Congratulations to Andre Carson, for winning the House Seat of his late Grandmother in a special election. Hopefully, and especially with a national nominee at the top of the ticket, he can win the same race in November.

In his victory speech, Carson told more than 100 supporters gathered at a downtown Indianapolis hotel that he would have to "hit the ground running." One of his top priorities, he said, would be ending the war in Iraq.

"We need to bring our men and women back home and end this useless war," Carson said.

All of this is very nice and it’s good to see that be a priority and the seat held. But it is another characteristic of Mr. Carson that will have people like Steve King (R-Iowa’s Shame) and Virgil Goode fainting:

Carson, whose grandmother raised him in a Baptist church, converted to Islam more than a decade ago.

Carson will join Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., as the only Muslims in Congress. His religious identity has drawn little attention during the campaign, and Carson said he doesn’t believe it hurts him politically.

"I’m a proud Hoosier," Carson said after his speech Tuesday night. "I’m an Indy 500 Hoosier, I’m a Covered Bridge Festival Hoosier, I’m a Black Expo Hoosier, I’m a state fair Hoosier. I just happen to be a Hoosier of the Muslim faith."

"And lucky, don’t forget a lucky Hoosier", if I may paraphrase Geraldine Ferraro.

(photo AP – AJ Mast)