Congratulations, criticism on Web over Obama Nobel

October 9, 2009
US President Barack Obama speaks at the White House in Washington, DC after he won the Nobel Peace Prize

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US President Barack Obama speaks at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC after he won the Nobel Peace Prize. The surprise awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama triggered a deluge of congratulations and criticism on Twitter and across the Web on Friday.

The surprise awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama triggered a deluge of congratulations and criticism on Twitter and across the Web on Friday.

Facebook groups celebrating the achievement appeared within minutes of the announcement along with one titled "Obama does not deserve the " started by a user in Switzerland which attracted more than 170 members.

Three of the top 10 "trending topics" on micro-blogging service were related to the announcement -- "President Obama," "Nobel" and "."

Some Twitter users welcomed the choice while others derided it.

"Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize! How cool is that?" wrote "jimmyjamx."

"Congrats President Obama on winning the Nobel Peace Prize! You have filled the world with hope -- now you must make peace happen," said "MMFlint."

"When we said Obama was the second coming, you mocked us didn't you," joked "vcgriffin."

A user who goes by "krishgm" tweeted in a similar vein: "Well his obvious next step is to eradicate world hunger. That or cure cancer."

"Gosh, you think the Nobel will make it awkward when President Obama sends more troops to Afghanistan?" said "elhai."

A number of Twitter users expressed skepticism about honoring a president who has not yet completed a year in office.

"Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize? I mean I voted for him, but what really has he done? There are pleanty of more deserving people out there," said "StephanieJeanXO."

The inevitable jokes were also prevalent on Twitter.

"Obama wins $1mil Nobel award, asks to be paid in Euros," said "jtsmith24."

"Wow. George W. Bush was so bad, the Norwegians gave Obama the Nobel Peace Prize just for being President," said "JoshFlaum."

A number of users noted that the peace prize award coincided with NASA firing two rockets at the surface of the moon on a mission to look for water below the lunar surface.

"So, President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize EVEN AFTER declaring war on the moon?" said "gmcelyea."

Obama, for his part, tweeted a single word: "Humbled."

(c) 2009 AFP

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marjon
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 3.5 / 5 (8)
He should refuse to accept stating others are more worthy.
A true sign of humility.
defunctdiety
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 4.5 / 5 (8)
A number of users noted that the peace prize award coincided with NASA firing two rockets at the surface of the moon on a mission to look for water below the lunar surface.

This has to be the single most misunderstood action NASA has ever taken. They didn't fire anything at the moon, there were no explosives.

They jettisoned the empty boosters (2-ton hunk of metal) of an aging lunar orbiter to impact a crater on the moon. Then crashed the same orbiter, which was eventually going to crash into the moon anyway, into the same spot.

No firing, no rockets, no explosion. Just a controlled end to an old project.
OregonWind
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
I think this award was premature but he could be a good candidate in the future after we all learned that he kept his word and action consistent. Now refusing the Nobel prize would be not an act of true humility but of stupidity. He is not that good to be able to turn down the most prestigious prize in the world.
frajo
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 3.2 / 5 (6)
The Nobel Peace Prize unfortunately has a dark side if you consider who's got it in the past.
Avitar
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 1 / 5 (7)
They are hoping that giving this prie to Obams will get them protection whent the world plunges into a new Ice Age and the have to flee Oalo ahead of the Lynch mog.
jerryd
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 2.8 / 5 (9)

Hasn't done anything? How about keeping us out of a depression, starting to fix the mess, bank, AIG, Auto company bailouts Bush, debt, wars economy Repubs left him., the stimulus bill, completely changed the world's attitude towards the US, getting us out of Iraq on schedule, last yrs budget, introduced health care, fought off repubs, not bad for just 8 months in office.

BTW he is a Prof of political science and teaches constitutional law. Since he as a almost unknown black man beat the pants off all comers to be the top political science person of the world, POTUS, that alone proves he is worth a Nobel Prize.
OregonWind
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 3.3 / 5 (4)
"Hasn't done anything? How about keeping us out of a depression, starting to fix the mess, bank, AIG, Auto company bailouts Bush, debt, wars economy Repubs left him., the stimulus bill, completely changed the world's attitude towards the US, getting us out of Iraq on schedule, last yrs budget, introduced health care, fought off repubs, not bad for just 8 months in office."

You mean he should then get the Nobel prize in Economy instead?
freethinking
Oct 09, 2009

Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
The Nobel prize is now nothing more than a joke.

A man worthy of the prize in his shoes as Obama would have refused it saying "I havent done anything YET to deserve this prize, but I will."

BTW he hasnt kept us out of a depression. democrats have had control of the congress and the senate in 2006, look into who caused the banking crisis, war in Afgahnistan is now worse than when Bush left, USA is still in Iraq, health care bill does not have support from the general population and the democrats will not post the bill for us to read. He has done nothing YET to deserve the prize.

What people of integrity both left leaning and right leaning need to do is step back and judge a person and their deeds the same wether left or right, democrat or republican. If Obama had the same accomplishments but was a conservative he would not have received the award. Anyone who holds to principles over politics knows this, and those that know this have lost respect for the nobel prize.
Mc3lnosher
Oct 10, 2009

Rank: 1.7 / 5 (3)
Does anyone else think that its ridiculous that the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is currently running two wars? One of those wars was unprovoked. A man who is running more wars than nearly any other man on the planet could hardly be called peaceful in my opinion.
blento
Oct 10, 2009

Rank: 2.3 / 5 (4)
Obama represents hope. Nobel comity thinks that by giving the award, more people will listen to what he has to say. This is the first award given to somebody for future success. He has done what you and I would do in his shoes, given the mess he inherited. It's not over.
frajo
Oct 10, 2009

Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
A man who is running more wars than nearly any other man on the planet could hardly be called peaceful in my opinion.

You forgot to mention that he didn't neither start nor want these wars. And that neither he nor any other single person has the power to stop the US war machinery.
Paradox
Oct 12, 2009

Rank: not rated yet
neither he nor any other single person has the power to stop the US war machinery.


WHAT?
As the "Commander In Chief" of the U.S armed forces, he certainly DOES have the power to stop the wars.
And as far as not wanting the wars, why then did he just approve sending an additional 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan?
Back to the point, Obama has not done anything to deserve the peace prize except talk. There are many people more deserving than he. Besides, when was the last time a politician followed through on a promise? We shall see.
Rank 3.4 /5 (8 votes)
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