# Should President Obama accept the Nobel Peace Prize? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193 "2009-10-09T15:15:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/21 "2009-10-09T17:32:03Z")
First of all, it would be rude to decline. Obama’s statement shows he is aware this might be more than a bit premature for him personally, but he is taking it more as an award of encouragement for the entire USA to work towards the goals of the Peace Prize. I am looking forward to hearing his acceptance speech, and I can guarantee you, he will not be patting himself on the back. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/22 "2009-10-09T17:36:40Z")
It would no more be rude to decline it than it would for me to decline a Grammy. “Look, guys, that’s awfully nice of you, but I think you made a mistake.” ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/23 "2009-10-09T18:10:30Z")
Exactly right. There’s nothing rude about declining an award that you haven’t properly earned, especially if you state the reasons for declining with grace and diplomacy. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/24 "2009-10-09T18:11:58Z")
No point in turning it down, but he should donate the money to some organization that has done more. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/25 "2009-10-09T18:13:30Z")
Of course he should accept it and, imho, has a duty to accept it. His job is not to assess himself. It would be like a baseball player declining the MVP because he felt he didn’t deserve it. Dude, just play the game and let others worry about measuring/debating your achievements. In the case of presidents, they should focus on their job and on fulfilling the mandates that the American people have assigned them. Plus, the Nobel committee gave very good reasons on why they think that he deserves the prize. And it was clearly due to his message. I personally don’t feel he deserves the prize yet, but there is absolutely no reason that he should decline it. Of those that say he should decline, I wonder how many have prematurely labeled him a failure. ---
**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, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/26 "2009-10-09T18:16:15Z")
Just as he has said himself, he should accept it as a “call to action.” Also as an honor to the US in general. I’m sure he’ll donate the money to some worthy cause. Planned Parenthood would be a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/27 "2009-10-09T18:24:02Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Of those that say he should decline, I wonder how many have prematurely labeled him a failure. See Post 2. I’m certainly not calling him a failure, and I won’t blame him if he doesn’t get healthcare reform done, given the tactics the other side employs. I wouldn’t call any President a failure before the end of his first term. Well, unless the Russian army is sweeping through Kansas or something. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/28 "2009-10-09T18:33:28Z")
If Henry Kissinger could accept his with a straight face… ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/29 "2009-10-09T18:58:31Z")
Turning down the prize would insult not just Norway, but all Europe, and would be a sideways slap at all the Americans, and all of any nation, who had won any Nobel prize ever, by declaring it poorly judged. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/30 "2009-10-09T19:11:31Z")
I don’t want him to accept the award. I supported, campaigned for, donated money to, and voted for Obama. But he has not earned this accolade by any measure, and accepting it is dishonorable in my view. ---
**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, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/31 "2009-10-09T19:13:57Z")
It would be insulting and dishonorable NOT to accept it. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/32 "2009-10-09T19:14:34Z")
Oh, for the love of pete, of course he should accept the Nobel Peace Price. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/33 "2009-10-09T19:23:39Z")
I don’t see why he shouldn’t accept it. He personally wouldn’t have been my choice if I were the one who had to decide, but the Nobel Committee has their own criteria for these things and has the right to give the award to whomever they please. He should accept it humbly and acknowledge some of the other people who were seen as candidates for the award. And, if nothing else, this will probably make Glenn Beck’s head explode. ---
**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, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/34 "2009-10-09T19:25:59Z")
There isn’t a person here who wouldn’t _sprint_ to get that award (not to mention that fat-ass check) whether they thought deep down they deserved it or not. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/35 "2009-10-09T19:27:26Z")
If I deny the medal, do I have to deny the sweet, delicious cash too? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/36 "2009-10-09T19:33:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There isn’t a person here who wouldn’t _sprint_ to get that award (not to mention that fat-ass check) whether they thought deep down they deserved it or not. Sure there is. Some things are more important to some people than acclaim. George C. Scott turned down multiple Oscars. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/37 "2009-10-09T19:35:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There isn’t a person here who wouldn’t _sprint_ to get that award (not to mention that fat-ass check) whether they thought deep down they deserved it or not. Incorrect. I could never accept that award unless I honestly felt that I deserved it. I certainly would not want to walk around and show my face to people, knowing full well that I did not merit this accolade. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/38 "2009-10-09T19:36:38Z")
> [@Brainiac](#): > > Turning down the prize would insult not just Norway, but all Europe, and would be a sideways slap at all the Americans, and all of any nation, who had won any Nobel prize ever, by declaring it poorly judged. With all due respect, I think that’s a huge stretch. Stating that they made an error in judgment _this one time_ is not logically equivalent to declaring that every single Nobel Prize, every single year, in every single category, was a sham. ---
**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, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/39 "2009-10-09T19:44:15Z")
George Scott turned down _one_ Oscar, but accepted multiple other awards in his career, including an Emmy. That Oscar also didn’t come with a $1.4 million check. ---
**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, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193/40 "2009-10-09T19:45:16Z")
I don’t buy or a second that anyone here would turn it down. You would all find a way to rationalize it to yourself. So would I. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-president-obama-accept-the-nobel-peace-prize/513193.md?page=3)