Meeting John McCain – a character revealing moment

It was my great privilege yesterday to meet John McCain.

As a campaigner and blogger I had read a great deal about this extraordinary man.  

Touched by grace in the POW camp known ironically as the “Hanoi Hilton,” he returned to serve and unite his country, loyally, faithfully and with great dignity.

His torturers permanently injured his body.  As a Homeopathic Practitioner, I observe him perhaps more acutely than another, and wonder if he is still in pain.

If he is, he doesn’t and wouldn’t show it.  He is absolutely selfless in his service to his country.

I was with a busload of New York supporters of John McCain, many of whom were lifelong Democrats. Some were young Democrats, professionals, white, “black,” Hispanic, Russian.  All Americans.  All patriots.

We were headed for a rally at the University of Scranton.

Despite the polls screaming doom and gloom for John McCain and Sarah Palin, the venue was so crowded that the Fire Department closed the doors.

Two thousand people were scheduled to attend.  Three thousand showed up!  I do not know how many were turned away.

We were disappointed, naturally, but we had come to Pennsylvania, through the beautiful swathes of red and gold autumn trees, and beautiful mountains, to campaign for Senator McCain.

We are all keenly aware that this not an election for a four year term.  This is a battle for the survival of America.

There is an attempted hijacking of the White House.

The electoral process has already been severely compromised.

We came to the State where Tod Beamer and his fellow passengers gave their lives to save the DC targets of the infamous Al Qaeda terrorists.

Obama’s closest associates are friends of terrorists and advocates of terrorism.

They have held American Democracy to ridicule around the world.

John McCain did not give up in the Hanoi Hilton.

We were not giving up because of a disappointment.

Disappointment would turn to terror if Obama and cohorts succeeded in hijacking the White House.

We returned to base, refreshed ourselves and climbed back in the bus.

A young campaign leader  climbed in and began a cheerleading session.

Interesting.

Even more interesting when she said we were going to meet John McCain at Wilkes Barre airport.

Wow! Wheeeeeee!  Yeeeha!

Wilkes Barre is one cute airport, a throwback to the days when you travelled out of necessity, when aviation was fun and exciting and not cluttered with rules, regulations, restrictions.

It’s modern, but nostalgic, surrounded by beautiful mountains and picture-book homes.  A postcard setting.

We waited outside, then were brought on the tarmac where McCain’s jet was standing by.  Secret Service vetted us, and wanded us one by one and we stood by a fence, waiting.

And the fleet of Hummers arrived, black and white and protected all over.

Senator McCain climbed out and walked over to us.  We numbered close to a hundred.

He shook hands with each and every one of us, saying that he was honored to meet us.

Then Cindy shook hands with each and every one of us, and so did Senator Lieberman, a very charming man.

Cindy has a gentle quality.  She is kind and gracious, very beautiful in person.

She has a charisma (true charisma, not media manufactured) that reminds me of our beloved Princess Diana, but she is more centered than the tragic Princess with a strong, American resilience.

She will make a magnificent First Lady.

Meeting a bunch of people on a tarmac might appear to be a passing matter, but it presented a key to Senator McCain’s character.

He had heard that the New Yorkers missed the rally.

He knew that some of us had been standing outside his hotel since 8 am to give a New York send off.  He knew we had driven for almost three hours to see him.

He would not disappoint us.  John McCain would not let his team down, especially the “uncelebrated,” “Joe the Plumbers” among us.

He had 7 states to visit that day.

He took time out for his “anonymous” campaigners. Took time to shake our hands…to say “Thank You,” to honor the regular folk of America – if New Yorkers can be called “regular.”  We take our coffee “regular,” but we’re all a bit quirky.  Well, to honor the “quirky” folk of America.

Character is revealed in these small, private ways, not in staged events or media glare.

Character is John McCain.

Honor is John McCain.

Decency is John McCain.

Love for America and the American people is John McCain.

In Europe there is a tradition of “noblesse oblige” that is the privileged are obliged to care for the less privileged.

John McCain cares for all Americans, privileged and less privileged.

He has a truly noble character

John McCain will not let America down.

John McCain honors America and the American people, and has the scars to prove it.

God bless John McCain, and God bless America with a resounding, indisputable John McCain victory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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