Republican John McCain plans to suspend his campaign for the White House to come back to Washington to work on the economy. McCain called President Bush to tell him of his plan. The GOP candidate is also asking Democrat Barack Obama to join him in postponing the first debate to work on the nations financial crisis. As for Senator Obama and the debate. He says, “This is exactly the time the people need to hear from the person, who in approximately in 40 days will have to deal with this mess.” An Obama source says McCain is trying to seem engaged as he is clearly on the ropes over the economy in the contest for the Oval Office. Wednesday, Senator Obama placed the first of several calls between him and Senator McCain to work on a joint statement on the economy. McCain ultimately changed from the original idea.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino issued this statement about their efforts to work together.
"We welcome Sen. McCain's announcement. We are making progress in negotiations on the financial markets rescue legislation, but we have not finished it yet. Bipartisan support from Sens. McCain and Obama would be helpful in driving to a conclusion. The financial market crisis is a big problem that requires a big solution, and solving this in a bipartisan way will help prevent economic damage spreading from Wall Street to all Americans."
Is this campaign suspension the right thing to do? Should the first debate go on as planned? Is it s a political tactic? what say you?
Check out these timelines:
From The Obama Campaign:
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.
From the McCain Campaign:
Senator Obama phoned Senator McCain at 8:30 am this morning but did not reach him. The topic of Senator Obama’s call to Senator McCain was never discussed. Senator McCain was meeting with economic advisers and talking to leaders in Congress throughout the day prior to calling Senator Obama. At 2:30 pm, Senator McCain phoned Senator Obama and expressed deep concern that the plan on the table would not pass as it currently stands. He asked Senator Obama to join him in returning to Washington to lead a bipartisan effort to solve this problem.
– Now I saw this play out as it happened on TV yesterday. Was it just me or did not this news break until the 4 pm hour? Before the sun even even went down yesterday certain media outlets were rearranging the timeline of how this happened to make it look like it was all McCain’s idea to meet in the first place despite what Obama’s camp said. Am I right or am I wrong? Did anyone else notice that?
~LT
I meant to say they wanted to delay the debate on Friday in hopes of looking like the better candidate for the nation on this economy issue.
~LT
OK.
I did not know about Obama calling him first earlier this week to come up with and to work on a statement together. OK, THAT I can believe. That is more natural and believable and I can actually see Obama doing that. That makes sense. A great Bipartisan coming together for the sake of the country and the country’s economy.
What is looking real tricky and shameful right about now is that McCain’s people and McCain himself were obviously working on using the $750 billion Wall Street Bailout/Economy situation to their advantage.
How were they planning to do this?
THEY wanted to be the ones who busted that move first. They wanted to delay the election but only to make themselves look like the better candidate. Shameful.
Can you imagine they would use even this financial crisis politically to make themselves look like they cared enough to delay the debate?
This is so transparent. A blind man could see what they tried to do here and it stinks.
Now, things are worse.
By McCain not only delaying the debate but putting his campaign on hold it is interpreted as a move of weakness, not strength.
They just jammed themselves two times!
“McCain Camp: McCain Won’t Attend Debate, If No Bailout Deal By Friday”
Are they kidding us? Oh, yeah, right, Mr. McCain like the nation’s economy will be fixed by Friday!
This it incredible! This will be rememembered as the bombshell of the month! And the week is not even over yet!
Overall, McCain’s plans to suspend his campaign for the White House to come back to Washington to work on the economy is looking like a last minute political tactic.
I said it before, it was a gamble and a calculated risk to pick Palin at the 11th hour with 2 months out until the election and now this.
What playbook are the Republicans and McCain’s team operating from? This is sloppy all over the place.
I refuse to believe all Republicans are proud of these moves he is making.
Now they are saying McCain did this to push back Palin’s VP Debate to give her more time to prepare! Wow! Is that an admittance they expected her and him to both lose thier debates or what?!?!
Peace!
~LT