Michael Steele Seizes On Obama’s Nobel To Revive “Celebrity” Meme
As expected, the news of Obama’s Nobel is already forcing a domestic debate over what accomplishments Obama has to his name and over the extent to which his rhetorical gifts, rather than his achievements, have buoyed him throughout his career.
RNC chair Michael Steele, in his statement, seems eager to have this discussion, and revives the “celebrity” meme for good measure:
“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.”
What makes this particularly unfortunate timing for the White House is that it will force the administration to prematurely defend its record, less than a year into Obama’s first term. Another question is whether it will put pressure on Obama to deliver on the international front sooner, rather than later, at a time when he’s trying to bring a patient, deliberative approach to some extremely thorny and complex international problems.
Not a conversation the White House wants right now.
Update: On second thought, the DNC offers a completely different way to look at it.
Update II: After watching Obama speak, I fully confess that he found a way to get around whatever potential political pitfalls this award may or may not carry.
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There’s nothing unfortunate about this – Woo Hoo! Obama won the Peace Nobel – it’s awesome!
Screw Steele and the GOP
They don’t have to defend a damn thing Greg.
Republicans are pathetically small people. Why defend against them?
Now back to reality.
The Prize is awarded each year. If it were not to go to President Obama, then who should it have been given to, and why?
The Peace Prize is often given as much to those who are aspiring to reduce conflict, as it is to those who have ended conflict.
Who stood out as having done something that fit either of those two conditions, and has not been fully honored for their work?
Like I said, Republicans are managing once again to take something that should be national pride and turn it into a hate fest.
How in the hell can winning the Nobel Peace Prize be “unfortunate?”
That’s ridiculous – it’s something to celebrate, not to curl up and get defensive about – jeez!
Mike, trust me, top Dems are not thrilled about this.
Greg, pardon my french and all that. WTF are you talking about ? Why would WH be on the defensive in this ? Au contraire (hey, my french is back), I expect him to set the tone on a more positive level in re foreign policy. So all the “concerns” from left are as ridiculous the shouting from wingnuts.
Well top Dems can shove it.
I’m sick to death of everything being political –
Top Dems can get with it and celebrate our president instead of questioning every damn thing he does.
Top Dems are out of touch – Obama is extremely popular. They aren’t – they are especially not popular with me right now. They are willing to throw my state to the GOP anbd let us fend for ourselves.
Screw top Dems. We have an awesome president and I’m sick to death of everybody trying to defend the fact that we have awesome president.
amk, they don’t want to be having a discussion about what he’s accomplished right now. period. I know this from inside
At least Greg has a foot planted in reality on this.
Anyone who thinks Obama is smiling this morning about this is foolish. It is a PR debacle.
And it tells you just how ignorant these Euro-socialists are that they didn’t recognize how this is likely to play in the U.S.
Top Dems! Not the top Dems!
Get out of the beltway son.
sorry greg this is the most villagy analysis I have heard all day. This is bad for the administration? This makes him defend his record? The WH does not want to do that because you imply they are embarassed by it? Really? Come on. Only in this insane country can the media collectively make something like this into a bad thing. So getting a Nobel now makes you a celebrity? And the reason top dems are not thrilled is because like the Village they spend all their time thinking about what the republicans will say. Totally and utterly disgusting. Get a f*****g spine people.
In the world of the Village, a prize given to Obama (by way of forces outside his control) is a legitimate reason to criticize the President. Their immediate pushback should be that the Bush administration is the only one in modern history to LOSE jobs during his time in office and see a drop in the median wage here in the US. They can also point to the fact that our Q2 figures would have been (an estimated) 4% worse in terms of GDP performance if not for the stimulus.
Suck on that Steele, and next time let the President speak before bashing him. You’re an embarrassment to this nation.
Republicans are notorious for turning moments of national pride into a hate fest.
It’s in their DNA. Heck, look what they did with wanting to give other Americans quality health care. They compared it to the Nazi’s.
They are irrational.
guys, come on. I didn’t say it was all bad. In post below I clearly said it was major boost to his international prestige and agenda.
Greg, well, I’m with Tena. Top dems can shove it along with the beltway media. may be you should read the Nobel committee’s stated reasons for this award.
oh and another thing–so when he world recognizes him is bad but when the world ‘rejects’ him it is also horrible? So last week Obama was a loser because the his international prestige had waned and now greg is telling us the poor little dems are freaking out because the world likes him? He gets the award NOT because of his domestic agenda but for his international one and still you want us to believe Obama is afraid of defending this? Incredible.
Look what Republicans have managed to do.
They’ve taken this once again and turned Americans against each other.
F’ them pricks.
greg I really don’t like harping on you but it’s just very inside the beltway way of seeing this. Next you will tell us he should refuse the prize? And apologize for the American people about getting it?
“Look what Republicans have managed to do.”
Boy that’s the truth.
And the Dems fall right in line.
If the GOP and the TOP Dems don’t like it they can take it up with the Noble Committee.
Obama didn’t ask for this or expect it.
Obama will get quite a big chunk of change for this award. Will he donate it to the Treasury to defray the spending he is proposing?
The Democrats are cruising for real trouble right now and they better stop and think.
My husband and I maxed out our donations to Democrats and Obama and if they think I will continue to do that and to work like I have as hard as I could to elect Democrats when they are talking abandoning me and my state on health care reform they’re nuts. We won’t. I’ve had it – I’m mad as hell at every damn Democrat in Congress right now.
