President Barack Obama was "surprised and deeply humbled" by the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award him the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Obama said he viewed the recognition as more of a "call to action."
Obama had not been mentioned as a front-runner for the prize. A room full of journalists gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, announced that the president was the winner.
Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.
Jagland said the decision was "unanimous" and came with ease.
It was just before 6am when the president learned he won the award. The announcement by the committee caught the White House off guard.
President Barack Obama visited CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman last night. He became the first sitting president to visit the late-night talk show. Obama remarked on the issue of race, which was initially brought into the picture by former President Jimmy Carter.
Barack Obama: "First of all, I think it's important to remember that I was actually Black before the election."
David Letterman: "Really!
Barack Obama: "It's true."
David Letterman: "How long have you been a Black man?"
The witty back-and-forth was set off by Letterman asking whether Obama felt some of the more vitriolic reactions to his health care reform had been racially motivated.
Former President Jimmy Carter said that the recently rebuked Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Barack Obama's joint address to Congress was "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a Black president.
Jimmy Carter: "I think it's based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president. Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care. It's deeper than that."
The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to rebuke Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "You lie" at President Barack Obama during last week's joint address to Congress.
The rare resolution of disapproval against Wilson was pushed through the House by Democrats insisting that the Republican South Carolinian had violated the basic rules of decorum and civility with his outburst. Republicans said the vote was just a political "witch hunt" and a waste of time and taxpayers' money.
The final vote tally was 240-179. It was 233 Democrats and seven Republicans voting to rebuke Wilson, while 167 Republicans and 12 Democrats opposed the measure and five Democrats merely voted "present."
During the section of President Barack Obama's address to Congress on health care reform that refuted several of the conservative fringe's scare tactics, South Carolina Republican congressman Joe Wilson yelled, "You lie!"
The heckling occurred after President Obama said that the health care reform would not include coverage for illegal immigrants. FactCheck.org has already debunked conservative's claims that health care reform would include coverage for illegal immigrants.
Earlier today, Wilson apologized for the outburst. President Obama has accepted the apology.
Senator Ted Kennedy passed away shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts after battling brain cancer. He was 77.
Kennedy was diagnosed in May 2008 with a malignant brain tumor.
Here is a statement from the Kennedy family:
Edward M. Kennedy - the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply - died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port. We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all. He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it's hard to imagine any of them without him.
President Barack Obama issued the following statement:
Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.
For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.
I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.
An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.
And the Kennedy family has lost their patriarch, a tower of strength and support through good times and bad.
Our hearts and prayers go out to them today--to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family.
Here is Kennedy's speech from the 2008 Democratic National Convention, where he was introduced by niece Caroline Kennedy:
Ted Kennedy: "This is the cause of my life. It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver--to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, 'that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American...will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege.' For four decades I have carried this cause--from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country. It has never been merely a question of policy; it goes to the heart of my belief in a just society. Now the issue has more meaning for me--and more urgency--than ever before. But it's always been deeply personal, because the importance of health care has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years."
Rep. Barney Frank received a question at a town hall meeting in Dartmouth, MA Tuesday night from a woman holding up a sign that showed President Barack Obama altered to look like Adolph Hitler.
She asked: "My question to you is, why do you continue to support a Nazi policy?"
Frank's terse response was met with applause by the rest of those in attendance. He did what other congressmen and women have failed to do. He failed to acknowledge the lunatic fringe on the right that craves derailment of health care reform.
Barney Frank: "On what planet do you spend most of your time? ... You stand there with a picture of the president defaced to look like Hitler and compare the effort to increase health care to the Nazis. ... Trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table. I have no interest in doing it."
"Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty. But she is so interesting looking and so bright. That will always take you farther. When you're a great beauty, it's always downhill for you. If you're someone like Mrs. Obama, you just get better with age."
Michelle Obama made her first appearance on Sesame Street last week to promote physical exercise and healthy eating among children ...
She stopped by the Street on Tuesday to film a PSA alongside Elmo as part of the Sesame Workshop's Healthy Habits for Life initiative ... In the PSA she also encourages adults to stay healthy in order to be a positive role model for their children ...
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha welcomed a six-month-old Portuguese Water Dog to the White House over the weekend ...
Sasha and Malia named the dog Bo ... Michelle's father was nicknamed "Diddley" (as in musician Bo Diddley) ...
The hypoallergenic presidential pooch was a gift from Massachusetts Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy ...
Bo will have his official unveiling on Tuesday ...
President Barack Obama's Address to Congress was viewed by 52.4 million viewers last night on 10 broadcast and cable networks ...
The audience scored a higher rating than the 49.5 million that viewed Obama's February 9 primetime press conference and former President George W. Bush's 2001 address ...
Obama's address didn't beat former President Bill Clinton's 1993 address ... The 66.9 million that tuned in set the record for any State of the Union (or State of the Union-ish) address ...
Earlier this week Vice President Joe Biden swore in Eric Holder as the nation's first African-American Attorney General ...
The 58-year-old former prosecutor pledged to restore the department's reputation ...
Eric Holder: "This is a place that has I think been hurting, but I think it's ready to heal. I am determined to ensure that this shall be a new day for the dedicated career professionals that I am so honored to call my colleagues. [I am committed to remaking the department] into what it once was and what is always should be."
Recent Comments