I'm going to make this quick, b/c this is so straightforward that it really doesn't require much thought.
Regardless of where you stand on the accomplishments of Obama internationally and specifically towards the area of peace, there are some fundamental truths about the awarding of the Nobel Prize.
See me after the jump:
- It's Sweden/Norway's prize to give out. They created it, they pay for it, and they made their choice. The prize and the subsequent cash award are not coming out of tax payer funds. If we want a say in it, then we need to create our own prize. It's theirs, they get to do what they want with it.
- This is all a tempest in a teacup. Unfortunately, we are never going to hear the end of it, b/c a) the news eats this kind of contrived controversey up and give the frothing Republicans all the air time they need to make this an issue. It's the same masturbatory cycle that we saw with the Tea Baggers, The Olympics and the Health Care town halls. The news just wants to see the Jerry Springer show 24/7, and the Republicans want nothing more than to give it to them. Look forward to every move Obama makes being criticized as "his attempt to win an award that he doesn't deserve." Barf.
- Obama had absolutely nothing to with this. He neither sought the award, nor expected it. If you want to say he didn't deserve it, fine, but spare the rest of us this constant monkey chatter about how he should somehow apologize or feel ashamed that they gave it to him. Or even to a greater extent, that it is now some faux pas that he has to deal with. I read his acceptance, he very humbly said thanks and that he hopes to live up to the honor. What really more is there to cover?
If Cantor was to receive NAMBLA's "Man of the Year" Award, does that suddenly require that he debase himself and apologize for pedophilia? No. Why? Because it is their award to give out and he had nothing to do with receiving it.
Unfortunately, we are going to have to endure this for a long time as the media and Republicans will squeeze it for every last drop, never mind that real issues continue to go unadressed.