Congratulations, Mr. President.
That is all that needs to be said regarding his award of the Nobel Peace Prize. There is absolutely NO need to say anything else if you don’t agree with the Norwegians choice. The decision of Obama’s detractors to speak out against the choice and openly challenge it as undeserved is just stupid. I am a huge advocate of debate and discourse. For those of you who read this blog often you know I love the contrarian, those people who challenge the staus quo. But openly denouncing this choice shows little class or commitment to our country.
Quotes like that of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is the perfect example.
“The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?’ It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain – President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”
There is no redeeming value or benefit in this statement. There is nothing beneficial in it to anyone except Michael Steele. It’s just conservative angry sour grapes, with Republicans looking to create even greater partisan dissent and discord. Rush Limbaugh called it a greater embarrassment called it a “greater embarrassment” than losing the Olympics. Is it really?
A few other conservatives took a lighter approach such as Mike Huckabee who said;
“There will be an outcry from those on the right who will say that Obama’s nomination, made two weeks into his Presidency, is impossible to justify, but I think such an outcry will sound like right-wing whining,” Huckabee said in a statement. “The better response is simply to allow those on the left to explain what he did in his first two weeks as President that merited such recognition.”
Even this moderate statement begs for conflict and confrontation, in forcing those Americans who are in favor of it to defend the decision. I find all this sad.
To me this is an award all of America should be proud to support. Republican or Democrat it has been awarded to a sitting American President. Obama didn’t apply for the award. He didn’t lobby for it. He didn’t ask for it. He accepted it with humility and grace even saying he didn’t feel he was deserving; “To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize —
Trying to promote yourself or your cause by tearing down others has never been a noble approach. I’m tired of all the vilification, and tearing down of people to promote a political agenda. There is no controversy here. It’s an honor to our country and the only appropriate response is congratulations Mr. President. There is a time to show discourse and debate, this is NOT the time.
It is disheartening to think that such wonderful honor can’t unite us for 1 day. It makes me wonder, if any of our leaders can put the countries best interest over their own. The data is telling me no.
I’ll start. Congratulations Mr President. I’m proud to have such an honor bestowed on an American.
There is no debate here.
