---“This is one of many historical moments that have occurred to a very deserving person who is making a tremendous difference in the world. I think in light of all the issues we have going on right now, he is doing an excellent job in maintaining balance in each area of concern.” -- Christine Miller-Betts, executive director for the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of History.
--- “I don’t know how to feel about that, to be honest. I voted for him, so I don’t necessarily disagree with him, but that’s pretty big. I’m not sure he’s done enough yet.”-- Maria Nobel, 35, Grovetown
--- “I think it’s great and well deserved. The man wants people to negotiate instead of fight. That’s why he got it, and that’s why he deserves it.”-- Milton Ladner,
67, Aiken, retired
--- “I think it’s great. It (Mr. Obama’s approach) is a departure from the hawkish stance of previous administrations. His will to talk to our adversaries would go a lot farther in creating solutions to worldwide conflicts than the militaristic approach that previous administrations have had. The value of that is evident in this prize.”-- John Brecht, 57, Aiken
Video producer, chairman of the Aiken County Democratic Party
--- “I just don’t feel like he’s been in the position long enough to get that prize. In a little bit more time, he could be that person.” -- Bralyn Vanzee, 21, Aiken student
--- “I think if he had ended the war I’d feel differently, but it seems a bit presumptuous. He hasn’t done anything yet.” -- Heather Jordan, 26, Martinez
---“I didn’t even know he was nominated. I didn’t know Chicago was nominated as a city for the Olympics. I’m not quite sure what he did to earn it now. I guess I was surprised, surprised by the whole thing. I’ll have to go back and look, see what he did to earn it I guess.”--
Coco Rubio, owner of Soul Bar and Sky City
-- “I think it’s an honor. He earned it. He earned it quickly. I pray he continues to live up to it.” - Felicia Wilson, 46, Hephzibah, Augusta-Richmond County Probate Court operation manager
-- “I think it’s wonderful. Really great. It’s not too often that happens, that our president wins the award.” - Nancy Williams, 47, Grovetown, Augusta-Richmond County employee
-- “I don’t feel he’s been in office long enough to justify it when you compare it to Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. Even the other presidents that got it, Roosevelt and Wilson, they worked many, many years to get it. I don’t think he’s in their league. At some point, he may be.” -- David Lobb, 64, vice chairman of the Aiken County Republican Party; Retired Army Colonel
-- “So far, there has been no action to match his award winning rhetoric. I’m hopeful that his winning the Nobel Prize will now spur him to actually put his words into action and a clear test of that will be the next Department of Energy nuclear weapons budget he submits to Congress in February 2010. If we look at the first DOE nuclear weapons budget proposed by his administration, including for tritium operations at the Savannah River Site, we see little movement towards the nuclear disarmament for which he won the prize.” -- Tom Clements, 58, Southeastern Nuclear Campaign Coordinator, Friends of the Earth, Columbia, SC
-- “Any time a political leader receives an honor, I think it’s good. I guess the thing is, I don’t know what he’s done to get the peace prize. All he’s done is travel the world and make a lot of speeches, but I don’t see where he’s made the peace. Are they giving it on what he’s done, or what they think he’s going to accomplish? It’s sort of like the old Wendy’s commercial. Where’s the peace?” -- Dave Barbee, 62, 10th District chairman for the Georgia Republican Party.
-- “I was surprised, but at the same time happy. I think over the last nine months he’s proven himself as someone who wants to bring people together and not be divisive. He’s done enough to create a change in people’s temperaments and people’s thought processes. If you look at the reports on how people view the U.S., the potential for worldwide acrimony against the U.S. has been lessened. It’s the attitude of people that leads to war.
“I think we should be proud as a nation. Why not? Can’t we just be proud for a moment that our leader was selected as someone who wants to bring about peace?” -- Richmond County Tax Commissioner Steven Kendrick, 41
-- “President Obama deserves to be congratulated for receiving this highly prestigious award. He’s taken bold steps in his approach for peace. His approach will be criticized by naysayers, because he did not engage in the typical political game. He listens first rather than just rush into things.” -- Lessie Price, 60, Aiken City Council member
-- “I was thrilled that President of the United States won the Nobel Peace Prize. I listened to some of the reasons some of the people thought he shouldn’t win and then I went back and I looked at the original Internet of the prize and I think it fits. I just very proud that the President won.” -- Brenda Durant, executive director, Greater Augusta Arts Council
-- “It is great not just for President Obama but great for America. It sends a message to other countries that we have a President willing to go the extra mile for the citizens of not only the United States but for the world to come together as a people and as a human race.”-- Deanna Brown Thomas, The Brown Family Children Foundationwww.jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org
-- “Even when others are tearing him down, he takes it with a grain of salt and with a smile. He’s a better listener and he has compassion.” --Jeffrey Thomas, 48, North Augusta, electrician
-- “I think it was great. We have to give credit where credit is due. People have to have some hope. He is taking us to something better and it’s for everybody. In every situation some people win and some people lose. I’m proud of him. He was doing a lot of work before he was president.” --Chris Morgan, 48, North Augusta, hairstylist
-- For eight years the United States acted like a bully in the world — unwilling to try to peacefully resolve conflicts. Mr. Obama is much calmer, more diplomatic and more willing to try to resolve conflicts first with words instead of weapons, said Jacque Hawk, 51, a Martinez resident and Augusta attorney. “I just think that’s a better approach all over the world.”
