Here's a satisfying post-election shakeout of one of the rumors that Obama detractors stirred up: remember that accusation Libertarian VP nominee and Columbia alum Wayne Allyn Root made about Obama padding his resume with a fake Columbia University degree? "I think the most dangerous thing you should know about Barack Obama is that I don't know a single person at Columbia that knows him, and they all know me. I don't have a classmate who ever knew Barack Obama at Columbia. Ever!." (He also told Reason that he would bet a million dollars that, if Obama had in fact attended Columbia, he had made a better GPA.) Well, Root can STFU because Columbia is making a big fuss about their grad, sending out an e-mail to their community about how Obama is the first Columbia graduate to be elected President.An excerpt from the e-mail sent out by Columbia's President:

Dear Columbian, Yesterday’s election was historic, of course, and all of us who have graduated from Columbia have special reason for excitement. We note with pride that Barack Obama ‘83CC will be not only the first African-American but also the first Columbia degree-holder to occupy the Oval Office. At Columbia we think continually about our role in helping to prepare remarkable men and women for leadership. With one alumnus, David Paterson ‘78CC, now serving as Governor of New York and another elected to the nation’s highest office, we are reminded of the University’s core commitment to public service and its tradition of producing outstanding leaders for our nation and our world... All the best, Lee C. Bollinger ‘71LAW President Columbia University

[via Lux Nightmare] Oh, and here's what Root told Reason about the million-dollars thing:

Root: And I'd be willing to bet every dime I have in the world, a million dollars I'll put, I'll put a million dollars cash on the fact— Welch: This is on the record— Root: —that my GPA was better than Barack's— Welch: Oooooh.