Peace Prize: Cast Your Own Vote Here

Here's the press release from the Nobel Committee:

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

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. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Oslo, October 9, 2009

Do you think it is well-deserved or premature?

There is also this information from the committee:

According to the official Nobel Prize Web site invitation letters are sent out in September. Every year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee sends out thousands of letters inviting a qualified and select number of people to submit their nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. The deadline to submit nominations is February 1. -- Two hundred five names were submitted for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, 33 of which are organizations. A short list of nominees is prepared in February and March. The short list is subject to adviser review from March until August. At the beginning of October, the Nobel Committee chooses the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates through a majority vote. The decision is final and without appeal. The names of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates are then announced."

Thanks for reading, TA

Comments

[Edward Johnson]

Coming from a black democrat. I voted for change, I just feal the Nobel Peace Prize should be giving to you after an accomplishment not before. Besides that its funny how all of a sudden the Obama Haters and Racist are trying to blame Obama for what Bush did...That's typical AmeriKKKa. But hey thats nothing new. The blame game have always ben a problem in AmeriKKKa. The only thing Obama is trying to do is fix what bush screwed up lol. We all know the big issue is they don't want to see a black president fix what AmeriKKKa screwed up!!! Give the man a chance. The problem can't be fixed over night.

[David Robles]

I have never seen such deep hatred for a 9 month President. I guess the losing party cannot get over it. I am so sick and tired of hearing all of the OPINION COMMENTARY by the cable talk show hosts. Sometimes you wonder what underlying factor contributes to this. Does Racism still exists in American?

[lew]

i long believed that the receipient of the Peace Prize had to make a contribution, a worthy accomplishment PRIOR to receiving the Peace Prize, so what has Obama actually accomplished?- other than becoming president his only achievement has been lofty speeches, more campain promises.
this is truly sad that such an honor has been wasted on someone not yet deserving of such

[Molly Garza]

Please note that someone is making some pretty rash and harsh comments on this blog about Obama and they are not related to me. I don't know how this is happening and I have reported it to ABC13.

[CACC64]

Okay...Rosemary, Here We Go Again, Roc, Pat, Kathy, and the rest of you idiotic morons who haven't pulled your head out of your #*&#!@4%#. Don't you realize this is part of the agenda, the socialist agenda here in America and the dysfunctional socialist agenda inplace in Europe for the past 60 years. Barach Husein "obamanation" was given this useless accolade to reward him not for what he has done, but for the socialistic policies he is attempting to do, and those socialistic policies that he will implement in the near future. They also felt that this award would be the first chance they have had in over 105 years to recognize the muslim population of the world. Trust what I am saying...we had better reverse this trend in 2010 and subsequently in 2012, or you younger folks and your children will suffer unlike anything you have ever suffered in your life.

The Nobel prizes are only worth the monetary value attached to them, now it is dollars, but if China, Japan, Russia, and the Arabs have their way the doller won't be worth any more than a roll of toilet tissue. Stop and think about these factual events...President George W. Bush is responsible for liberating 50+ million Iragis; President Ronald Reagan is responsiblie for liberating 200+ million Eastern Europeans. Don't take my word for it, do some research on how the Iraqis life was like before the downfall of Hussein (the Butcher of Bagdag). How did the East Germans, Poles, Czechs, Albanians, Hungarians, and Romanians live their lives prior to President Reagan uttering these famous words..."Mr. Gorbachov tear down this wall"?

People, you have to read this book..."YOU CAN TRUST A COMMUNIST TO BE A COMMUNIST " By Dr. Swarzch(sic). This will wake you up to what is happening to America...maybe the Anti-Christ has arrived, do you think?

[Edward Herndon]

For the first time Michelle is proud to be an American and for the first time I am not proud to be an American.I did not serve in the U.S.Marine Corps for such malfeasance of our so called commander in chief.This Peace Prize will probably help the idiot cement his liberal agenda on America.

[Edward Herndon]

I think this Peace Prize thing is part of a liberal agenda to get Obama to turn a deaf ear to our commanders in the field.Shame on our nation for accepting such assine stupidity.

[Yvonne Jones]

I just think that people are just hating on the president, one person said his own people are starting not to like him who are his own people. The man has been in office 8 months and people act like he should have fixed the economy, health-care etc. What president do you know who has done that in 8 months people need to stop hating on Obama and let the man do his job. Nobel peace prize was much deserved at least his trying to fix the world. You try to do the job and see if you can fix everything in 8 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony A]

I do not believe that Obama deserve this as this is just another ploy by the Socialist regime in Europe to give him a good name. President Obama has not done anything but talk and is getting more unpopular with his own people which is why is is appeasing the European community and the third work Socialist Countries.

[ggmsmolly]

Excuse me, but the post about Urine was not mine.

[toby]

I do not believe that obama deserves the nobel prize or 2b the President. I believe that he will bring change 4 the bad 2 this country. He has already put this country farther in debt then ANY & ALL presidents b4 him. He is always apologizing 4 this country. He is printing money which will weeking the dollar. I believe that he does not care about this country, his wife said that in the campaign.(bird of a feather) People who 4get the past r doomed 2 repeat it. If Hitler would've died b4 he got stupid, he would have gone down in history as 1 of, if not Germany's greatest leader. I do see simalarities between the 2. I truly believe that obama will ruin this country.

[Mike]

Like other's have said...it SO downgrades the importance or admiration for the Nobel prize. The man had been in office 11 days and promised a WHOLE lot of things and has delivered "0". Cannot believe the folks on here who thinks he deserved this??? For what reason? Being elected the first person of color is the reason??? So shallow and pathetic.

[Kathy]

Whatever happened to the old saying "If you can't say anything nice (constructive), don't say anything at all"? For Heaven's sake, OUR President (and thusly, our country) has just been awarded one of the most prestigeous honors in the world...by the world. (not to mention that it's a POSITIVE vote from the world) I'm a Republican and didn't vote for him, but he is OUR President for the next 3+ years. "Congratulations, Mr. President"...no "buts," or questions, just "congratulations" and get back to work!

[Sydonia Benton]

What a joke? What has he accomplished that is so outstanding. All he does is fly all over the world wasting time and money. Making promises he does not keep.

[Army Mom Susan]

This in my opinion is totally wrong and he does not deserve this one bit. The individuals nominated for this award have "accomplished" something i.e. The first was Theodore Roosevelt for successfully negotiating the end of the Japanese-Russian war of 1905. Jimmy Carter actually got the prime minister of Isreal and the president of Egypt to sit down "together" at Camp David and "make a peace agreement".
Thus far the only thing this man (and I am sorry but I will NEVER look at him as my President) has done is take from the poor, give to the rich, kill our loved ones in war(s) we have NO BUSINESS in and put us farther in debt in which our children and grandchildren are going to pay for later.
He has NOT PROVED he has the RIGHT to be my President and dont give me the line he has because he has NOT! If I have to show my birth certificate for proof I am a legal citizen then by God he should TO !! Instead he is doing and spending millions to cover it up and I tell you it will eventually come out one day.
Mr. Obama is an excellant politician, he has the lieing down to a T, and he is a smooth talker. Mark my words you havent seen nothing yet, when he is done we will have nothing left!
We thought Bush was bad, wake of people....Obama is going to bury this country.
Look at the war in Afghan...how many have we lost, how many more are we going to lose? Look at the soldiers we lost last weekend they were sitting ducks from the get go! God help us all!

[Pat]

With what the President had to face upon taking office, he has changed the United States image. Because of our last "leader", not many countries liked us. He has given us hope for the future. I'm sorry to hear so many " sour grapes". My life looks brighter because of the new hope.

[6TH GEN TEXAN]

hey rosemary carson you are free to leave!

[jan]

This is the first time I have seen Satan receive a Peace Prize.

[Eldridge]

I hope your dink of urine tasted great there ggmsmolly. It's not that people hate Pres Obama, people do have a right to their opinions and a right to voice their opinions. The majority of Americans who don't like Obama has nothing to do with the fact that his mom is caucasian and his dad isn't. They don't like him because of his policies. As for winning the Peace Prize, I personally wouldn't have a problem with it if this was at least a year into his Presidency. But he was nominated less than two weeks after taking office. Therefore, most people question the WHY did he get it when he hadn't yet DID anything when nominated.
Al Gore getting a Peace Prize for his power point slides is a different story.

[kitty]

hmmm....I thought you get the prize after the accomplishment not before hand ...it's like giving someone a first place ribbon before they finish the race.

[ggmsmolly]

What has he done to deserve this prize. All of a sudden it seems that the Nobel Peace Prize is a joke. We are still in Iraq and there is talk about increasing the troops in Afghanistan. To me, there is nothing peaceful about the country losing the lives of it's young people at war.

[Roc]

I wish all the haters a big gulp of urine

[louis]

This Prize has now become a joke!
These Norwegian fools not only drank some kool-aid....I think they put it into crack pipes and smoked it!...

[David]

The question is worded poorly. It asks if he is deserving, thus asking why we think so. It is phrased in the negative, as to assume that the majority doesn't agree with the award. It is irrelevant, as he has already been awarded, and merely gives critics an opportunity to vent their dislikes.

That being said, it was awarded for bringing OUR nation back to the tables of international diplomacy. For the last eight years, America has put itself on an island,as it relates to diplomacy, partly because of arrogance, but mostly because our practices were against the standards that WE set. To now interract with the rest of the world was a major step for America, and has the potential to promote peace (we'll see on that front).

Finally, I am hearing and reading people saying that he hasn't done enough, blah, blah, blah. The committee decides what criteria to use for awarding their prestigious awards, so you really don't know why or how they came to their decision.

[Tom]

It looks like they serve Obama koolaid in Norway as well.