Ever since Barack Obama spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004, he's generated a lot of buzz. Now that he stated that he's running for president, er, setting up an exploratory committee to look into the possibility of running for president (or some other such long phrase devised by the FEC), everyone is taking this as some groundbreaking development in the political world. The first talking point is that Barack Obama is African American, and that he is somehow making history. Last time I checked, the first African American to seek the presidency was Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm back in 1972. Then there was Jesse Jackson in 1984, Jesse Jackson in 1988, Alan Keyes in 1996, Alan Keyes in 2000, Al Sharpton in 2004, and Carol Moseley Braun in 2004. The differences between Alan Keyes or Carol Moseley Braun and now Senator Barack Obama are that the former two actually had more government experience than the current senator. Obama's run for the Senate was known nationally after his first Republican opponent, Jack Ryan, dropped out of the race after allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. The Republican Party of Illinois then chose Alan Keyes, who was prone to several instances of foot-in-mouth. Obama took this challenge so seriously that he campaigned for other Democrats across the US. Differences between Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton and Senator Obama are that the former have a long history of involvement with the civil rights movement. The second talking point is that Senator Obama is young, energetic, handsome, willing to speak about his faith, etc. All these qualities were attributed to then Senator John Edwards, who went on to become? the former senator from North Carolina.