# obama wins nobel peace prize....what is the sound of a right-wing head exploding? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172 "2009-10-09T09:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/121 "2009-10-09T15:00:27Z")
I’m a bit confused about why people think it would be bad if Obama were perceived as being “influenced” by the award. Is being influenced towards world peace a bad thing in the US? ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/122 "2009-10-09T15:05:27Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > Sure, but in this case it seems it’s not so much encouragement to “see the effort through” as it is encouragement to start making an effort. And that’s just silly. > > I mean what effort are we talking about here? Come on, it isn’t as if he has been sitting in Senate and the White House eating chips and wiping salt on his trousers all day. He’s committed to full international nuclear disarmament, which as I understand it is unusual for a US president. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/123 "2009-10-09T15:07:35Z")
Since he’s already got the award, how could he be “influenced” by it anyway? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/124 "2009-10-09T15:11:43Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > [Hu Jia](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/24/nobelpeaceprize.hujia) was considered one of the frontrunners for the prize. That was 2008. He wasn’t awarded the prize. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/125 "2009-10-09T15:12:54Z")
This is all part of some subversive plot on the part of the Norwegians to butter us up for the next round of Viking invasions…we’ll never even see it coming… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/126 "2009-10-09T15:13:32Z")
Yoiks! The DNC issued the following statement: > [@](#): > > “The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists - the Taliban and Hamas this morning - in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize,” DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse told POLITICO. "Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize - an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride - unless of course you are the Republican Party. > > “The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it’s an embarrassing label to claim,” > SOURCE: [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1009/DNC\_official\_GOP\_siding\_with\_terrorists.html](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1009/DNC_official_GOP_siding_with_terrorists.html) Are the Dems actually growing a pair? Finally? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/127 "2009-10-09T15:17:55Z")
> [@furt](#): > > No, the fixation here is that he has not actually DONE anything. If by sheer force of his symbolic hopey awesomeness he could make people lay down their arms, fine and dandy (though how you’d measure that, I’ve no idea). I believe he has done something. You guys don’t. I’m OK with that. I think he has done a lot without even trying and I suspect that is what bothers some folks. Hypothetically, if I could offer the world real hope of a future of multi-lateral efforts toward peaceful resolutions of currently intractable problems simply by winking twice, would I deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? I think perhaps I would. Others would say I hadn’t sweated enough, thus it would be a travesty. Not everyone sees things as black and white as Dopers do. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/128 "2009-10-09T15:22:14Z")
I can’t see criticizing Obama over winning the award, the Nobel Peace Prize has historically been awarded in some very wonky ways and he has no control over the selection process. I do think giving Obama the award sort of makes the Peace Prize look even more ridiculous than it already does, which is a very sad thing because historically some very deserving, important world figures have received the award. At the same time, the Peace Prize has also been awarded many times to people that just make the global body politic scratch their heads. I can totally see giving the award to the Dalai Lama, he’s been an important international inspiration for many years. I can even see giving it to Jimmy Carter because he has been actively involved in international affairs ever since leaving the White House, and while a lot of people have negative opinions of former President Carter (myself included), I can totally see why he would receive a Nobel Peace Prize. I can even see why Kissinger or Arafat were given the award: there is a long history of giving the prize to people who sign major peace accords (even if, in the context of history that individual is more of a warmonger than a peacemaker and even if the peace agreement ultimately is meaningless.) Theodore Roosevelt, a strong proponent of “American Empire” and a guy who pretty clearly bullied his way into getting control of the Panama Canal Zone and also in large part helped to push the United States into open war with Spain in his time with the Dept. of the Navy received the award because he mediated peace between Russia and France. But giving it to Obama just confuses me, essentially prior to January he wasn’t really an international figure at all (aside from the media buzz a black United States Presidential candidate who looked like he could win from the very beginning generates in the international press), and you can’t point to any single major achievement in terms of “world peace” since he has been sworn into office. And before people jump on me for that statement, I’m not saying that as a slam against Obama. There hasn’t really been any **meaningful** opportunities for a U.S. President to bring about some big “peace agreement.” The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq were so entrenched and well underway before Obama entered office that everyone pretty much understood his approach to both conflicts would have to be gradual and in stages, and since there is no formal “conflict” with a formal entity neither conflict has much chance of a “negotiated peace settlement” ala the Vietnam War. So while I can see giving the award to someone who has had a long career (albeit perhaps no singular enormous achievement like inking a major peace treaty) in furthering international good will, or giving it to someone who **has** had a singular enormous achievement I can’t really understand giving the prize to someone who has done neither of those things. