GOP candidate John McCain leaves the podium in New York after announcing his staff would work with Barack Obama's campaign and the debate commission to delay Friday's debate. (Gerald Herbert/AP)
In risky move, McCain calls for debate delay
The GOP candidate wants to concentrate on getting a financial bailout through Congress, but the economy's woes have so far favored Democrats.
By Peter Grier | Staff writer/ September 24, 2008 edition
Reporter Alexandra Marks talks with csmonitor.com's Pat Murphy about reaction to Senator McCain's canceling his debate appearance in Oxford, Miss.
Washington
John McCain may be the first presidential candidate in US history to become as notable for canceling events as for holding them.
Senator McCain postponed the beginning of the Republican National Convention when hurricane Gustav threatened the Gulf Coast. Now he wants to call off the presidential debate scheduled for Friday, so that he (and rival Barack Obama) can return to Washington to focus on the nation’s financial problems.
“It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration’s [bailout] proposal,” said McCain in a statement. “I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.”
In political terms, this move could be a huge risk for the GOP nominee. He is thrusting himself into the center of an issue on which he has struggled to explain himself to voters. It only emphasizes that the economy is far and away the No. 1 issue in the election – and voters generally say that they trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle the economy well.
In addition, it’s not clear that the bailout proposal is in fact sinking with all hands on board.
It is true that lawmakers have been peppering Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke with complaints that the plan helps Wall Street, not Main Street. And the administration has already signaled that it will retreat on some issues, notably agreeing with the Democrats’ insistence that any financial bailout contain some curbs on excessive executive pay.
But congressional leaders generally have indicated that they foresee passage of some kind of plan in the reasonably near future.
“We’re moving in a productive direction,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Wednesday.
It’s also possible, though, that McCain’s move will be seen by voters as an action undertaken by a forceful leader in a crisis. A Pew Research Center poll shows that Americans back the administration’s $700 billion bailout plan by a 2-to-1 margin (although a Rasmussen Reports telephone survey showed a more even split).
In response to McCain’s unilateral move, Senator Obama said that he stood ready to go to Washington to help push through the bailout process, if leaders thought it would be useful, but he added that it was more important than ever to debate the economic problems at issue. Obama said he had initiated a plan earlier in the day that the two campaigns issue a joint statement on points they agreed were necessary in any financial bailout, including the need for limits on the pay of top executives whose companies would sell troubled securities to the government.
In Oxford, Miss. where Friday’s debate was to be held, stunned officials with the Commission on Presidential Debates said they were going forward with plans to hold the event.
“The university has gone all out for this and the town has gone all out,” said one debate official, who was not authorized to speak to the press . “It will be an absolute tragedy if they call it off now.”
In Washington, Senate majority leader Harry Reid also criticized the idea of candidates trying to move the process forward. “It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.”
President Bush is set to address the nation on Wednesday evening on the bailout’s importance.
If McCain, Obama, and Mr. Bush agree to some sort of joint front or conference pushing aid for the financial system, it could mark a crucial push for the plan. At the least, the move on the debates marks another twist in a campaign that has been the most unpredictable in a generation.
Make that two generations.
– Staff writer Alexandra Marks contributed to this report from Oxford, Miss.
Comments
2. OPEN REAL DEBATES | 09.24.08
Will you accept the scripted Presidential ‘debate’ again?
Brought to you by your ‘good friends’ at Wall Street.
No Paul or Nader Main Street USA,
nor Cynthia McKinney.
3. Nancy Campoy | 09.24.08
I think the debate is significant and must take place out of respect to the people who have organized it and to the public, such as myself, who want to hear the candidates speak on issues. To me, this seems like a cowboy move. Congress doesn’t need to be “rescued” by McCain. The people of the USA need to hear him speak in debate with Obama about issues. Not PR releases or sound bites; debate. Each candidate needs to make his case in debate in front of the entire nation so we, the people, can decide who we want to be our President. McCain is really jumping the gun in a political move to one up Obama. He is a candidate, not THE leader of the country. Again, no cowboys needed, let Congress do its work without a Presidential circus interfereing.
4. nancyinthesky | 09.24.08
No need to cancel the debate. Obama should show up regardless. How hard is it to squeeze an hour debate into their busy schedules?
Move the event to D.C. if necessary, but the show must go on, with our without yellow bellied McCain.
5. Jessica | 09.24.08
Funny how Bush, as bad a president as he is, was able to run the country, run his re-election campaign AND go to his debates. McCain is just trying to puff up his sense of importance. This is for show. This bail-out is a BAD idea anyway and should be scratched. It’ll benefit companies who deserve to drown in the sespool of bad loans and poor management they created.
6. ds | 09.24.08
Blake, I agree.
#1) McCain is trying to play like he’s the most responsible one, like he did when he picked Sarah (trying to be the maverick for change). Putting politics aside my A$$.
#2) McCain knows the topic on Friday night is going to be Economics, which he knows nothing about. he wants to try to “solve” the problems in the finacial sector fast so the conversation can turn to something else, like war or oil.
Give it up McCain, we see right thru it. Your in for a landslide loss in November, loser.
7. Sam | 09.24.08
Sounds like a courageous move by McCain to me, considering he is behind in the polls. Like he said in his acceptance speech, he puts country before politics.
8. Ron | 09.24.08
If I was John McCain, I’d go back to Washington too. This is a crisis and McCain, as an influential Senator, has a job to do there. If I was Barack Obama, I’d stay away from Washington. On the stump, he’s important. In the Senate, well, Barack said it best — “I told them if they needed me that I’d be there.”
The Senate decided that the junior Senator from Illinois with a little under 2 years of actual time in the Senate wasn’t needed.
9. CKU | 09.24.08
But me, as one vote, would like to see WHO CAN HANDLE THE ECONOMY better, not who can talk about it better.
10. jon | 09.24.08
I find it disconcerting that after Obamas staff called Mccain to issue a joint statement, Mccain issues it by himself just minutes after the phone call.
Putting politics aside?
Please…..
12. JK | 09.24.08
1) This IS political. It’s already been deemed as such by “political experts” who are calling it a good tactical move. What is McCain going to do? Study up on economics with Sarah and come up with a solution that our greatest economists can probably barely comprehend?
2) McCain and Palin are both cowards. Palin hiding from questions now McCain dodging the debate? Are these two completely unprepared and dysfunctional? The McCain Palin campaign is a joke.
13. Randy McSmith | 09.24.08
Mccain is back to his crazy antics again. I am just sick of his smokescreens.
15. Charles H. Townsend | 09.24.08
The debate should go on because the American people need leadership and they do not need Mr. McCain to seek a distraction in the campaign. The issue of the Wall Street crisis is no greater today than yesterday he needs to be able to handle a 2 hour debate if he expects to be President. What he is doing is an indication of ‘Gimmick’ politics of the worst type - Shame on him!
16. Dan | 09.24.08
It’s a gimmick, plan and simple. The polls have you down by 9 points this morning and once again, McCain mashes the panic button!!!
17. Fred | 09.24.08
It’s time to speak up in a debate John. If you become president, you will have to multitask and hold a press conference on the same day. Why not now?
Avoiding a debate is the tactic I would take if I was afraid to expose my ignorance to the American Public on prime-time TV. I also think it’s the reason we haven’t heard anything (except sound bites) from the Republican VP pick.
18. Eric | 09.24.08
Great move by McCain, very patriotic, “Country First”! BTW friday’s debates about foreign policy not economy for all of you who think that BHO would win it. Oh, and BHO just said to call him if they need him in DC - Not Very Presidential!
19. Michael | 09.24.08
Since it’s difficult to believe anything McCain says during this campaign, he might just be looking for some photo ops (While Sarah Palin will try to see more countries from the tip of Alaska).
20. Mark | 09.24.08
Every move a candidate makes is assumed to be political. While McCain’s surprise decision could be politically motivated, an imminent solution to the financial crisis is far more important than whether the debate takes place this Friday night or sometime next week. Obama may pay for rejecting this offer.
21. paulol | 09.24.08
If he can’t attend, maybe the VP candidates can debate that night instead. Isn’t that what a VP is supposed to do in an emergency? Congress rarely votes on Friday or Saturday anyways so I’m not sure what the big deal is.
