Nobel Peace Prize

**Grace** · 10-09-2009, 07:38 AM

Won by President Obama!

I had not heard he was even nominated

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a stunning decision that comes just eight months into his presidency.
Less than nine months into his presidency, Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The president had not been mentioned as among front-runners for the prize, and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, uttered Obama's name.

The president, who was awakened to be told he had won, said he was humbled to be selected, according to an administration official.

The Nobel committee recognized Obama's efforts to solve complex global problems including working toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

"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," the committee said.

Jagland said the decision was "unanimous" and came with ease.

He rejected the notion that Obama had been recognized prematurely for his efforts and said the committee wanted to promote the president just it had Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 in his efforts to open up the Soviet Union.

"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," it said.

Obama's recognition comes less than a year after he became the first African-American to win the White House. He is the fourth U.S. president to win the prestigious prize and the third sitting president to do so.

The announcement Friday in Oslo, Norway, came as a surprise -- Obama had not been mentioned among front-runners -- and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, announced Obama's name.

**pomtzu** · 10-09-2009, 07:44 AM

I was under the impression that one had to do something extraordinary to receive this prestigious award. Did I miss something???

**Grace** · 10-09-2009, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

I was under the impression that one had to do something extraordinary to receive this prestigious award. Did I miss something???

Obviously we all missed it.

**Lady's Human** · 10-09-2009, 08:35 AM

Absolutely amazing, especially considering nominations had to be in before he had been in office three weeks.

**Grace** · 10-09-2009, 08:52 AM

I wonder who nominated him?

From reading the accounts, it appears that none of his staff had any idea this would happen.

**Sirrahsim** · 10-09-2009, 09:17 AM

I posted this in General but I'll second myself here:
I have no problem with our President. I don't agree with some of his ideas but I don't dislike the man.
In my opinion, awarding an esteemed prize like the Nobel Peace Prize based on what someone MIGHT do is utterly ridiculous. It cheapens the award for the people who have actually already done something to deserve it.