Mad as hell and this ain’t helping.-
Greg,
Tell those Top Democrats who are worried about how to answer the question, to just say, we are delighted, and Blessed are The Peace Makers. Tell them to just say that, and no more. Also, tell them from me, to stop being such a bunch of gutless wonders. If something like this can make them wet their pants, then they should not be in politics.
Now.
Folks,
I have asked on here and on the thread below, if not Obama, then who should have received it, and why?
So far, those who keep ranting on and on about Obama not deserving it, have not posted a single name, of who they think the award should have been given too.
That tells me, that this is just another Right Wing Hate Obama reaction. The Nobel Committee has to award the prize to someone.
If the objectors were really upset, because they think that Obama has not earned the award, then how come they are not naming those they think should have received it.
It is a great honor for America, for having elected the winner of The Nobel Peace Prize, so why do Republicans Hate America.
Mike from Arlington,
Republicans haven’t turned anyone against anyone about this. You are reading commentary by a few people.
Obama ran his campaigan against George Bush and Republicans, portrayed them as evil and apologized to the world for their actions and for America’s malign influence and failure to submit to the international socialist order. Now he is being rewarded for it by the international socialists.
Spare us the nonsense that Republicans have somehow turned Americans against each other. Obama is receiving an award for attacking Republicans on the world stage. That’s a simple and accurate assessment of the situation.
This is a GREAT day. Not just for Obama. Not just for America.
FOR THE WORLD.
Just stop responding to the terrorists.
…And when they let up their hate-monger terrorist assault, WE ATTACK THEIR SORRY ASSES.
Again, They had to award it to someone.
The Prize is awarded each year. If it were not to go to President Obama, then who should it have been given to, and why?
The Peace Prize is often given as much to those who are aspiring to reduce conflict, as it is to those who have ended conflict.
Who stood out as having done something that fit either of those two conditions, and has not been fully honored for their work?
forget all that, all. check out the DNC’s response, saying GOP has “thrown in its lot with the terrorists”:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/democratic-national-committee/dnc-by-criticizing-obamas-nobel-steele-and-gop-have-thrown-in-their-lot-with-the-terrorists/
QB, Scott C. You people are disgusting. You hate PEACE. You hate America.
You’ve already proven this OVER and OVER and OVER again.
So just STFU and let us revel in this positive news for once.
“amk, they don’t want to be having a discussion about what he’s accomplished right now. period. I know this from inside”
Why don’t they think then? If they get behind the president and support him the problem will go away.
It’s their problem
“This is a GREAT day. Not just for Obama. Not just for America.
FOR THE WORLD.
Just stop responding to the terrorists.
…And when they let up their hate-monger terrorist assault, WE ATTACK THEIR SORRY ASSES.”
Word straight Mofoing Up!
Republican terrorists HATE nuclear non-proliferation.
Republican terrorists HATE American diplomacy.
Republican terrorists HATE progress.
Republican terrorists HATE any success that’s not theirs.
Republican terrorists HATE protecting people from HATE CRIMES.
Republican terrorists HATE the fact that the supposed bringer of DEATH PANELS is a MAN OF PEACE.
I could go on and on and on.
This is a Great Honor For America.
Why Do Republicans Hate America As Much As The Terrorists Do!
The Nobel PEACE prize has been regarded as a joke since it was awarded to Arafat, who never, before or after receiving the prize, did anything to bring about peace in his region. The unfortunate part about this is that, while Obama may someday prove to be worhty of the honor, thus far he has done nothing to deserve it. When the award is given in other catagories, it is for a specific accomplishment that deserves recognition for it’s innovation and especially because it will bring about some kind of improvement in the living conditions of the people of the world. Mr.Obama has offered a great deal of encouraging rhetoric but has produced no results toward achieving any sort of peace for anyone. The prize simply has no credibility any longer. Apologies to Mr.Nobel – he would be devastated by the death of his dream.
To answer Liam’s Question
Let’s consider who the Nobel Committee considered less worthy than Barack Hussein Obama to receive to Nobel Peace Prize:
Ø Chinese Human Rights Activist Hu Jia – imprisoned for campaigning for human rights in the PRC, not as worthy as Barack Hussein Obama.
Ø Wei Jingsheng, who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China’s communist system, – not as worthy as Barack Hussein Obama. (Not to mention the symbolic value of awarding a Chinese dissident on the 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.)
Ø Greg Mortenson, founder of the Central Asia Institute has built nearly 80 schools, especially for girls, in remote areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past 15 years – not as worthy as Barack Hussein Obama.
Ø Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, a philosophy professor in Jordan who risks his life by advocating interfaith dialogue between Jews and Muslims, also not as worthy as Barack Hussein Obama.
Ø Afghan human rights activist Sima Samar. She currently leads the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and serves as the U.N. special envoy to Darfur and is apparently also not as worthy as Barack Hussein Obama.
I am a republican. I do not strictly vote by party. I vote for the person I feel will most represent what I want for my country as an American. O’bama is my president and therefore I shall support him, but I truly think that people should be informed about everything. I personally feel there ar at least 2 people on the list I posted that are more deserving than our President to receive the NPP. Even if it were my mother in office right now and based on the current accomplishements – I don’t feel the award should have gone to O’Bama. It is too soon ans he needs and opportunity and the time to show us what he can do.