22. Campbell | 09.24.08
There is a stalemate in Washington and Obama does not like it because he does not have the economic experience. McCain contacted Obama asking his to agree to suspend campaigning until the countries financial crisis is under control and to come to Washington to lend a hand. So far Obama is attempting to put a political spin on the situation instead of helping.
24. ace | 09.24.08
Let’s see: there are 97 other Senators, 435 Representatives, 1 President and 2 real experts working on this right now. And Obama calls McCain this morning to suggest a joint statement; McCain agrees, and then unilaterally announces he is suspending the debate.
This is clearly a political stunt, and beneath the dignity of a candidate for the presidency.
25. Kean | 09.24.08
So, to put it plainly, McCain wants to duck the difficult economic questions in the debate to ‘appear’ focussed on solving the economic crisis brough about by having the GOP in charge? …. one could say almost brilliant! but sadly very see-through.
26. Concerned Voter-510821 | 09.24.08
McCain is really afraid because he knows that the economy will be center stage, not the main topic earlier scheduled. He wants to run away. If McCain cannot handle multi-tasking, then he cannot run the country. The president encounters many problems simultaneously, how would he handle them, by postponing them? This is childish, unprofessional and lacking in leadership. Obama, don’t postpone! You are in your right to say NO. If this debate is postponed, the media should have the courage to point out McCain’s lack of leadership.
27. Sandra S | 09.24.08
By cancelling his campaign and the debates, he is still campaigning. Come on you don’t mean to tell me that his handlers are trying to make him look like he is coming to the rescue? Only John McCain can handle this crisis? What a baloney move. I believe it was Obama who mentioned before that if it was necessary and crucial to the actions in Washington, that he and he presumed McCain would go back. But by this move, McCain is using politics to grandstand. Frankly, I think he is very nervous about the debate - particularly since I believe it was going to cover economics. What is he going to do if Obama clearly outpolls him in November - cancel the elections?
28. Ajay | 09.24.08
People are smarter than what McCain gives them credit for. Is he really hoping this kind of political gimmickry will prevail?
He might try. But all he has done in this campaign is putting himself first.
29. Michael | 09.24.08
What good will it do to have two more senators (McCain and Obama)in Washington to sort the financial bailout. I think 98 senators, who are not running for President will be enough to get the job done. Both McCain job and Obama’s job now is to run for President - Not to fly back to Washington and interject presidential politics into the economic mess. Let the rest of the House and Senate do their business without the presidential candidates.
30. ed graham | 09.24.08
The guy doesn’t want to debate. He’ll get crushed on the issues. His campaign wants nothing to do with the issues. They prefer a stupid electorate. Bock, bock, bock……..chee-ken!
31. lucy2008 | 09.24.08
Mr Grier,
This is so disheartening again. Playing politics over this most important of topics, Mr. McCain is gaming the American people once again. The debate on Friday takes 3 hrs of Mr. McCain’s time. What is the big deal? In a time where he and Mrs. Palin have hardly given any interviews, we have all waited to here from him and Mr. Obama in a forum that is highly respected, highly anticipated, and shown around the world. How disappointing. Can’t Mr. McCain do more than one thing at a time or is he incapable of that? A president can handle multiple problems- that is the job. I don’t get it.
If Mr. McCain must be in Washington DC, perhaps the debate can be moved there. This debate is way too important to delay. Perhaps they can debate “the economy” for this debate.
We should all demand Mr. McCain to not run away but to debate and show his stuff and respect for all of us. He can do more than one thing at a time, and if he can’t, he should not be president. A man who can’t handle the stress and activities is a weak man and should not be president. Mr. McCain standup to the job!
32. manny | 09.24.08
Blake (1.) - “…Its almost offensive.”
It is not “almost offensive” Blake. It IS offensive. you are completely right that his presence in DC would actually make the negotiations harder. This is a shameful, blatant attempt at avoiding an unpleasant debate for himself. Imagine the GOP response if Obama had suggested that: “..he is weak on foreign policy and want to hide”, “he is a coward”, ….and much worse! How the heck could this guy get away with a stunt like this?? Obama has so far refused to postpone the debate - I hope he sticks to his guns on that.
