Obama: Nobel Prize a "Call To Action"

(CBS/AP)  Last Updated at 1:50 p.m. Eastern

President Barack Obama said he doesn't feel he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, but will accept the award as a "call to action."

Mr. Obama was less than a year into his first term in office - a move that surprised analysts and possibly offered fodder to his critics.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the prize was awarded to Mr. Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and cited the president's outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

The committee said Mr. Obama's efforts to promote a "global response to global challenges" cemented their decision.

At a news conference outside the White House Friday, Mr. Obama said he was "both surprised and deeply humbled" by the award.

"Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations," the president said.

"To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize - men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

"But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents."

The president will accept the prize at a December ceremony in Norway, reports CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.

According to a White House spokesman, Mr. Obama will donate the $1.4 million prize to charity.

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Defending their surprising decision, the committee chairman said they sought not just to reward the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, but to "enhance" the recipient's actions - to promote peace.

"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," Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Nobel Committee said. "In the past year Obama has been a key person for important initiatives in the U.N. for nuclear disarmament and to set a completely new agenda for the Muslim world and East-West relations."

"We do hope that this can contribute a little bit to enhance what he is trying to do."

But for as much as the committee seeks to help Mr. Obama, they may done just the opposite.

"What the president is trying to do, at the moment, is pass contentious health care legislation. Giving him a prize that many will see as underserved - and that aligns him with European elites instead of average Americans - isn't going to help that effort," writes CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli. "At the conservative National Review, they're already joking the president will next get Major League Baseball's Cy Young award."

In response to GOP criticism of Obama receiving the award, Democratic National Committee communications director Brad Woodhouse said Republicans had "thrown in its lot with the terrorists."

For his part, Mr. Obama was careful to share the award's spotlight during Friday's remarks.

"This award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity; for the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard, even in the face of beatings and bullets," the president said. "For the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy; for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away; and for all those men and women across the world who sacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives for the cause of peace."

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Mr. Obama's name had been mentioned in speculation before the award but many Nobel watchers believed it was too early to award the president.

"I don't think anybody expected this," CBS News chief Washington correspondent and "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer said on Friday's "Early Show". In his mind, the prize decision was more of a commentary on the previous administration than the current U.S. President.

"It's almost as if they're saying, 'We're giving you this prize for winning the election,'" said Schieffer.

Mr. Obama said his administration was working to "establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we seek." He cited nuclear proliferation, climate change and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as key to his global goals.

"And even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today," the president said, acknowledging his upcoming decision on whether to increase troop levels in Afghanistan and continued efforts to dig the country out of a staggering recession.

Knoller reports that Mr. Obama is only the third U.S. President to win the Nobel Peace Prize while still in office. Theodore Roosevelt won it in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

Former President Jimmy Carter also won the prize in 2002 but that was more than two decades after he left office.

In his 1895 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."

Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded by Swedish institutions, he said the peace prize should be given out by a five-member committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Sweden and Norway were united under the same crown at the time of Nobel's death.

The committee has taken a wide interpretation of Nobel's guidelines, expanding the prize beyond peace mediation to include efforts to combat poverty, disease and climate change.

[mosiah22]

Keep this in mind. If Obama is to negotiate ANY peace deal ANYWHERE he must remain NEUTRAL! But then I think everyone knows that. You just forgot, right?

Sir
The election of Obama in itself sent a message to the world. Racism will not be tolerated in the land of the free.

Obama has changed the entire 'Face of the World'. He has brought together America with the Islamic people and the world itself.
He has de-escalated the problem with Iran. Iran is now allowing the IAEA to inspect their facilities. Iran should have Nukes. Israel is threatening them with Thermal Nuclear War on a daily basis. Nukes are against their Religion. So they should perpetuate the idea they MIGHT have one. They are surrounded by enemies with Nukes.

Israel should have discussed the settlements. If a peace agreement is reached the settlements may end up in Arab territory.

He de-escalated the problem with North Korea. He will succeed there. They do not need Nukes. (Now that Bush is gone)

He de-escalated the problem with Russia and canceled the Missiles Bush was going to point at Moscow. He normalized relations with Russia.

He opened up relations with Cuba. As far as he could without going through Congress. The blockade of Cuba is Immoral, ilIegal, and disgusting. The people of Cuba had a revolution. They CHOSE SOCIALISM. That is their right! Go eat worms. We are still holding five Cuban heroes in prison to satisfy CANIF. Cuba like countries in South America found out the hard way. If they hold an election, the CIA will get their man in. They are very good at that. And that man will enslave the people and give away their natural resorces to the lowest bidder. If they fail they will conduct a Coop and thousands will die. That's what they do. That's all they do.

But you know that.

Obama's Stimulus is perfect. We need to put people to work. Not making product at this point. There is no market for product right now. Infrastructure can be done. After the industry is in place, product will will follow.

The European Union loaned Toyota $40,000,000,000 (billion) (maybe that's Euro's) a few years back. That's when they came out with all those really cool Toyotas and really beat the pants of the big three. But then the big three found it was cheaper to buy into Japanese car makers than to pay the unions and improve their own product.

