His willingness to help may very well open a new era of UFO politics
2/14/2000
AlienZoo resident ufologist Jim Dilettoso's article Mission Control explores UFO research, ET technologies, and moments in ufology's past.
Following his unexpected upset over Bush in New Hampshire, a rather cocky John McCain told the public, "I will never lie to you."
This gives ufologists a unique opportunity to push this campaign promise to a new level. If McCain would lie to us about UFOs, then he would lie about everything else. Let.s say McCain were pressed on the point along the campaign trail. The answer to the question "Will you give us full disclosure about UFOs?" would have to be an unqualified .yes. if he were elected president, because anything less would be a lie of omission.
Jimmy Carter, himself a UFO eyewitness, gave us this promise when he was campaigning. But once in office, he never came through with a direct and unqualified public statement regarding the official evidence of the existence of ETBEs -- extraterrestrial biological entities.
This election year, like any other, presents a chance for our UFO research organizations to confront the candidates on the critical question, and present ourselves as the bona fide special interest group that we are. Why should abortion rights, or any other social issue, take precedence over an issue with direct implications and impact not only on our own society, but the health and welfare of the entire planet?
We can.t allow ourselves to be suckered by the media and the admitted government plan to deflect investigation into this area. We can.t be branded with the label of .kook. or .fringe.. The time for bravery and direct action is upon us. Let.s demand a candidate with the bravery, honesty, and ability to take action on a legitimate public concern.
Go to debates. Go to speeches. Go to town hall meetings. Run for office, even. Get people who represent your concerns elected to school boards, city councils, state governments, and national leadership positions.
Todd Ristau, of the Iowa UFO Research Network, followed John McCain.s Iowa campaign extensively. He reports that McCain did not dodge the UFO question from the podium. Yet, he also didn.t address it head-on. McCain acknowledges that there are very interesting aspects of the UFO question and he is ready to investigate what he can . after he is elected. This is the key: after he is elected. Is this a promise?
After the election is probably a good position, considering the lambasting that his state-mate got in her own bid. Arizona.s own Frances Emma Barwood got a taste of the UFO pie when she bit off a piece of the Phoenix Lights question and spit it into her race for the Secretary of State position. The press labeled her as a .kook. in both print and poetry (as well as a piece by cartoonist Benson). Barwood is not a kook. She is a level-headed, intelligent people.s politician.
Barwood lost by a landslide. But in the process she won the hearts and minds of the UFO faithful. She also spearheaded an effort to get official military and government documents released about the incident. And she wrote a letter to Arizona Senator John McCain. He responded with two letters, one of which indicates that he does not think that the U.S. Air Force told the whole story. McCain.s willingness to help may very well open a new era of UFO politics. Of course, this is not the first time. William Jefferson Clinton gave a mandate to the Honorable Webster Hubbell to get to the bottom of the UFO issue. Not only did Hubbell retrieve no information, he got his own career bounced into the stratosphere. Maybe Jim Marrs, a specialist in researching the JFK assassination and UFO history, can predict what will become of any disclosure that McCain may promise. Maybe Washington D.C.-based UFO lobbyist Steven Bassett has some advice for our hero. If McCain is really going to effect any action on the UFO matter, then perhaps CAUS has a silent supporter in its court action against the Department of Defense.
Todd Ristau contributed to this article.