Now more than ever, the public needs to hear from these two men. Consider it a test of multi-tasking ability as well.
33. Ken | 09.24.08
You know, I’m not an expert at anything. I’m just a guy with some common sense. I can’t escape the feeling that Senator McCain just found a convenient excuse to duck out of the debate that he knew would make him look bad. Since he selected Governor Palin as his running mate, I’ve completely lost every shred of respect I ever had for the man. He should be retired.
34. ApostasyUSA | 09.24.08
McCain is playing politics with the economic crisis.
The Republicans haven’t cared about running our government for years so now they REALLY need to LOOK like they care.
John McCain needs to be educated on the economy:
“I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.”
and
“The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” McCain said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”
John McCain has ramped up his fake-populist rhetoric recently, saying that helping the people who are struggling to pay their mortgages, fill their gas tanks, and put food on the table will be his “first priority in setting the economic policies of this nation.” [johnmccain.com, accessed 4/17/08]
Yet at the same time, McCain has said that some of the problems families are facing are “psychological.” In fact, according to McCain himself, his proposal to suspend the gas tax this summer–one of the main focal points of his new economic plan–is nothing more than “a little psychological boost.”
[CNN Debate, 1/30/08; Your World with Neil Cavuto, 4/16/08]
How can McCain possibly help the hard-working families struggling to make ends meet when he thinks their problems are just “psychological”?
RUSSERT: The fact is you are different than George Bush.
SEN. McCAIN: No. No. The fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.
McCain doing this is just plain eerie to me…..gave me the chills……
Stay on message, stay on the trail.
Democrats get my vote. I decided this years ago.
35. Elizabeth Parker | 09.24.08
As we age, the brain’s ability to multi-task declines, according to considerable research. The President needs to be able to multi-task and focus.
36. captbilly | 09.24.08
I am nearly as stunned by this move by McCain as I was when he picked Palin for VP. I would say that it is faily clear that McCain doesn’t want the debate, because he is afraid that it will include many questions about the economy. I think the next step will be for McCain to cancel the Palin BIden debate because he is clearly terrified about what she might say. McCain isn’t the one to find an answer to our economic crisis, and neither is Obama right now, instead we need people who aren’t in the middle of a highly contentious political campaign to do it.
The American people have a right to see McCain and Palin answer some hard questions about the war, the economy, their ability to handle the job of President, etc. We have seen precious little of the straight talk that McCain used to be famous for in recent months, and we don’t know squat about Palin’s ability to speak on tough issues.
37. Jon | 09.24.08
exactly.. What kind of confident presidential candidate cancels a critical candidate vs. candidate debate just two days away? That just screams insecurity to me. To act like the system just simply wont work without McCain there to push it along is just floating his own boat. And implying that Obama is in on it too? That’s real classy.
Regardless, it’s all the stuff he did in the past that REALLY matters, and not what he does now during his campaign, right? RIGHT? =)
38. Zayden | 09.24.08
Fine - Then its time for Palin to step up and replace McCain the debate. They say she is ready to step in for him if the need arises. SHE is not a Senator. The Biden/Palin debate on Friday. I look forward to it.
39. Dave | 09.24.08
John McCain is clearly doing this because he believes it is the right thing to do, and that he can add some help and/or stability to the negotiations. Whether he can actually help out that sad-sack of blowhards (our congressman from both parties) is questionable.
The reason I think John McCain is sincere in his intentions is that he has a clear advantage in the debates, because he actually has convictions and ideas that don’t require a speachwriter and teleprompter to deliver or tailor to the audience of the minute. With this in mind, postponing the debate does nothing to help John McCain, it only helps Obama. This is the kind of action that only a true leader would take, and further indication that John McCain is a leader and Barak is just a pretender.
40. Peter | 09.24.08
Mc Cain is just running away from the debate. If at all there are questions on the economy (and there definitely will be since that’s where the focus is right now), Mc Cain cannot win a debate against Obama and he knows that.
Mc Cain and his campaign are just pulling this stunt to attract voters who cannot see through his ruse. How stupid does he think we Americans are?
