If you were surprised to wake up this morning to learn President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, you were hardly alone. The Washington Post notes the announcement "drew gasps from the audience in Oslo -- in part because Obama assumed office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 deadline for nominations."
The president will give his own reaction in a Rose Garden statement at 11 am. Here's a round up of what others are saying:
David Axelrod: "It's an honor. It's nothing that anyone expected, certainly nothing the
president sought. I think that he's less interested in individual
honors -- and this certainly is one -- than in advancing the causes
that were cited by the Nobel committee."
First Read: "For the president's supporters, this award serves as a reminder that the world is watching and the president's election was something that could have a global impact. What will be interesting to watch is how the president's detractors will use today's news. Last week, some critics seemed to relish the president's inability to go on to the world's stage and lobby on behalf of the America for the Olympics. What do those critics say now?"
John Dickerson: "It came
a week late, but President Obama did win the gold. Last Friday the
International Olympic Committee stiffed him. Today he won the Nobel
Peace Prize. He should probably leave his schedule open next Friday,
because apparently anything can happen."
Josh Marshall: "It's not the accustomed stance of a writer or blogger. But this one does have me at something of a loss for words."
Chris Cillizza:
What winning the Nobel Prize will allow Obama to now do is go to his
divided Democratic caucus and make the case far more forcefully that
the time is now to stay united behind him on Afghanistan. It isn't a
silver bullet solution as many liberal Members have strongly held
beliefs on the issue that aren't likely to change simply because Obama
is a Nobel Prize winner but for many who are on the fence, the prize
may be just the thing that pushes them onto Obama's side."
Mark Halperin: "The stunning decision to award him the Nobel Peace prize for,
basically, his rhetoric, will almost certainly infuriate his detractors
in America more than it will delight his supporters."
Matt Cooper: "After everything Clinton did to promote peace in Ireland, the Balkans
and especially the Middle East. After his global initiative to save
lives, can he not be kicking himself this morning? Obama wins less than
a year into his presidency with no major peace agreement under his belt
but just gauzy applause for contributing to global good will."
Michael Tomasky: "The whole business is weird. But there is one lovely, delicious,
delectable thing about it: it will drive the American right wing up the
wall."
Andrew Sullivan: "If any person has done more to advance some measure of calm, reason and
peace in this troubled word lately, it's president Obama. I think the
Cairo speech and the Wright speech alone merited this both bridging
ancient rifts even while they remain, of course, deep and intractable.
He has already done more to heal the open wound between the West and
Islam than anyone else on the planet."
