President Obama “Surprised, Humbled” by Nobel Peace Prize; Will Donate Cash Prize

***Update Friday, October 9, 5:56 p.m.***

President Obama has issued the following statement:

“This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I’d been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize—men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I’ve said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won’t all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it’s recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award—and the call to action that comes with it—does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we’ve begun together. I’m grateful that you’ve stood with me thus far, and I’m honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.“

***Update Friday, October 9, 2:23 p.m.***

President Barack Obama will donate the $1.4 million cash award that comes with the Nobel Peace Prize to
charity.  White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says it’s likely that more than one charity will share the windfall. Gibbs says the president has yet to decide which charities will
benefit from the award, announced early Friday morning.

***Update Friday, October 9 11:46 a.m.***

WASHINGTON (AP) - A beaming President Barack Obama says he’s honored to win the Nobel Peace Prize, but says he isn’t sure he’s done enough to earn it.

Appearing in the Rose Garden Friday, Obama acknowledged he was “both surprised and deeply humbled” to win the award.

He said he does not “view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments,“ but rather as a recognition of goals he has set for the United States and the world.

Obama said, “I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize.“

***Update Friday, October 9 11:08 a.m.***

OSLO (AP) - President Barack Obama is the surprise winner on the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

Obama’s name had been mentioned as a possible recipient, but many Nobel watchers believed it was too soon into his presidency.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee saw it differently, saying “Obama is now the world’s leading spokesman” for the kind of international diplomacy it has sought to stimulate.

It cited Obama’s initiatives to rid the world of nuclear weapons, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation over unilateralism.

It also praised the “more constructive role” the U.S. is playing on climate change under Obama’s leadership.

According to the committee “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.“

It goes on to say “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.“

The committee says it attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Gibbs wakes up Obama with news of Nobel

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House says President Barack Obama was woken up a little before 6 a.m. with the news that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee says it decided not to inform him earlier because waking up a president in the middle of the night “isn’t really something you do.“

Press secretary Robert Gibbs learned from reporters that Obama had won the 2009 prize, and telephoned the White House early Friday to pass along the news to his boss.

The president plans to talk about his award at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Rose Garden.

The White House had no immediate comment on the announcement, which took the young administration by surprise.

Obama’s presidency began less than two weeks before the Nobel nomination deadline.

GOP chairman scoffs at Obama winning Peace prize

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Republican Party is contending that President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize as result of his “star power” rather than meaningful accomplishments.

Michael Steele issued a statement Friday saying, “The real question Americans are asking is, What has President Obama actually accomplished?“

Steele, who took over the reins of the party earlier this year, said he thought it was “unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights.“

He said he doesn’t think Obama will be “receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric.

Obama’s peace prize draws mixed reviews from Afghanistan, Pakistan

LONDON (AP) - President Barack Obama is being called a worthy recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize by many around the world.

But in Afghanistan, where he’s overseeing a war against Islamic extremists, reaction is mixed.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is praising the Nobel committee’s decision. A spokesman says Karzai hopes the peace prize “will ultimately lead to peace and stability in Afghanistan” and the region.

But at least one resident of Kabul disagrees. He says the award is “not right,“ because “a lot” of Afghan civilians have been killed by U.S. air strikes while Obama has been commander in chief.

Others in the capital complain that they’ve seen no change in U.S. policy since Obama took over.

In neighboring Pakistan, a radical Islamic leader says the best he can hope for is that Obama will “try to prove through his actions that he deserved this honor.“

Gore calls Obama’s Nobel Prize win well deserved

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former vice president and Nobel Laureate Al Gore is calling President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize win extremely well deserved and an honor for the country.

Gore shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on global warming.

He said Friday that what Obama has accomplished already is going to be far more appreciated in the eyes of history.

Gore specifically cited Obama’s United Nations speech on abolishing nuclear weapons, his shifting of the missile defense program in Eastern Europe and Russia joining with the United States and other countries to confront Iran on nuclear nonproliferation.

Gore delivered his remarks Friday at the Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Madison, Wis.