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/129 "2009-10-09T15:24:19Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > …and you can’t point to any single major achievement in terms of “world peace” since he has been sworn into office. Withdrawing from Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/130 "2009-10-09T15:25:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Yoiks! The DNC issued the following statement: > > Are the Dems actually growing a pair? Finally? Daaaaaaaaaaaamn. Back in high school we called that a ‘burn’. I was bewildered by the decision for Obama, but this is just making me grin like a pumpkin. Shamefully I know, but… ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Joe_Meager)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/131 "2009-10-09T15:26:05Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Jeebus. This is an issue on which right and many on the left are going to be united. How silly. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/132 "2009-10-09T15:26:19Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Consider his decision on Afghanistan troop levels. If he decides not to increase the number of soldiers, the right is going to hammer him for letting American foreign policy be run out of Geneva. If he decides to increase them, he’ll face howls from around the world along the lines of, “THIS is the man they gave a PEACE prize to?” It really puts him in a no-win situation. He doesn’t need that kind of hassle. > > He should simply say something like, “I would be honored to accept this award - in 2016 at the end of my second term if you still feel I am worthy. For now, I graciously decline in favor of the many other worthy people who have been nominated.” Something like that. There is much in what you say about how this handcuffs him vis-a-vis Afghanistan. Indeed, the Nobel Committee was probably playing some bit of politics with this award and that puts the President in a tough spot. That is unfortunate. But I still maintain that his winning the prize is legitimate; but danger lurks. That’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/133 "2009-10-09T15:27:00Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Are the Dems actually growing a pair? Finally? Yes, we are. This award was not sought by Obama, it was awarded to him for re-engaging the world’s only superpower in multi-lateral international diplomacy. From Iran to North Korean to nuclear non-proliferation in general these efforts will be of the utmost importance to world peace over the next decade and this award is an encouragement to Obama and his administration to continue these efforts towards peace. The award has often been used in this way rather than as a reflection of actual tangible achievements. Calling on Obama to decline is silly - he’s obviously not going to do that. And screaming that he doesn’t deserve it kind of misses the point. Deserve’s got nothing to do with it. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee believes that Obama’s election and initial diplomatic gestures and efforts represent the greatest hope for world peace over the past year. Americans should be proud of that fact and hope he lives up to the award. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/134 "2009-10-09T15:28:01Z")
Not surprisingly, he gave a classy speech just now responding to the announcement. And after thinking about it, I don’t agree with those who say he should decline. That’s kind of an insult to the committee and to a lot of the world. Just take it, and then get to work making sure he lives up to it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/135 "2009-10-09T15:29:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Withdrawing from Iraq. When he does it, fine. BTW, has he done anything other than execute the plan that was in place before he got elected? ---
**Author:** ![pinkyvee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pinkyvee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkyvee)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/136 "2009-10-09T15:29:27Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Everyone’s forgetting his successful mediation of the Henry Louis Gates conflict. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/137 "2009-10-09T15:35:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > When he does it, fine. BTW, has he done anything other than execute the plan that was in place before he got elected? Executing the plan is more than the Republicans we’re going to do. McCain wanted to stay there for 100 years, remember? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/138 "2009-10-09T15:37:24Z")
New flash update: It wasn’t the Nobel Peace Prize… it was the Swanson Peas Prize for making his two daughters eat their vegetables. Oh, never mind! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tom\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_P)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/139 "2009-10-09T15:38:23Z")
Reactions here in Norway appear to be generally the same as in the rest of the world: “Huh?”. I read the announcement and it appears that he is awarded the price mostly for having a great vision of a peaceful world without nuclear weapons, not so much for anything he has actually done. I don’t have any proof of this, but I suspect that the new leader of the committee, Torbjørn Jagland, had a lot of influence over the price this year. If I am right, Obama probably got the price for simply not being George Bush; Jagland has been quite vocal when it comes to his feelings for both presidents. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172/140 "2009-10-09T15:38:53Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Executing the plan is more than the Republicans we’re going to do. McCain wanted to stay there for 100 years, remember? No, I don’t remember because he didn’t. And don’t bother trying to argue about that, because I’m not going to derail this thread into rehashing that crap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172.md?page=8)