Dennis Haysbert, who played David Palmer on 24 and more notably the Allstate guy in the Allstate commericals, told an interviewer that he thinks his role as a black president on the show might have played a significant part in clearing the way for Barack Obama’s candidacy. From CNN:

If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people,” said the actor, who has contributed $2,300 to the Illinois Democrat’s presidential campaign.

“And I mean the American people from across the board — from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base — to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first.”

HUBRIS! Not only does he nullify the very real qualities and strengths of Obama’s politicking, but he blatantly steamrolls the powerful imaginary black presidents who came before him.

Does Mr. Haysbert truly believe that his damsel-in-distress David Palmer did more to convince people that an African-American could lead the country in a time of crisis than Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact?

But if you really want to know who opened American voters’ eyes to the true potential of a black president, you need only go back to 2003 with Chris Rock’s Head of State:

Whoops, the only thing that clip paved the way for was LAUGHS. The point is Dennis Haysbert is hilarious. Rap the vote.