Suspended
So John McCain is suspending his campaign to work on the bailout bill, and he's suggesting that the candidates' first debate, scheduled for Friday in MS, should be postponed.
Waiting for word from Barack Obama's camp. Note, though, that Obama's team released this statement at just about the same moment CNN reported McCain's move:
"At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama’s call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details."
So McCain's camp will assert that he's abandoning politics to tend to the people's business. But today's narrative centered on a new Washington Post/ABC News poll indicating that Obama has a nine-point lead. And voters respond in record levels, in that survey and recent others, that the economy is the foremost issue on their minds and that Obama is better suited to tackle the market challenges facing the nation. So McCain makes a bold move to suspend his campaign. What could be more political than that? He's changing the political dialogue and forcing Obama to react to his decision.
McCain's full statement, per a pool report, is available after the jump.
McCain Statement:
Remarks on the Economic Crisis
New York, NY
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.
Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.
It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration's proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.
Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.
I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.
We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.
I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.
Shear
Wash Post
Is McCain forgets the old saying of "What do you do in a hurry? NOTHING!!!" Look what they gave us after 9/11 the PATRIOT ACT. How good did that work out?
McCain is good only for coming up with tricks to lead his flock of sheep into ignorant raptures of support. Little do they realize he and Palin will only lead the US into more and continued dependence on foreign oil (esp. Iraq and Libya with changing political climates there that are more pro-US than in previous decades) and the exploitation of the majority by the rich minority and corporate interests.
McCain is good only for coming up with tricks to lead his flock of sheep into ignorant raptures of support. Little do they realize he and Palin will only lead the US into more and continued dependence on foreign oil (esp. Iraq and Libya with changing political climates there that are more pro-US than in previous decades) and the exploitation of the majority by the rich minority and corporate interests.
I know that God will see us true,amen.God Bless America and God Bless President Bush and senator Obama and senator Biden and senator John MCcain and governor Palin this is just the Americans time and God will see us true,amen thank you God in Jesus-Christ name amen.
I know that God will see us true,amen.God Bless America and God Bless President Bush and senator Obama and senator Biden and senator John MCcain and governor Palin this is just the Americans time and God will see us true,amen thank you God in Jesus-Christ name amen.
I know that God will see us true,amen.God Bless America and God Bless President Bush and senator Obama and senator Biden and senator John MCcain and governor Palin this is just the Americans time and God will see us true,amen thank you God in Jesus-Christ name amen.
McCain putting on a big do nothing show again. Does he not realize that we need a President that can do more then one thing at a time? If that is a problem for him then God help us all if he wins.
For McCain to call on Obama to follow his lead and suspend his campaign and the debate on Friday, because this is a time to set partisan politics aside, is hypocrisy at its absolute finest. McCain knew he was painting Obama into a corner--Obama would look like a follower if he agreed or a partisan politician if he balked at McCain's proposition.
McCain, in fact, has used the economic crisis as a pawn in his political campaign, and for that, he has lost my trust.
i'm a democrate, but i'm voting for McCain he is showing that country comes first go johnny go 08
McCain putting on a big do nothing show again. Does he not realize that we need a President that can do more then one thing at a time? If that is a problem for him then God help us all if he wins.
Carriejo | 09.24.08 06:22 PM
Look, Carriejo, make no mistake about it...this single issue (the economic package in congress) commands the full attention of all sane people. Can you fathom how far reaching this single undertaking will be in the country's future? Can you see it as being the SINGLE most important pivot-point for our society this week (let alone for the next ten years)? Stop the posturing and drop your banner and use your good sense. This issue is NOT a side bar...it is the coming of our age. Can't delay the debate...too important in this election...it's what the American people want to see...we can multi-task in Mississippi and Washington DC at the same time with supurb results----->>>liberal bulls**t.
When I wouldn't do my homework or study for a major test I would skip school and then bring a note the next day saying my grandma died. McCain should try it.
When I wouldn't do my homework or study for a major test I would skip school and then bring a note the next day saying my grandma died. McCain should try it.
When I wouldn't do my homework or study for a major test I would skip school and then bring a note the next day saying my grandma died. McCain should try it.
goeast | 09.24.08 07:10 PM
Goeast, that note may have to say that the country died.
Another photo shot, publicity gimick especially when congress has said McCain hasn't talked to any of them yet about this crisis. They do not want this crisis turning into a political gimic but here goes McCain. He the deregulator now thinks he will appear as the hero for the camera's.
Normal people can recognize a publicity stunt especially when Congress has told him no to show up there.
Normal people can recognize a publicity stunt especially when Congress has told him no to show up there.
CarolO | 09.24.08 07:49 PM
CarolO: Drop another tab of your favorite stuff and dream on.
What a cheap political stunt.
McCain appears to be avoiding talking---pulling out of debate for questionable reasons, making the "Straight Talk Express" rarely available for reporter questions anymore, and basically containing Sarah Palin's availability for random reporter questioning. I want to hear more from both of them under circumstances that are not highly controlled by the campaign. Actually, I think the public needs and deserves this kind of access to what they think about major unfolding events.
McCain appears to be avoiding talking---pulling out of debate for questionable reasons, making the "Straight Talk Express" rarely available for reporter questions anymore, and basically containing Sarah Palin's availability for random reporter questioning. I want to hear more from both of them under circumstances that are not highly controlled by the campaign. Actually, I think the public needs and deserves this kind of access to what they think about major unfolding events.
McCain appears to be avoiding talking---pulling out of debate for questionable reasons, making the "Straight Talk Express" rarely available for reporter questions anymore, and basically containing Sarah Palin's availability for random reporter questioning. I want to hear more from both of them under circumstances that are not highly controlled by the campaign. Actually, I think the public needs and deserves this kind of access to what they think about major unfolding events.
McSame said in Sept. 2008, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong."
Was he deliberately misleading the public or is he just clueless?
McSame said in Sept. 2008, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong."
Was he deliberately misleading the public or is he just clueless?
McSame said in Sept. 2008, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong."
Was he deliberately misleading the public or is he just clueless?
This looks like a desperate move on McCain's part. He isn't ready to meet for the debate, so, even though he hasn't been in on any of the sessions concerning the bailout, he says he is going to Washington to fix things. This is too funny to be believable. He believes, and rightly so, that his follows will jump right in there and bring his percentage up in the polls. He is pitiful.
I really want to see that debate this week. If McCain wants to help in Washington, that is fine, but why cancel the debates? I don't get it. I think the debates are really where most people decide who they are voting for. I think McCain could do both things... go to DC and help get the Republicans to sign the bill... and also do the debate.