It seems that John McCain is big on luck, chance and superstition. According to a story in the Washington Times, the senator carries 31 cents in ‘lucky change’ and won’t pick up a coin that’s tails up. And it seems to have infected his campaign staff as well.
I don’t know about you, but this both annoys and worries me. As harmless as this may seem on the surface, it illustrates an underlying willingness to submit to the ‘whims of chance’. A lucky penny, lucky shoes, a lucky feather and lots of knocking on wood. When his lucky compass was lost, he had his campaign manager searching for it in a panic. Such a resignation to chance controlling the good and bad in life is a pretty serious cop out for us normal folk. But for a potential leader of the free world… the free western, modern world… it’s disturbing and downright creepy. What happens if Steve Dart, his lucky friend, doesn’t show up before an important meeting with a hostile head of state? Or what if his lucky rock goes missing. (I’m not making all this up, I assure you. And this isn’t all!) Will McCain resign himself to failure?
Hey, in all seriousness, I can see it being a little infectious for his staff who may be caught up in the ritual as it relates to the electricity of the campaign. Much like kids who don’t wash their football jersey while on a winning streak. But this is serious business, not a time for humbug, hooey and balderdash. McCain himself, however, is very serious about this and has cultivated (and grown, as you’ve seen) his superstitions over the years.
For me, though, the clincher is this: lucky food. Barbecue. McCain insists on it before each debate for him and his staff. Sure, having to sleep on a certain side of the bed, having to watch a movie before each vote count… quite frankly all that sounds like things my grandmother did. (Yes, I’m pointing out his age. He’s old. So was my grandmother. And she was superstitious to a fault). But lucky food everyone needs to eat? Creepy.
And more than a little ridiculous for a man who’s supposed to be an example of the best leader for the 21st century America. This sounds more like a man living in the 19th century…
Listen to this post
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.