Barack Obama

A Bright Hope in Illinois. A rather different politician, Barack Obama. Take a moment to read about the winner of the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator.

The article concludes:

If by “American” we mean that which is most distinctive about us and our ideals, if we mean it to refer to our status as a nation of immigrants that could yet become the world’s first great polyglot, miscegenistic meritocracy, then Barack Obama, if elected, would not only become the sole African American in the Senate: He would also be the most distinctly American of its members.

Link via Eschaton.

Update: Colorado Luis has some worthwhile commentary about Obama (Illinois) and Salazar (Colorado).