GOP mocks Obama's peace prize, Russians praise it
WASHINGTON -- While Russia's president congratulated President Barack Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Republicans see the award as so outrageous that they're using it to raise campaign money.
Obama won the prize "for awesomeness," says the mocking GOP fundraising letter. Obama's honor shows "how meaningless a once honorable and respected award has become," says the letter, signed by Michael S. Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a different view. He said the award will encourage further U.S.-Russian cooperation.
"I hope this decision would serve as an additional incentive for our common work to form a new climate in world politics and promote initiatives which are fundamentally important for global security," Medvedev said in a letter to Obama.
Steele said Obama hasn't accomplished enough to deserve the prize. Numerous Democrats and independents have expressed similar views, although generally in less bombastic terms.
Asking for contributions to the RNC of $25 to $1,000, Steele wrote that "the Democrats and their international leftist allies want America made subservient to the agenda of global redistribution and control. And truly patriotic Americans like you and our Republican Party are the only thing standing in their way."
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro called the Nobel award a "positive step," although he said it was more a repudiation of former President George W. Bush than a recognition of anything concrete Obama has done.
South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, cited a Zulu term -- "Ubuntu," which refers to the importance of community" -- in saying Obama's "leadership reflects the true spirit of Ubuntu because your approach celebrates our common humanity."
This is a great post. I quoted Steele only because it really reflects what I keep hearing from right wing nuts like rush, only more civil of course. Really interesting hearing from Russian, South Africa and Castro.
October 11, 2009 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is the arrogance of American Exceptionalism that underscores the most vituperative responses to Obama's award from the various GOP asshats. In their world, receiving encouraging congratulations from leaders of other countries is perceived to be a sign of weakness.
"We are, after all, the bullies on the block who are to be feared and who will not be denied our New American Century." they say. "All this 'nice talk' only gets in the way of our efforts to secure peace through war and intimidation, fer chrissakes. Get outta' the way and let the real men take charge!"
Where this really gets scary is to consider that they would promote the policy initiatives of Feith, Kristol, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc., as the "real deal" that remains capable of reordering the world to our liking through the latest effort to achieve "Peace Through Strength." These are, after all, the foul droppings of the "chickenhawk patriots" who can't now even muster enough courage amongst themselves to apologize for all the murder and mayhem they have already caused in getting it so wrong in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"Just turn us loose on Iran!" they demand. "We'll show you how it's done right THIS time, by Gawd!"
The Bush/neo-con game is over. It's proponents should be banned from all discussions of foreign policy on the basis of their total lack of credibility that springs from such disastrous results in nearly everything they've touched. Yet, they apparently remain the very best the GOP has to offer.
To Mr. Steele, I say that I understand that you've gotta' have something upon which to frame a fundraising letter. The fact that this is it for you says a whole lot more about the intellectual bankruptcy of the GOP in the arena of foreign affairs than anything you might pretend it offers as a critique of Obama and the real world that lays beyond your comprehension and your reach.
October 11, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes I think you have access to the thoughts in my head and the beliefs in my heart, SJ, and then write them better than I can.
The NPP committee did not explicitly state that Obama is the only President in recent memory that has not promoted the US as the only capable leader of the world and the "guardian" of its peace, aka American Exceptionalism. When he is talking to other countries, he speaks of the imperative that the US should be a partner with nations that are seeking to promote freedom, better lives and peace through diplomacy. All of which, of course, is everything the neo-cons hate.
October 11, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, seashell.
If we understood absolutely nothing else about foreign affairs and the policies required to negotiate our way in the world safely and effectively, we could nevertheless do pretty well by simply agreeing to go in the opposite direction that the neo-cons would direct. Their failures have been THAT profound, and it absolutely stuns me every time I look at the TV box and see that smug Kristol or any of the others (Bennett this morning on ABC) looking back at me, selling more one-dimensional, tough-guy-whoop-ass snake oil.
October 11, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink