After Initial Flurry, GOP Mutes Criticism of Nobel

Michael Steele and Rush Limbaugh quickly heaped scorn on President Obama's Nobel win yesterday morning, but criticism from the rest of the GOP has been notably lacking since. Nothing from Palin, Newt, Romney, et al., perhaps taking Mike Huckabee's advice to heart about "right-wing whining" on the subject. Tim Pawlenty even offered congratulations, and John McCain said Americans should be "proud." Politico sees it as a "rare occasion" in which the party's leaders agreed the best response was "none at all."

"Being awarded the Nobel Prize with such a thin resume is embarrassing for the president and creates enough problems for the White House that Republicans don't need to pile on and end up sounding angry in the process," says a senior GOP aide. "There should be one comment only, and that is, 'Congrats.' (More President Obama stories.)