Tonight, if they’re watching the convention, Americans are learning that John McCain has a child “of color,” and that Cindy McCain actually brought back two of these children from a Mother Teresa orphanage. The other adoptive father spoke at this convention (as his daughter stood at his side, and as Mrs. McCain began to cry in the stands). Even people who follow politics pretty closely don’t know about this. Will it make any difference? Or does being a Republican preclude you from being credited with acts of human excellence?

And all those who have sneered at Mrs. McCain for owning houses — will they acknowledge this other?