PDA

View Full Version : Unlikely support: GOP loved Obama's Nobel speech




bobbyw24
12-11-2009, 04:53 AM
By Margaret Talev | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — By using his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech Thursday to justify expanding the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama won over some Republican critics at home, even as he preached messages of multilateralism, diplomacy and civil disobedience that resonate in anti-war circles around the world.

In a 36-minute speech in Oslo, Obama defended last week's announcement that he'll send 30,000 to 35,000 more troops to Afghanistan. He discouraged other nations' "reflexive suspicion of America," recalling how Europe survived thanks to U.S. intervention in World War II. He spoke of "just war."

The president even invoked one of the favorite qualifiers of his predecessor, George W. Bush, whose legacy he campaigned against last year. Obama said, "Evil does exist in the world."

Obama called on other nations to step up their commitments to U.N. peacekeeping efforts, nuclear disarmament and imposing serious sanctions on regimes that pose a threat to world stability.

"It is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system," he said. "Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war."

In Norway, some protesters implored the president to go earn his prize, while back in the U.S., civil libertarians said that Obama still hadn't matched his campaign rhetoric on human rights or moved away sufficiently from Bush-era policies on issues such as state secrets.

However, Newt Gingrich, the Republican former speaker of the House of Representatives and an ever-possible presidential candidate, said on WNYC radio that Obama's speech was "actually very good."

Gingrich said "having a liberal president who goes to Oslo on behalf of a peace prize and reminds the committee that they would not be free, they wouldn't be able to have a peace prize, without having force. ... I thought in some ways it's a very historic speech."

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, offered similar praise through his spokeswoman Antonia Ferrier: "As President Reagan said, Republicans believe in peace through strength, and we were pleased that today President Obama addressed and defended our mission in Afghanistan, where success is the only option."

http://media.mcclatchydc.com/smedia/2009/12/10/17/20091207_OBAMA_NOBEL.small.prod_affiliate.91.jpg




http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/80392.html

Mini-Me
12-11-2009, 04:55 AM
Good...hopefully this will remind the public about what the neocons stand for, and rather than hoodwink them again, maybe it will open their eyes to the fact that we need some real change.

Austrian Econ Disciple
12-11-2009, 05:01 AM
Gee, whiz. I believe in peace through commerce. What a silly idea!

Mini-Me
12-11-2009, 05:07 AM
Gee, whiz. I believe in peace through commerce. What a silly idea!

How quaint and outdated...kooky even.

angelatc
12-11-2009, 05:57 AM
In a 36-minute speech in Oslo, Obama defended last week's announcement that he'll send 30,000 to 35,000 more troops to Afghanistan. He discouraged other nations' "reflexive suspicion of America," recalling how Europe survived thanks to U.S. intervention in World War II. He spoke of "just war."

Redefining just war - apparently now it means any war we choose to support. But for the GOP? Hey, what's not to like?

Danke
12-11-2009, 06:01 AM
The latest in Nobel Laureate-speak:

“Yeswecanistan”


Norwegian for “Vietnam”

Aratus
12-11-2009, 09:42 AM
woodrow wilson, yes! we in high horse mode be on a crusade!!!
danke --- yup! we are ahh makin' the world safe for democray...

Bruno
12-11-2009, 09:45 AM
Anyone know of any recent statements from RP regarding the unconstitionality of him accepting the prize(s)?

And what is the reference to 18-carat "green gold" in the medal supposed to mean??

bobbyw24
12-11-2009, 11:03 AM
Anyone know of any recent statements from RP regarding the unconstitionality of him accepting the prize(s)?

And what is the reference to 18-carat "green gold" in the medal supposed to mean??

Answer might be in here

YouTube - Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbcDk-bNoc8&feature=player_embedded)

Bruno
12-11-2009, 11:11 AM
Answer might be in here

YouTube - Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbcDk-bNoc8&feature=player_embedded)

Thanks, Bobby. I remember that. I wonder if there has been anything more recent. Does Obama get to keep the medal? I know he had mentioned, though it seems to be omittted as of late, that he will donate the prize to charity.