Guess which one of the Presidential candidates just got some skin art?
No surprise it's John McAfee - the so-called Cyber Party Independent - who recently visited a tattoo parlor.
During a one-on-one interview yesterday, McAfee took off his shirt and revealed the new artwork.
His tattoo is the Liberty Bell surrounded by his campaign slogan: Privacy. Freedom. Technology.
Why a tattoo? McAfee asks why not. He points out there are over 30 million people in the U.S. - that's 30 million potential voters - who have a tattoo. That is one of several niche groups he is appealing to.
Some people wonder if John McAfee is serious about running for President. He's downright serious, and now he has a tattoo to prove it. McAfee says that he loves our country, and that his candidacy is driven solely by his desire to protect our nation from hostile enemy nations who are capable of launching devastating cyber-attacks on the U.S.
The 'Cyber Party' moniker is just that - it signifies McAfee's platform even though he is running as an Independent. Cyber refers to national security and personal privacy for U.S. citizens.
You can't help but question McAfee's judgement when you look at the Liberty Bell emblazoned on his hairy chest... not to mention the other tattoos. Surely he must know the tattoo will generate another media blitz portraying the wild, wacky world of John McAfee. He doesn't care. McAfee suggests that a large swath of the American people are wild and wacky in one way or another - and so long as they aren't hurting anyone or breaking any laws, they should not be judged. He says that he has met some of the most interesting people from all walks of life in tattoo parlors.
Drew Thompson, McAfee 16 campaign manager, says that the main focus is getting John McAfee on the voting ballot in as many states as possible come 2016. In some states that will be a huge challenge. Thompson says that California requires 500,000 signatures in order to get a candidate on the ballot.
McAfee put his shirt back on and got talking on cybersecurity. He referred to the McAfee 16 Cyber Security Doctrine which says we are in a cyber war with China, and have been for more than 5 years. The Chinese attacks on Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and the FBI went nearly undetected and the massive attack against the Office of Personnel Management was ongoing for two years before it was even noticed. Our response to these acts of war was to hire consultants to make OPM personnel feel better about themselves. This sole response indicates a paralysis within our government and a need for massive change.
If the media pays more attention to McAfee, then it will surely raise up cybersecurity as a bigger campaign issue. The American people are still waiting to hear the media ask Republican and Democratic front-runners where they stand on cybersecurity.
Where does McAfee goes from here? Maybe a 'Tattoo Party' slogan can drum up support for all those ballot signatures.