-- “I have great respect for him as the President of the United States. I think that he was surprised. I was surprised as well. But I think it seems to me that it must reflect the Nobel Committee’s desire to continue to encourage the U.S. reaching out and engaging nations around the world in an effort to reduce tensions.” -- Medical College of Georgia President Daniel W. Rahn
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
He didn't do anything to earn it. That is the problem and the award has turned into a joke.
I agree, Big O ... he didn't do anything to deserve it and now what the award stood for has been lessened. Future recipients will not receive it with as much honor and distinction because of Obama's award.
This really just is a slap inthe face to those who really earned this award in the past.
Lets see...he took office on 20 January and the voting closed on 1 February. So the Nobel Committee was able to discern that in just 11 days he did more to advance the cause of peace than anyone else in the world. The Prize is suppose to represent accomplishments that have already come to fruition. This seems like an obvious ploy to appeal to President Obama's vanity and make him more pliable and receptive to the whims of the International Community without regard for putting primacy of the United States first, which was the actual job he was hired to do.
The higher they put this man on a pedestal, the farther he has to fall, and the harder he's going to hit. The worse he hits, the worse it is for our country, whether you back him or not. The righteous, smart thing for him to have done would be to offer his sincere thanks, but respectfully decline the award. He would still be the awardee, with all the stature that brings, but it would also be the appropriate thing to do.
Can anyone name ONE thing BimbObama has accomplished in or out of the presidency to deserve this award? Voting "present" in the IL senate? Just goes to show how irrellavant this award has become.
Compare the DOE nuclear weapons budget for Fiscal Year 2008, 2009 & Obama's first proposal for FY 2010 and see if there's any difference between Bush and Obama. Very telling. Go to the "weapons activities" section:
http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/about/documents/NNSA_Budget.pdf
Has the demand for tax payer money for special interests in DOE entitlement fiefdoms such as Aiken won the upper hand over sound policies good for all of us?
No Jack. There is nothing there to name. The whole thing is a joke. Evidently the nominating committee thinks that if they compliment Obama for only 10 days in office that he will kow-tow to them in taking any credibility that America has since voting him into office...they know one when they see one.
11 days in office and he was nominated. I guess that make sense since he has great connections in the world of the left and the Nobel committee is found only in the world of the left. Still, the award would seem to demean everything Obama claims to cherish since it was given only because of his stated intentions, not because of his actions. Obama is seen as an empty suit or meat puppet to all but his worshipers and to them he's the messiah or (according to the L.A. Times) the magic negro. I personally feel he covers both edges of the radical perspective. I think if he could just pull everyone together so we'd just all get along and have peace and love throughout the world, then he'd actually deserve this prize and the next two. I hear he's also nominated for the Nobel prize for economics and medicine.....for the same reason he qualified for peace.
I agree.. I mean what has he done to promote world peace? If anything we are in a worse situation now because of his timid approach to world dictators. Iran is closer to having a deliverable nuclear weapon arsenal..Obama didn't stand on the side of pro-democracy activists in Iran. If anything, the warmongers of the world are just thumbing their nosr at Obama. This award has more to do with political correctness than achievement.
As for Obama meriting the Nobel Peace Prize: Just being alive for the 11 days following his inauguration as President, Obama accomplished more in promoting world peace than his predecessor had in the 8 years his arrogance and ignorance shamed America's image throughout the world. GGpap
Wow! The idiots! The sheer ability to get elected the FIRST Black man as President of the United States was enough to be nominated, (Remembers: Blacks been voting less than 50 yrs)but his intelligence and strong vision of diplomatic approaches to world issues are the crowning virtues that got it for him. He honestly deserves it and the AWM can ask the same foolish questions all day long. The (R) surprise is unbelieveable and funny, along with speculations galore. Rush said, "this will influence decisions in the Middle East" Ha! The other one said, "My head is about to explode" Again, Ha! This is great to see...Congratulations to the U.S. President. KEEP CHARGING!
justus4: 50 years of voting by black Americans you are correct. But there have been two other black men that ran for office several different times.
