Obama Peace Prize Quotes:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee: "For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that 'Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.' "
President Obama: “To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize -- men and women who have inspired me, and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace," Mr. Obama said. "Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations," Mr. Obama said,.
SHOWING SUPPORT:
World Leaders:
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the peace prize as "great news". "President Obama embodies the new spirit of dialogue and engagement on the world's biggest problems: climate change, nuclear disarmament and a wide range of peace and security challenges,"
South Africa's Desmond Tutu. "It is an award that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all," Tutu said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote to Obama expressing his 'very great joy' on learning his US counterpart getting the Nobel Peace Prize. Sarkozy said the Nobel honor is a tribute to Mr. Obama's commitment to "tolerance and dialogue between states, cultures and civilizations." The French leader said the choice of Mr. Obama confirms the "return of America into the hearts of the people of the world."
Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama as saying that he was "really pleased" at Obama's win and wanted to congratulate him "from the heart."
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter described the Obama selection as "a bold statement of international support for his vision and commitment to peace and harmony in international relations".
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was "very happy" for Obama and believes "such a prize augments his capacity and reputation around the world, and that will help us accomplish things for all of humanity."
Arab League chief Amr Mussa said he is “very happy” Obama has won the award, which comes less than a
year after he took office and with the jury hailing his “extraordinary” diplomatic efforts on the international stage. “This is an expression that the world is convinced of what (Obama) talked about in his speeches,” Mussa said. “We hope this prize will help intensify efforts to reach peace in the Middle East and contain negative efforts opposed to peace,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres were among leaders who offered their congratulations. “This award also expresses the hope that your presidency will usher in a new era of peace and reconciliation,” said Netanyahu.
Kuwait’s Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, praised Obama for “his extraordinary efforts in the service of international diplomacy and of cooperation among peoples.”
Former Vice President Al Gore, who won two years ago, said Obama's prize was "extremely well deserved." "I think that much of what he has accomplished already is going to be far more appreciated in the eyes of history, as it has been by the Nobel committee," Gore said.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who chairs the Democratic National Committee, called the award "an affirmation of the fact that the United States has returned to its long-standing role as a world leader."
OPPOSED:
“We believe he has been rewarded or judged based on good intentions toward peace but not on his achievement,” said Ahmed Yousef, Deputy Foreign Defense Minister of Hamas.
“He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan,” wrote Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. “…We condemn the institute’s awarding him the peace prize. We condemn this year’s peace prize as unjust.”
Erick Erickson, writing on the conservative
RedState.com, suggested Obama won in part because he is black. "I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota for it, but that is the only thing I can think of for this news," Erickson wrote. "There is no way Barack Obama earned it in the nominations period."
Rush Limbaugh: “I think that everybody is laughing. Our president is a worldwide joke. Folks, do you realize something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about and that is he doesn't deserve the award. Now that's hilarious, that I'm on the same side of something with the Taliban, and that we all are on the same side as the Taliban.”
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[/FONT] Fox News Correspondent Wendell Goler: “If you want to look at it this way, the RNC and the Taliban are basically on the same page. It’s an unusual situation…,” he said
