Ezra Klein praises Obama, but says he didn't deserve prize

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I am no longer reading progressive columnist Ezra Klein, who called the award "a bit ridiculous."

I had a good time making fun of Barack Obama's Nobel prize this morning. It is undeserved. It is a bit ridiculous. But it's a laugh in the way that finding a $900 antique chair in the attic is a laugh, or getting paid $120,000 to be a celebrity dog walker is a laugh. It's an absurdity worth celebrating. It's an absurdity that can help you.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/10/obamas_nobel_prize.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

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6. If I were very busy praising Obama, you would not have brought up my low number of posts

Agree?

As if a new DU'er must adhere to a certain degree of "busy"ness.

You are not upset that I'm "very busy." You are upset because of what I say, which is the opposite of what you think.

[ProSense]

8. Oh, there is no degree.

This is simply an observation, as most new DUers, even those who have lurked for years, seem to take a little more time getting used to posting, starting threads and making announcements about who they will no longer read (which is certainly important for the rest of us to know).

[Autumn]

9. This is a link to the DU

rules.http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html. You have probably been lurking a while but I find them very handy. Welcome to DU.:hi:

[masuki bance]

2. He's a racist teabagger.

ɯsɐɔɹɐs/

[ProSense]

4. No he isn't, but he sure has missed the past eight months

The Nobel Committee said, in essence, thank you for proving us wrong. The prize was about what Obama meant to other countries, or at least to the Nobel Committee. Not what he currently means to America.

America has already gotten used to Obama. It's common to talk about the "overexposure" of the first African American president in history. It's ordinary to see him hedging on important political priorities, and failing to please his most ardent supporters. It's normal to see him called communist by his enemies and spineless by his friends. America, to its credit, has adjusted to its first black president with ease and swiftness.

[MarjorieG]

3. Media likes to deconstruct, hold politicians/leaders as people they can bring up or down, esp. when

they've met them. Kinda like familiarity brings contempt, or with media, a sense of superiority, license or laziness.

After reading Juan Cole, others describing the intent and history of the awards, I'd say yes, unexpected and deserved, if timing not perfect. I don't know how the humility, listening posture of Obama's will be affected/perceived. He said all the right things yesterday.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Historians > pundits...

Even good pundits like Klein.

[ananda]

7. I'm OK with a person questioning Obama's award..

.. as long as it doesn't come from that special brand
of rightwing hate, but rather from a place of thought
and concern.

I have reservations about Obama as well. I'm glad
that he is so esteemed on the world stage, and I'm proud
that he won because that is a measure of all of us..
but I can see the problems with it as well. We are not
a country at peace yet.. we have troops in other countries
and our actions are rather oppressive.

But we are making progress, and there is always hope...

[rustydog]

10. It matters only what the Nobel Committee thought huh?

Screw everyone else...Their voice is not a vote and it is not of enough significant import to mean anything.To anyone but themselves and their mommie.Boo Hoo!

[and-justice-for-all]

11. Based on why he was given the prize, he does deserve it..nt