The reason
President Obama won was due to the white vote that pushed him past his competitor. He received those votes based on promises he made to the American people. He needs to get busy!!!!
jack do you even know what the awars is given for? It sure has nothing to do with Illinois state politics to start with. And Emerydan I am sure glad to see you are a proud supporter of reintroducing the draft so we will have an armed forces capable of projecting the power you want us to project.
I've read alot of articles today on this subject, but not one mentions the answer to my question.
Who nominated Obama?
Anyone know?
Who cares if he won the Peace Prize or not? It used to be a major big deal, but after Carter won it, it lost a lot of prestige. The only reason why Carter got involved with all those other countries is because no one in the US wanted anything to do with him. Remember the hostages. And boycotting the Olympics, a totally meaningless decision that penalized all of those US athletes. They won't release who nominated him for 50 years.
Y'all are as unAmerican as they come. All you ever do is whine. Do you ever have anything good to say about anyone but yourselves? I pity your familes. They have to listen to your crap all the time.
The fact remains that he has done very little to advance peace in the world. He is talking about peace, he is trying to move the discussion and emphasis in a better direction. But he has not succeeded at all. Yet. He very well may succeed and accomplish much that is deserving of a Noble Prize. But not yet. By selecting him they in many ways hurt America and hurt him. Here is why. We are currently building up troop strength in Afghanistan. At some point we may be involved in a war much greater and prolonged than what Bush started in Iraq. This was not of Obama's doing, but an inevitable consequence of the attacks in 2001. By labeling Obama as a man of peace, he may yet be christined a man of war because of what he may have to do to stop terrorism. The best thing for Obama to do would be to decline to accept the award. He can point to the fact that it is very early in his tenure and he has much to accomplish. The award may in fact be his albatross if to achieve peace he must wage war.
Carter Gore and now O'bama, It's almost like they go out of their way to demean this award .....I have lots of plans and have made lots of promises...will I when next year ?
Israel, you are on the clock. You are going to have to deal with Iran on your own. Europe has once again backed a weak US president, in this case Obama, into a corner where he can not do a darn thing.
problem is bitter GOPers....the Norwegian Nobel Committee feels he did what was necessary. Let me make it real simple. It's their award and their rules and nobody know better who deserves their award than them. You sound silly waxing poetically about "whether or not it's right, whether or not he deserved it". You're better off accepting the fact and moving on. You bitter folk are gonna keep chasing the things you cannot accept and get a heart attack.
Congratulations to our President. You have received a prestigous award that represents you and America well. Thanks
Reading all the post in the past 2 days really makes me wonder just how "this great president" would have handled the 9/11 attack. In the eyes of many messiah lovers, he has the power with words to stop a bomb from exploding, the power with words to prevent any future terrorist acts to our country, the power with words to make all crazy killing cultures of foreign counties to just stop all there plans of destruction and sit down at a table and drink a beer. Wake up everyone, words will not prevent what will happen to this great county and when it does his words will not matter any more. What a way to go!
How would Barack Obama responded to the 9/11 attack? Hmm. I believe even Tom and Jerry could have responded better than Bush and Cheney. President Obama would have "smoke 'em out" (Bush cowboy lingo) in a shorter period of time and not waste lives and money chasing looking for WMDs. No sure what planet Cobalt lives on but Bush failed.
I believe the nomination was a good call but this [ http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/10/06/new-poll-finds-obama... ] solidified it. What next ACES? The world is wrong? Are we not supposed to be viewed so highly? Are you nervous because this is happening under Obama's leadership yet you failed to endorse him? Let us know. *waiting*
The Nobel Peace prize winner is chosen by Zionists. Obama is a Zionist puppet. He is their "Boy". The prize means nothing, except for the cash that comes with it. The same can be said for the Oscars.
Obama is a warmonger for Israel. Our Congress, Senate and Presidency is Israeli occupied territory. Google for the James Trafficant interview with Greta Van Susteran if you really want to know who controls and operates America.
If you can stand hearing the truth, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0scNGzWfv8A
Somehow I don't equate the Nobel Peace Prize with the Oscars. John, the cleaners called, your robes are ready for pickup. The hood is extra.
lol at so many bitter augustans. You cheered the US Olympic failure and booed the US President Nobel PEace Prize award. What's happening? What happened to good old fashioned Patriotism? You guys sound like the Taliban! Shame on you! Congrats President Obama!