In noting the genuinely historic nature of Obama’s nomination, Jonah noted that “I sincerely doubt the French, British, Germans et al. will be considering a candidate of African descent like this for quite a while.” This point is actually stronger than Jonah suggests. Since those countries don’t have the same historical baggage with people of African descent as the United States does, the more appropriate yardstick would be to wonder when Germany will have a Gypsy major candidate, or Russia a Jewish major candidate, or India an Untouchable candidate, or Turkey a Christian candidate. When you look at it that way, Obama’s nomination is even more remarkable.