In his new ad, John McCain congratulates Barack Obama for securing the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for president, hailing this “historic day.” But while yesterday’s nomination of the first African American to run on a major-party ticket for president was indeed historic, today — the day the ad was launched — is fittingly so as well. Forty-five years ago, another gifted black orator made history: Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous “I have a dream speech.” McCain, as a congressman in 1983, voted against making Martin Luther King day a federal holiday.

Watch McCain’s ad and MLK’s speech: