PREZ RACE: Religious icons in Barack Obama's hands

[SAJAforum's collection of stories, resources and sources about the 2008 race]

This is a photo of Barack Obama's hands and the things he carries around for good luck. From Time's White House Photo of the Day collection:

Amongst the things that Barack Obama carries for good luck are a bracelet belonging to a soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler’s lucky chit, a tiny monkey god and a tiny Madonna and child.

White House Photo of the Day - TIME via kwout

That "tiny monkey god," of course, appears to be a statue of the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman. I wish the photographer and editors had bothered to be as specific with the Hindu reference as they were with the Christian one. John McCain, as you will see below, doesn't have as many lucky charms.

UPDATE: A SAJAforum reader points out that there is also a Chinese monkey god, described here. If this turns out to be that god and not Hanuman, the point is the same - why such a vague description?

Will this revelation about Obama help him or hurt him or have no effect whatsoever? Post your comments below.

See SAJAforum's collection of stories, resources and sources about the 2008 race.

White House Photo of the Day - TIME via kwout

Post your comments below.

Comments

[ange]

he walks around with all that crap in his pocket? rather telling....obviously there's no room for "change."

[MG]

I seriously doubt he carries all that around in his pocket. and if he does, he has serious problems. it's rather telling if Obama places more faith in superstition and hedging all his supernatural bets by carrying so many things in his pocket. any idea how this approach informs his political acumen and strategy?

[Zette]

Although it would be nice if it were Hanuman, according to the description of the Chinese Monkey God festival he has to walk across burning coals and climb a ladder of knives, which sounds something like what Obama has in store in the upcoming months....

[Jaya Kamlani]

Obama needs more than just talisman and amulets for good luck. Remember the Swift Boat smear attacks on John Kerry in the last presidential election? To ward off rumors and dispel fears, Obama has created a website. Read the following Yahoo article:

Obama launches online campaign against 'smears'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080612/ts_alt_afp/usvoteobamainternet (complete story)

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama launched a new website Thursday devoted to dousing "smears" against the first African-American with a serious shot at the presidency. The site at www.fightthesmears.com debunks false rumors doing the rounds of the Internet and right-wing media outlets -- including one recent assertion that Obama's wife Michelle has been caught on tape slurring white people.

Obama's main campaign website already had a fact-check section to refute rumors such as the Christian candidate is a secret Muslim. But aides said the new site went further in inviting supporters to spread the word. "We created an interactive tool to allow our supporters to fight back against these smears in the same way that they received them -- on the Internet," campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

Jaya Kamlani

[Vipin Kumar]

There is a reason to carry Lord Hanuman. Barack Obama's hands and the things he carries around for good luck. ITs true lord Hanuman Help those who have Faith in it.

[bryce little]

except it is not Lord Hanuman, it is Lord Nrsingadev, holding a chakra, counch and trident.

[John]

One of the Christian objects in his hands was not specifically mentioned either. In the upper right most part of his hands is a Miraculous Medal. While the small "Madonna and Child" one below it is mentioned this one is not.