Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee took to his blog to warn against "conservative whining" about President Barack Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But Huckabee closed with "leave it to liberals to explain what he's done to earn the peace prize." I will take Governor Huckabee up on his challenge.
Last year, the President won election. He did this despite his vanquished 2004 Senate opponent claiming he was actually born in Kenya. He did this despite grassroots conservatives falsely alleging that he was a Muslim and Arab. And he did this despite the fact that the Republican Party's nominee for Vice President had a favorite line that read, "he pals around with terrorists."
The President overcame negative stereotypes that underline, and undermine, American politics. The President defeated negativism, fear and anger with an outstretched hand and a smile on his face. The President convinced millions of Americans that they could change their government--and their country--for the better. The President inspired hundreds of thousands of Americans--especially young minorities--to dream big. And the President, through his victory on November 4th, 2008, finally ratified the founding words of this Republic, written 232 years before:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
This was a momentous occasion for our country. Through the fog of the anger and fear of the endless attacks by the radical right that has marked the first year of President Obama's term, it's easy to forget just how big of a deal it was for our country--a country which wrote slavery into the original draft of its constitution--to elect an African American to the White House.
And it's also easy to not think about how the election of Barack Obama affected the world. Today, a child in the lowest caste of Indian society can dream of becoming Prime Minister because Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. Today, members of the opposition in hardline countries can dream of changing their government through a peaceful, democratic process because Barack Obama overcame enormous odds and won the Presidency of the United States. Today, immigrants in Europe can leave the rioting behind and dream of one day being treated as equals because Barack Obama--the son of an immigrant--went on to be elected to the highest office in the world.
It is true that Barack Obama's presidency is still young. While the President has gotten off to a good start and kept many of his promises, there is no doubt that there is work to do. But there is also no doubt that the world is a better, more peaceful place because Barack Obama took enormous personal risks to be elected President of the United States.
Barack Obama's personal sacrifices are inspiring millions of people throughout the world to live better, more peaceful, and more productive lives. That is what the Nobel Peace Prize is for. Yes, the President earned the prize.