Yes, Hillary Clinton was awesome and graceful last night. Loved her speech. But Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer was my MVP speaker of the night. Bob Casey came on before him and was dry. He had great material, but his speech lacked oomph.

Schweitzer, on the other hand, had more than enough oomph. His speech was music to my ears. I think he has a definite future in the party, He (with an assist from Bob Barr) might be able to deliver his home state. And he’s the type of moderate Dem who can help the Democratic party continue to grow.

Check out his speech…

Here are six people or groups of people who paved the way for the Obamas during my lifetime. I’m 29, so this is post-MLK era. This list was also not created to exclude anybody, but instead to celebrate some of my personal choices:

6. Tiger Woods -

One of the first multiracial celebrities who transcended race. He’s the most popular golfer by far despite golf being the most lily-white sport we have.

5. Will Smith -

He’s the first black actor to become Hollywood’s biggest star. The fact that he’s had a record eight $100 box office-grossing movies in a row proves that.

4. Michael Jordan -

As a kid, growing up in Springfield, MO, a Southern MO town, Michael Jordan was the most popular athlete by far. There were more Air Jordans floating around my grade school than Bart Simpson T-Shirts. He achieved mainstream acceptance among whites like no athlete before him.

3. Oprah Winfrey -

Without Oprah Winfrey, I don’t think either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton would have made this far. No question about it in my mind.

2. Jesse Jackson -

What he did in 1988 built the foundation for BHO’s historic campaign. Period.

1. The Huxtables -

After seeing Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha on stage talking to their father over the TV, I couldn’t help think about the Huxtables. If the barrier is broken, and the Obamas move into the White House, Bill Cosby and the rest of the show deserve some credit for putting some cracks in that glass celing. For a lot of white families, the Cosbys proved that a black family could be just as American as the Cleavers or the Seavers. Without Phylicia Rashād’s Clair–who was also a lawyer, and devoted mother and wife on the show–a lot of America would not be open to Michelle (and not all of America is–yet!). I also couldn’t help thinking of little Rudy Huxtable when Sasha blurted out, “hi, daddy!” I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one.

This is what John McCain and Co. have in store for them…

At least we think so. Have fun dealing with this Johnny Mac!