41. Michael | 09.24.08
I agree; it is offensive to the “main street” taxpaying public of this country to think that John McCain has even the slightest qualification to help with this bail-out bill. This is so clearly an attempt to skip out on an inevitable loss in the debate to Senator Obama. You know it really doesn’t look good when someone who claims to be a National Hero of the United States is so afraid he’ll lose in a debate he’s willing to jeopardize the electoral process. Being a POW in Vietnam does NOT give him carte blanche to be a SOB in the United States.
42. Joshua Snyder | 09.24.08
Agreed! They want to have this pushed through by weeks end according to a number people on each side of the aisle. So how would a 9pm debate on Friday really effect it in any way. Aside from that Obama requested a joint conf to show support for the bill early this morning. This was McCains party figuring they could one up Obama and do a public request of call to action. Now imagine the hissing and spitting if Obama called upon McCain for that joint meeting in via public forum. Poor McCain’s head is spinning so he needs the break. Just nice to see them sinking thier own ship. Obama just needs to stick to the policies McCain is running Obama’s smear campaign for him.
43. knot4u | 09.24.08
i don’t understand how democrats can blame the republician’s and bush with all the troubles we have today. They should be vesting up to their part that they have been in power of the house since 2002 or 2003 and still here we are in a crisis if they didn’t hurt then they sure didn’t help
44. ed graham | 09.24.08
let me add, McCain’s campaign wants to hide McCain just like they’re hiding their lunatic VP nominee.
45. Morton Redner | 09.24.08
That’s clever - - to tell me I’m posting my comments too quickly because CSM doesn’t like what I have to say!
46. Christopher | 09.24.08
Congress seems to have gotten along without McCain for the past year that he’s been busy campaigning. Suddenly, the guy who admittedly doesn’t know much about economics is desperately needed? This is a charade.
47. william | 09.24.08
Why don’t you just vote present Barak . You have never voted on an important issue for your state or for your govt
48. debreuil | 09.24.08
Certainly giving one trillion+ dollars to people who lost is gambling is more important than democracy. Certainly better to fly to Washington and talk about it behind closed doors, rather than in a televised debate.
I think the suspension is mostly an attempt to cancel Sarah Palin’s second interview of the campaign, given how awful the first one was.
49. Mike | 09.24.08
I don’t know what McCain and his self described ignorance on economic matters can add to this economic debate. His advisers are like minded pro business, de-regulators, and former Bush officials who believe in the free market. “McCain’s economic team includes, among others, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former director of the CBO who worked in both Bush administrations; former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm; Stanford University economics professor John Taylor; Kevin Hasset of the American Enterprise Institute and advisor to President Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign; and Carlos Bonilla, a former special assistant to President Bush;…Meg Whitman, founder and former CEO of eBay, who also served as the director of investment giant Goldman Sachs in 2001 and 2002; and Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard.
Obama’s advisers are essentially the same advisers that congressional leaders rely on, and Obama’s team has had influence on scrutiny of the Paulson proposal from day one, without Obama having to address the issue so publicly.
Conservative George Will has said “Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not Barack Obama.”
I think McCain just threw in the towel.
50. ash | 09.24.08
what a ham!
McCain takes the cake — all right.
A debate without McCain would certainly be more beneficial for McCain than a debate with McCain.
Maybe Ms Palin could stand-in for the senator. And Sen. Palin could help
“hammer out” an agreement with Sen. McCain.
LIPSTICK!!!!! and ham — now we know why the Republican states are red.
51. shoemaker | 09.24.08
I beg to disagree. It’s not almost offensive, it’s completely offensive. McCain rickochees so much he’s like a hockey puck. Abraham Lincoln said, ‘you can fool some of the people all of the time,’ and that’s the McCain holdouts. Evangelicals, wake up!, how much are you willing to sacrifice for your dogma. Lies are not about Jesus Christ. Your command is to be in this world but not of this world. You evangelicals point to California forest fires as God’s punishment for gay marriage. Please, direct your prayers to saving the Bible Belt from God’s wrath.
52. Steve | 09.24.08
I think McCain is unprepared for the debate, and is trying to creatively buy more time. There are already enough folks wringing their hands over the bailout plan, and another one or two will only muddy the waters. I say do the debate as scheduled, and keep the campaign on track down the home stretch.
