I just watched Hillary Clinton as she addressed the Democratic Nation Convention. I think Barack Obama should be very pleased with it. Mrs Clinton mentioned his name several times and aimed directly at those of her supporters who are still bitter after the primaries. To my surprise, she was very clear on women’s rights and even gay rights. I know she appeared sincerely interested in these issues in her final campaign speech in June, but then I thought of it more as flirtation with the many women and gays among her supporters. Now I get the impression that she really, really cares about equality, which gives her credits in my book. In these days, when both leftist and rightist commentators spend much time trashing so-called identity politics, it is nice to listen to a high-ranking politician who dares to speak about the discrimination and ill-treatment people face merely because of irrelevant group characteristics.