The Republican National Committee sent out a fundraising letter Saturday saying President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for "awesomeness."

The letter was signed by RNC Chairman Michael Steele, the New York Daily News reported. It asked for contributions of $25 to $1,000.

In addition to suggesting Obama had little real achievement and thus got the prize "for awesomeness," Steele said the decision by a committee in Norway shows "how meaningless a once-honorable and respected award has become."

Immediately after the award was announced early Friday, Steele released a statement suggesting "Obama's star power" had eclipsed human rights advocates with years of real achievement. Politico said the chairman, the most prominent black Republican in the country, responded to the award before the president did.

The Democrats released a statement later suggesting Steele's views on the award were similar to those of the Taliban.