53. Common Sense | 09.24.08
McCain is a disgrace. What has happened to the man? #1 If he wanted to help he should have gone to DC days ago, #2 No one, especially Senators who know McCain, would ever turn to McCain regarding the economy, #3 He had a chance to ask for this privately during a call with Obama but decided for a unilateral childish and rash TV annoucement, #4 Going back to DC injects politics into a real crisis, #5 Everyone knows that McCain is using this as a hail Mary because today’s polls show how far he’s falling.
Not “almost offensive” - McCain’s use of a national crisis for political purposes is offensive.
54. debreuil | 09.24.08
Certainly giving one trillion+ dollars to people who lost it gambling is more important than democracy. Certainly better to fly to Washington and talk about it behind closed doors, rather than in a televised debate.
I think the suspension is mostly an attempt to cancel Sarah Palin’s second interview of the campaign, given how awful the first one was.
55. gaypastor | 09.24.08
BRAVO MCCAIN! This is twice now that the Rep. guy put HIS campaign on hold to take care of our country (once during the Rep. convention to see to the hurriance condidtions and today’s decision). Works for me! McCain believes what he preaches….country before party! A much better choice than the clearly opportunist Obama who has spent a year proving he cares mostly about Obama (and his presidential win). He’s beaten up the Clintons (remember Bill had the HIGHEST approval rating of any president leaving the White House since WWII - Obama brought his legacy down for his OWN sake) and he couldn’t care less about the actual REPRESENTATION of Women and ignored us (the Dems.) when we said we wanted the “Dream Ticket!!”
56. indiana007 | 09.24.08
I guess John McCain now thinks he has a “time machine”… Thank god I thought we could be in trouble… BTW the debate is 90 mins folks! I say there is no better time to see these guys perform under pressure and see what they are thinking
57. Wendy | 09.24.08
I believe both candidates are ready to debate at this time. My true feeling, they are equally concerned about the details of bailout plan too. They have made valid points over the last couple days. Do they need to be in Washington for this, probably not. Be sure they are both are more than ready to debate the issues of the nation. Read their platforms and see. Neither is skating anything.
58. Lance K | 09.24.08
McCain is a “true patriot and a class act”…we are lucky to have him in govt…and McCain put is correct to put USA Business lst and return to DC to aid our country at this time of “econ. meltdown”, that’s what a “true patriot” does…unlike the opposite, i.e., the “talker”, B. Hussein Obama who would do nothing but vote “present”, like he has done “100 times so far”, so no need for him to return to DC…Obama shows us here “who and what he really is.
59. Campbell | 09.24.08
Obama now is refusing to delay the debate to discuss “foreign affairs” no less. McCain challenged Obama to ten debates and he refused them all. Now he’s ready. Its seems that for Obama a debate is more important than country. Maybe Obama can debate himself in a Senate stall.
60. ron hageund | 09.24.08
What a Sad-Sack Joke, McCain has turned into. At a time when a Debate is such a Great Opportunity to show every voter, how he mananged to Graduate 894th out of 899 Students,from the Navy’s ‘Very Own’ Academy, so many, many, many years ago! Wow! Now, That’s Experience for ya’. Huh?
61. Lance K | 09.24.08
McCain is doing what a “real patriot does”..come to the aid of the country at a time of financial meltdown…that may be hard to understand by those that put their careers and personal interest first…a real President would do just what McCain is doing…tend to the country first…that’s why thinking voters are going to vote for McCain as our next President…God Bless, America.
62. Dave | 09.24.08
I’m guessing that McCain figured he simply wasn’t going to be ready for the debate. He needs some more time to memorize the talking points his staff will prepare for him on the economy. He knew that Obama would shred him if he had to have the debate in two days. Things are moving too fast for him. Especially given that these are ECONOMIC issues. In a moment of rare honesty a while ago(before his staff told him to “shut up, Senator, and forget about the straigh talk stuff!”), he admitted that he doesn’t know much about economics.
64. Kevin | 09.24.08
These problems demand reasonable and rational fixes. Please keep both of these grandstanding goofballs as far away from Washington DC as possible. Ohio and Florida need them!
