When President Barack Obama accepts his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo two months from now, he ought to give a shout-out to all the right-wingers who damn near choked on their own rabid foam upon learning that he won the coveted medal.

He couldn’t have done it without them.

Obama couldn’t have won the Nobel without the Rush Limbaughs and the Sean Hannitys and the Bill Kristols. It was them who kept up the constant drumbeat for former President George W. Bush’s war with Iraq - a war of choice that has cost billions of dollars, tens of thousands of lives and has handed shaky regimes like Iran and North Korea an excuse to enhance, rather than scale back, their nuclear capabilities.

He ought to thank former Vice President Dick Cheney, who egged Bush on in using the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 to exploit American fears – and to build American hegemony.

He ought to thank the Michelle Malkins and the Ann Coulters, shrill commentators who turned hatred and fear of Muslims and Middle Easterners into a cottage industry by arguing for them being dragged off to internment camps, their countries being bombed and their citizens being converted to Christianity.

And Obama also should thank the hawkish Republican lawmakers who, apparently confused over the fact that boycotts are to promote justice rather than foment revenge, urged boycotts of all things French after that country wisely decided not to join the United States in attacking a country that didn’t attack it.

For the past eight years, they’ve contributed to wrecking the United States’ standing in the world.

During that time, they’ve helped foment an atmosphere and a fear-filled way of governing that has reduced this country from being seen as a benevolent superpower to a Goliath rogue state; to a nation that no longer seeks to build respect with other nations, but to force them to adhere to whatever its best interest might be at the time.

In encouraging and pursuing such a narrow course, these wing-nuts sowed the seeds for Obama to not only be elected president, but to win a Nobel Peace Prize for working to straighten out their mess.

And they’re shocked? Please.

Of course, it’s easy to see why people are questioning why Obama was selected for the award after less than a year in office. The war in Iraq is still raging, as is the war in Afghanistan.

The problem is most of those who have been mouthing off about how undeserving Obama is haven’t bothered to do their homework about the history of the prize or about its intent.

If they had, they’d understand that the Nobel Prize doesn’t have to necessarily be awarded for results, but for concrete efforts toward carrying out the goals of fomenting peace and to encourage the continuation of those efforts.

Twenty-seven such awards have been given in the past, so the commentators who are basing their objections to Obama receiving the prize because his efforts have yet to yield results have a shallow understanding of what the prize represents.

And when it comes to effort, it’s painstakingly clear that in the nine months that Obama has been president, the world’s leading superpower has been gradually recouping its place in the world community.

Among other things, he’s been working to tear down the unilateral approach that Bush and other neo-cons championed to pursue, strategies that have - at least so far - reduced tensions around the globe. Even before Obama became president, he attracted record crowds in Europe and spoke about how he envisioned the United States’ place in the world.

Obama has scaled back Bush’s proposal for an anti-missile shield in Europe, something that .....

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I am so tired of People saying how President Obama should react and what he should do. he is a grown in telligent man who deserves all of the accolades and that come his way. Not one of you mumbled a word when his predecessor wrecked havoc. So, shut the hell up now!

by   
Brightwood1
October 15, 2009, 1:07 pm
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We need to understand that this is not about black and white but it is about ideas. The Nobel committee awarded the honor based on ideas. The right can't stand Obama based upon ideas. They are threatened by the different ideas. It is just like school kids. When a new kid moves in town and the other kids began to like him the popular group tries to get him to join. When he does not they turn on him. Alas, I do agree with Itsinhim2, there are a lot of mor important things that need to be pointed out, lets stop giving space and time to the Obama critics.

by   
Meosity
October 15, 2009, 12:22 pm
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Wow, another article CRITICAL of Obama CRITICS! That's never been done on Blackamerica web. If I were an investor in this site, I'd consider pulling. Folk should look to BAW and other means of intelligent thought for answers to some of the many problems facing our people. Is it possible for any columnist on this site to share their expertise on why OUR kids are killing each other for no good reason; why so many of our men have failed in their roles as husbands and fathers; why OUR schools are struggling; why OUR seniors are afraid in OUR own communities, etc.??

by   
Itsinhim2
October 15, 2009, 9:34 am
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Pollypocket, why should he have rejected the award? He's not the only standing president who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. They didn't turn it down b/c they were standing Pres of the US so why should he?

by   
Hartrob1
October 15, 2009, 9:19 am
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That's right,the dookie (crazy Repugs and their constituents)in the toilet(politics),was FLUSHED by MR.CLEAN, (who else,but the prez??)and he HUMBLY received the MUCH DESERVED Nobel-----now all u haters have SOMETHING to think about,when u SQAUT today!!!!! heeheeheehee!!!!
Good mo'ning BAWSERS,and it IS a GOOD ONE AT THAT!!!

by   
Rubinisk
October 15, 2009, 8:07 am
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OB1 should have immediately turned the award down by saying, "I am humbled by this award, but as standing Pres of the US (until 2012) I cannot accept it at this time." But being true to his character and ego, there was no way he was going to turn it or the $1.5 M cash that came with it.

by   
Pollypocket
October 15, 2009, 7:53 am
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Do ya think obama would be president if it hadn't been for the catastrophic mistakes of the 2000-2008 republican party and all of it's drone constituency?

by   
Dkg316
October 15, 2009, 7:30 am
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right-wing critics and clowns helped the nobel peace committee to give the award to president obama because ever since he has been in office, they used every racial names towards him and minorities in this country. when they displayed their actions after olympics was rejected, nobel committee gave the award to him. oh well right-wing critics doesn't know when to stop their hatred towards a black man whose smarter than them.

by   
Quita32
October 15, 2009, 6:06 am
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