Obama Hit with Criticism for Nobel Peace Prize Win

What everyone seems to be missing is the fact that Barack Obama didn't campaign to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He didn't apply for the award, nor did he ask for it. The award is given out each year, based on highly subjective criteria, by a group that is influenced by politics and popularity. The true motives and the true meaning behind the award are certainly open to debate.

On one level, it almost seems like a publicity stunt by those that award the Nobel Prizes. It's like making a list of the best actors of the last 50 years, then making Keanu Reeves number 1 on your list. It stirs up controversy, gets people talking.

For his part, Obama seems to be handling the situation about as well as could be expected. He's openly admitted shock and acknowledged that he didn't deserve the award. He's using the award as a call to action - or at least that's what he's saying. Given that there is no logical way to justify the award going to a man who, at the time of the decision, had really not even implemented any of his own policy agenda - Obama is really left in a difficult position.

The irony is that by winning the Nobel Peace Prize prematurely, Obama is now going to garner even more heated resentment and resistance than he would have otherwise. And the road wasn't going to be easy before. Now, it just gets that much tougher. In addition to having to navigate the difficult waters of Washington DC and a world in turmoil, Obama is now going to get "blamed" for winning the Nobel Peace Prize when he didn't really deserve it.