I have been very critical of Barack Obama throughout this
campaign and expect to be during his presidency. I would have
preferred a different result tonight, but I need to comment on
the obvious -- the fact that a black man can be elected President
of the United States is a great development for our nation. The
legacy of slavery, segregation, and racial prejudice has been the
biggest stain on a nation that has done more to advance liberty
than any country on earth. While I have always felt deeply
that the country has undergone a dramatic transformation over the
last several decades on race relations, the media's focus on
instances of racial division in our society has always distracted
from the tremendous progress that has been made. Sure, there are
still racists out there, but Obama's victory, thankfully, proves
that they are relegated to an insignificant minority. The Jesse
Jacksons and Al Sharptons of this world have thrived by stirring
up racial resentment and creating the impression that racism is
institutionalized and overwhelming in contemporary America, but
Obama's election is a devastating blow to them and their ilk, and
to the entire racial grievance industry. America decided that
they liked Obama and trusted him to lead the country in a time of
crisis, and they gave him a fair shake despite the color of his
skin. While I dread what the Obama administration and the
Democratic Congress have in store for us, I am glad that we now
have incontrovertible evidence that skin color does not place
limits on one's ability to succeed in today's America.
