Rare is the politician who cites Ali G to explain a touchy situation. Cem Ozdemir, co-chairperson of Germany’s Green Party, was detained by security personnel upon his stateside arrival at Washington’s Dulles International Airport recently. No official explanation has been given concerning Ozdemir’s holdup, but the assumption can be made that a non-Germanic name on the passenger manifest raised concerns. “I was ready to joke ‘is it because I’m black?’ but knew it wouldn’t help circumstances.”

Ozdemir’s lack of indignation about this incident reflects why he is being called the European Obama. His political resume is noteworthy. He was the first person of Germany’s sizeable ethnic Turkish population to serve in the Bundestag from 1994-2002. Questions about mishandling travel vouchers propelled Ozdemir into a different environment, the European Parliament in Brussels. Over the past seven years he has represented the Green Party’s interests there. His November 2008 appointment to lead the Greens is deemed a breakthrough in Europe’s cultural politics. Despite changing demographics caused by a half century of migration, European legislatures have minimal ethnic or racial representation.