Obama: I'm 'Surprised and Deeply Humbled' by Nobel

President will accept the honor as a 'call to action'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 9, 2009 10:42 AM CDT

A beaming President Obama says he's honored to win the Nobel Peace Prize but isn't sure he's done enough to earn it. Appearing in the Rose Garden today, 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 US and the world. The White House said later he will donate the $1.4 million that comes along with the prize to charity.
 

"I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize," said Obama, adding that he will accept it as a "call to action." He noted that it "was not how I expected to wake up this morning." After he learned the news, daughter Malia entered the room to declare: "Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize—and it is (first dog) Bo's birthday." It's nice, said Obama, "to have kids to keep things in perspective."
(More Nobel Peace Prize stories.)

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