Perhaps there's a compromise that will help the disadvantaged of all races and of both sexes without discriminating against people based on these factors: economic affirmative action. Obama has hinted that class is more important than race in the context of providing equal opportunity.

"I think that we should take into account white kids who have been disadvantaged and have grown up in poverty and shown themselves to have what it takes to succeed," he told ABC News.

During the campaign, Obama said that privileged children like his daughters didn't need race preferences. In an interview with The Politico, Ward Connerly sounded hopeful that Obama would support economic affirmative action and oppose race preferences.

"[Obama] is a very, very bright man who thinks through the nuances of issues and I cannot help [but to] believe he realizes the inherent flaw in race preferences. If you listen to him carefully, you cannot help but think he is really torn by this issue, and that he is leaning in the direction of socio-economic affirmative action instead of race preferences."

Class-based affirmative action would benefit people across color and gender lines and encourage what should have existed a long time ago: a colorblind government. I wouldn't wager on it, but I hope Obama's win will at least encourage people to seriously discuss ending government-sanctioned race preferences.