On Obama, Without Cynicism

By Ken Silverstein

I’ve never been able to muster as much enthusiasm for Barack Obama as many of my friends, but I was happy to see him win last night. He was clearly the better of the two choices, and his speech to the crowd at Grant Park was genuinely stirring. The election of an African American president is a great moment for the country.

Will Obama live up to the hype? I have serious doubts, especially given all the money he raised from the usual suspects and now with the early uninspired names being circulated for key posts in his administration. But no matter. If there’s disappointment, it can come later. Today’s a day to celebrate.