America needs Universal Single Payer Healthcare. 75% of Americans want it. They are tired of the insurance companies death lists. (37% for Cigna) And waiting periods with no end. They make the people wait until they loose their insurance. Then DUMP them. We need to EGG THE REPUBLICANS. Single Payer needs to be brought in slowly. Bringing it in now would put millions of insurance company employees out on the street. America can't afford that at this point.


Sacramento, CA

[Ceres6]

We have to wait to see what he means by Call to Action. As far as I know, for 10 months Mr. Obama has been a gentle kitten to the Venezuelan tyrant Hugo Chavez, and time will tell if it is wise to be kind and soft to despot presidents-for-life as Mr. Chavez. I hope the Noble Prize does not tie Obama''s hands to act firmly against world dictators, as sometimes the President of the United States must do.

[mosiah22]

Sir
Keep in mind: If Obama is to negotiate a Peace Treaty ANYWHERE with ANYONE he must remain Neutral. But I think everybody knows that

The election of Obama in itself sent a message to the world. Racism will not be tolerated in the land of the free.

Obama has changed the entire 'Face of the World'. He has brought together America with the Islamic people and the world itself.

He has de-escalated the problem with Iran. Iran is now allowing the IAEA to inspect their facilities. Iran should have Nukes. Israel is threatening them with Thermal Nuclear War on a daily basis. Nukes are against their Religion. But they should perpetuate the idea they MIGHT have one. They are surrounded by enemies with Nukes.

Israel should have discussed the settlements. If a peace agreement is reached the settlements may end up in Arab territory.

He de-escalated the problem with North Korea. He will succeed there. They do not need Nukes. (Now that Bush is gone)

He de-escalated the problem with Russia and canceled the Missiles Bush was going to point at Moscow. He normalized relations with Russia.

He opened up relations with Cuba. As far as he could without going through Congress. The blockade of Cuba is Immoral, ilIegal, and disgusting. The people of Cuba had a revolution. They CHOSE SOCIALISM. That is their right! Go eat worms. We are still holding five Cuban heroes in prison to satisfy CANIF. Cuba like countries in South America found out the hard way. If they hold an election, the CIA will get their man in. They are very good at that. And that man will enslave the people and give away their natural resorces to the lowest bidder. If they fail they will conduct a Coop and thousands will die. That's what they do. That's all they do. I suspect Bolivia is next. Must not have a man for the common people now must we.

Obama's Stimulus is perfect. We need to put people to work. Not making product at this point. There is no market for product right now. Infrastructure can be done. After the industry is in place, product will will follow.

The European Union loaned Toyota $40,000,000,000 (billion) (maybe that's Euro's) a few years back. That's when they came out with all those really cool Toyotas and really beat the pants of the big three. But then the big three found it was cheaper to buy into Japanese car makers than to pay the unions and improve their own product.

America needs Universal Single Payer Healthcare. 75% of Americans want it. They are tired of the insurance companies death lists. (37% for Cigna) And waiting periods with no end. They make the people wait until they loose their insurance. Then DUMP them. We need to EGG THE REPUBLICANS. Single Payer needs to be brought in slowly. Bringing it in now would put millions of insurance company employees out on the street. America can't afford that at this point.

Sacramento, CA

[mosiah22]

oos wrong place.

[endurorob_5]

Why did Obama win the prize?

http://www.alternet.org/world/143210/nobel_committee_admits_getting_into_derivatives_trading_in_giving_peace_prize_to_obama

[collie61]

Okay, if he is so deserving of this award, then why did 62% of those polled on this site say he is NOT deserving of this award? Take your time, think about it and then answer.

[abbe91]

I wonder how much Kissinger's score would have been ?

[mosiah22]

Most Americans live in Disneyland.

[gboyd41]

Mr. President, you are right about one thing-you do not deserve the Nobel.

[tivis3]

Come on gang, let the President enjoy the honor! He has lifted this nation out of it's "general malaise" (another Nobel winners often used qoute when in office) and is truly inpirational in diplomatic circles.

I think President is doing a great job of restoring "the bond of human faith " that characterizes the democratic way of life and was so often quoted by John, Bobby and Ted Kennedy.

This man will amke a difference!!!

Chip- Sarasota

[army166]

The Nobel Prize Committee just paid the United States a huge compliment. Yet, some pundits and critics are so dense, or envious that they haven't figured that out. Fortunately, Obama's character stands head and shoulders above the mob> He represents the best in Americans and deserves the prize.

[mbsfca]

My congratulations to President Obama for winning this award. It was awarded to him mostly for not what he has already done, but what the ripple effects of his administration's policies will be much farther down the road for all future generations of people around the world. And I also thank the Nobel Prize committee for acknowledging the fact that President Obama is in every conceivable way, the anti-George W. Bush!

[mbsfca]

My congratulations to President Obama for winning this award. It was awarded to him mostly for not what he has already done, but what the ripple effects of his administration's policies will be much farther down the road for all future generations of peoples around the world. And I also than the Nobel Prize committee for acknowledging the fact that President Obama is in every conceivable way, the anti-George W. Bush!

[cbvill72]

What has he done? What accomplishment warrents this award?

We are still in both Iraq and Afghanistan and will be sending MORE troops to Afghanistan.
The economy took another nosedive with higher than projected job losses in Sept.
More bailouts for big companies.

What has he done?