point? Gen. Wolf was "Turned" in 1977, and The Great 0's Agenda preempted in all its facets since, to include a "9/11" for 2009, etc, etc.
I can say that: I've been the man's son since birth.
Let the "Birthers" reign!

Bye, bye Nancy and Reid...
Reply to this comment
by mommabiss October 11, 2009 10:22 PM EDT
I think its great President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. He is an intelligent, insightful, thoughtful, caring person. He has and will do more good for the United States than the Republican party ever has or will. The Republican party has become the party of hate mongering and terrorism. They have George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove as their equivalant of "Hitler".
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by 1stShadow October 11, 2009 12:31 PM EDT
So much for the "Honor" of winning the Nobel Peace Prize. What a slap in the face for those who have given their lives to the pursuit of Peace, and especially to those who have received the "award" in the past. What a shame.
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by Elflngchld October 10, 2009 9:11 PM EDT
i just can't believe they would nominate him for this - he's been in office all of 10 months, and he has not done ANYTHING that would deserve a nobel peace prize. This totally speaks ill of the entire nobel peace prize system - it's clearly just based on world opinion of a person - not on what they ACTUALLY do. I think this completely devalues the entire nobel peace prize system - apparently, you don't have to actually DO something worthy to get it. All you have to do is get people to like you, and they will just give it to you, and the money that comes with it.
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by noblenobel October 10, 2009 1:33 PM EDT
While the Nobel committee chose to break with tradition in naming a recipient who, in the clearly disappointed words of Bob Sheiffer, hasn't "already accomplished something" there's nothing wrong with breaking
tradition (unless you're a member of the Supreme Court). In this extraordinarily dangerous and unsettled world, quick fixes aren't possible; but the appearance of integrity, the politics of inclusion,
the willingness to engage your enemies in conversation and not just in battle, have given America and the world the first hope for an eventual
and meaningful peace. No matter how many years it may take, we have
at least and at last begun the journey; for that, Barak Obama is surely the person most synonymous with Peace -- with the viable hope for Peace -- at this time in history. Bravo to the Nobel Committee for its courage
in recognizing that the world has changed and for honoring a man and his effort to find a lasting and acceptable route to peace. Obama needs to lead the way and the Nobel Committee has helped by providing a torch.
Reply to this comment
by nanavcarol October 10, 2009 12:57 PM EDT
What has Obama done but continue to lie to the citizens of USA???
Made me want to lie on my back and vomite when I heard to had received the Nobel Peace prize. What an insult to other honest people that could have received it!!!
He states he will donate the 1.4 million to charity like his - lets think? Maybe it will help out his brothers with ACORN and his other dishonest buddies he has as his "Czars."
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by flrxfire October 10, 2009 12:22 PM EDT
Who know what the future might bring, maybe someday he might actually earn one. For now, however, I see this as a blatant attempt to bribe the US President into doing things the Nobel people think they want him to do. This is shameful, and with this cloud over the award he should respectfully decline, asking that he be judged later on accomplishments.
Reply to this comment
by HopeforAmerica October 10, 2009 6:50 AM EDT
On the contrary, although President Obama was nominated early in his presidency, the decision to Award him the Nobel Prize was based on his actions during the past 9 months. I agree with the Nobel Prize committee when they said,"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". I couldn't agree with them more. President Obama has done much in the barely 9 months he's been in office to build peace in the world.
I'm extremely Proud to call him my president. God Bless President Obama!
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by 718ckb October 10, 2009 4:30 AM EDT
What a crock!
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by KevinS3928 October 10, 2009 1:14 AM EDT
So who get's the Nobel Peace Prize next year, Mylie Cyrus? Perhaps Kanye West or even the "Naked Cowboy" of times square? This "Honor" now has the same level of respectability and prestige as having your name listed in those "Who's Who" books offered in junk mail. What an insult to those who have received it in the past for actual accomplishments.
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by ms-shirley October 9, 2009 7:39 PM EDT
I believe that he does not meet what Alfred Nobel intended in his will. Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "TO THE PERSON WHO SHALL HAVE DONE the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses." Obama has done nothing, everything is intention, and those who HAVE DONE things worthy of such a prize was cast aside because of intention over true works! In this he is not worthy.
Reply to this comment
by ms-shirley October 9, 2009 7:33 PM EDT
I believe that he does not meet what Alfred Nobel intended in his will. Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "TO THE PERSON WHO SHALL HAVE DONE the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses." Obama has done nothing, everything is intention, and those who HAVE DONE things worthy of such a prize was cast aside because of intention over true works! In this he is not worthy.
Reply to this comment
by pepenikos October 9, 2009 7:00 PM EDT
It doesn't make a difference what I, or any other American thinks of
President Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize. It is not our prize to give,
or decide who gets it.

It is Norway's prize to give to whomever they determine is deserving of it.
Obviously the rest of the world differs in it's thoughts of President Obama's importance to world peace.
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji October 9, 2009 6:32 PM EDT
Haters!
That's the best word to describe all the embittered cynics out there that are denouncing Obama's accomplishment. They are proving that the right wing and the GOP are on the same level as the cliques of teenage girls in the inner city high school where I used to teach. These little girls had no desire to accomplish anything on their own, so they devoted all their energy to bad-mouthing students who did; hence, the name "haters."
Obama himself said that this was not HIS Nobel Prize. It was a honor to the American people - who along with people through out the world are seeking to achieve a lasting peace based on justice for all. Neither Obama, nor any one else, should assume this goal will take place tomorrow. But we must proceed with faith and hope that we will prevail. Again, those little haters who are attacking Obama are really attacking the United States.
When I taught, (I retired two years ago), I had a few words for the haters I encountered, I'll repeat them now.
"Don't hate, appreciate."
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by stiax October 9, 2009 5:41 PM EDT
The only people who are racists are the ones who voted him in for doing nothing.
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