Conservatives Mock President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

Oct. 9, 2009 — -- It's not often that receiving the Nobel Peace Prize makes the winner the butt of jokes and the target of bitter criticism.

President Obama didn't even get to say "thank you" before his opponents began using the award to attack him.

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh called the committee's decision a "bigger embarrassment than losing the Olympic bid," and quipped, "He's being judged on wishful thinking."

Obama hasn't done "diddly-squat," said Limbaugh, saying that the president gets prizes for giving speeches "trashing his own country" while former President George W. Bush received nothing but "derision" for his work.

"This fully exposes the illusion that is Barack Obama," said Limbaugh. "[The committee] love a weakened, neutered U.S. and this is their way of promoting that concept. It's a slam-dunk."

Limbaugh then ran a reel of spoof voice messages by other politicians to Obama, including one that was pretending to be Bush asking Laura what the president actually did to deserve the award.

"Our president has become a laughing stock," said Limbaugh. "Everyone is laughing at him."

The Republican National Committee also offered criticism – not congratulations – to Obama.

"The real question Americans are asking is, 'What has President Obama actually accomplished?" RNC Chairman Michael Steele said in a written statement. "It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights."

"One thing is certain – President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action," write Steele.

Obama Pummeled Instead of Congratulated Over Nobel Prize

In an interview with CNN's John King for Sunday's episode of "State of the Union," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he too was "surprised" about the award.

"I'm sure that the president is very honored to receive this award," said McCain. "And the Nobel Committee, I can't divine all their intentions, but I think part of their decision-making was expectations."

"And I'm sure the president understands that he now has even more to live up to," said McCain.

McCain should have gotten the award instead, declared Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard. "It would have been better to give it to Sen. John McCain for having the guts to push through the surge in Iraq, which has brought relative peace to that country," Kristol wrote.

Political commenter Craig Shirley told Politico that he thought the prize being given to Obama was "utterly ridiculous."

"Reagan won the Cold War, freed millions, yet was never awarded the Nobel," said Shirley.

Conservative syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin joked on her blog that she wasn't sure she was awake when she heard the news this morning. Instead of laughing, Malkin took a personal shot at the president.

"If Obama had an ounce of real humility, he'd refuse to accept the award," wrote Malkin.

Mark Krikorian, a contributor to the conservative National Review, dubbed Obama's award "not only premature, but embarrassing."

Political commenter Alan Dershowitz told ABCNews.com that he doesn't believe the Noble Peace Prize holds much clout anymore.

"I think this is a prize that is overvalued," said Dershowitz. "The Nobel Peace Prize committee has years ago lost its credibility by selecting such people as Yasser Arafat and President Jimmy Carter."

"I don't think it's such a great honor these days to get the prize," he said.