Today is Inauguration Day. As Barack Obama begins his second term, this day reminds us that he is the president of every American — Democrat, Republican and Independent alike.
President Obama’s second inauguration may not be as unique as his first. Yet he remains only the second man in the post-war period to have twice won the White House with more than 50 percent of the vote — and the first Democrat to do so since FDR.
In a happy coincidence, today is also Martin Luther King Day. Nearly 50 years ago, from the other end of the National Mall, the Rev. King called on our nation to live up to its founding promise of equality and opportunity for all Americans.
Our nation still has some distance to go, but today the world can see how much of King’s dream has become a reality.
We have had our disagreements with President Obama during his first term and will have them in the next. Yet on this day, we salute our president — and offer our best wishes as he leads this great nation these next four years.