No Thank You
Thanks, but no thanks. That’s what President Obama should have said when news broke early this morning about his Nobel Peace Prize. Apparently, the Norwegian Nobel Committee surprised him almost as much as it surprised the rest of the world with its decision. The president said he didn’t feel like he deserved to be in the company of past Nobel Prize winners, but he went ahead and accepted the award, anyway.
So what has Obama done to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? The committee said it was choosing him because of “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” But several news outlets, including ABC and CNN have observed that the nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize was February 1st. That means Obama could not have been president for more than 11 days before he was nominated. During that time he did promise to close Guantanamo Bay (something he still hasn’t done). But beside that? Bupkis.
Even if one assumes that the Nobel Committee considered all of Obama’s activities since he was nominated, the list of achievements is short. Is the war in Afghanistan over? No, but at least it’s going badly. Is Iran giving up its nuclear ambitions? Actually, Ahmadinejad is testing new missiles. Is Russia playing nice with its neighbors? Nope, Putin is still a bully.
The truth is President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for some great speeches. Which, come to think of it, is also the reason he won the presidency. But even Time Magazine (by no means part of the vast right-wing conspiracy) has observed that Americans want Obama to start delivering on his promises, not just making them. This Noble Prize has the unintended effect of shining a spotlight on Obama’s lack of accomplishments.
That’s why the president should have turned it down. He knows he doesn’t deserve it. He said as much in his acceptance speech. Most Americans know it, too. If Obama had shown the courage and humility to decline the Nobel Peace Prize he would have sent a powerful signal that he understands how much hard work he still has to do. On the other hand, his acceptance makes it look like he cares more about the good opinion of five Norwegian dudes than of 300 million Americans.
Which he might.