65. Rodney | 09.24.08
Ha ha ha, John McCain says that the Senate needs his expert “know nothing, deregulate everything” advice! McCain can just send his advisor Phil Gramm who legalized the derivatives market. If it is not a political ploy, McCain may want to get back to Washington to make sure his lobbyists are well represented in claiming the $700B.
66. bob | 09.24.08
The thing is that you just know he did this because he assumes ” the common folk” would just eat this stuff up. Mccain is of course assuming that he will look like a “hero” for saving the day. What a bunch of bull$hit. If anything, it’ll make people think he’s totally disorganized and unprepared to deal with a debate. What- I mean this guy owns like 10 houses or something? He’s obviously good at multi-tasking, so what excuse does he really have?
If Mccain wins, then my opinion of the American public will have sunk down a few more notches. Its amazing that Bush got voted in not once, but twice. Surely people won’t be so stupid as to vote for Mccain. Then again…
67. Seriously??? | 09.24.08
So McCain’s idea of “putting politics aside” is to pull one of the most brazen political stunts ever?
And if you don’t think this is a political stunt then I’ve got a bridge to nowhere (complete with a road to nowhere) to sell you…..
68. C. A. M. | 09.24.08
I don’t feel comfortable with a presidential candidate whose campaign decisions are dictated by crises. Down in the polls? Respond by selecting a lightning rod for a V.P. Start slipping in the polls again? Respond by canceling an upcoming major debate with your opponent to look ‘presidential.’ Shame on you John McCane. You are passing up the chance to tell us what you would do to turn things around.
69. Randy in Chicago | 09.24.08
Does McCain think that the phone company doesn’t keep records of when phone calls were made? What a dolt. If he was really trying to be bipartisan then wouldn’t the two campaigns have negotiated a joint press release. Instead this media ***** jumps on the message and makes his big announcement alone like working together was all his idea. No wonder so many who know him in the republican party hate his narcissistic guts.
Mark my words at the end of the day he will try not to sign on to the bill so he can “blame” democrats for acting in what is the country’s best interest. Country first? What a sick joke. How can anyone can still support this grandstanding idiot.
Because Bush is still president and leader of the Republican party Obama has the opportunity to do what McCain cannot, assume defacto leadership his party in the negotiations surrounding the bill marginalize McCain and make him look like the irrelevant clown he is.
70. Caldwell Young | 09.24.08
McCain has bailed out of the debate in order to do what? To take the campaign back to Washington, where he would try to look important by, we can guess, disagreeing with both President Bush and Senator Obama?
He’s erratic, he’s hiding himself even as he has hidden his Vice Presidential pick from public eye or questioning?
This is a democracy. Democracy thrives on debate. We’re focussed on the issues. So, hold the debates. If McCain can’t show up, he could send Palin as she has no role in the Senate and is expected to be “ready on day one,” right?
Caldwell Young
71. Morton Redner | 09.24.08
I don’t blame McCain. I’ve also seen the latest polls. It’s obvious he’s declaring a time-out, hoping that the poll results tomorrow will look better than they do today.
I think looking back we’ll agree it’s not any single thing that did McCain in. It’s not picking a hick-town girl from the sticks as our backup President. It’s not by his own admission an ignorance of economic affairs. It’s not the baldfaced lies in his speeches, e.g., telling us Obama will raise taxes even when the entire nation knows Obama will lower taxes for 95% of the population. It’s the bigger picture we’re left with, the self-portrait McCain himself has painted for us. OK so you were a brave a POW. But really it is like General Wesley Clark put it on Day One: Just because you were shot down over North Korea doesn’t mean you’re eligible to lead this country. Because you’re not.
I can’t wait for this election to be over so I won’t ever have to listen to what comes out of that man’s mouth.
72. Jon | 09.24.08
McCain looking for another do over? Behind in the polls? Pick a kooky political neophyte to get everyone off balance and change the subject. Hurricane making your party look bad? Cancel your convention for a few days. Behind in the polls again? Suspend your campaign. Is “Maverick” a synonym for reckless?
I can see the future. Terrorism in Iraq? Attack Canada! They won’t expect a thing. Economy in the dumper? Hire “Bozo the Clown” to be the “Chief Whiner Fighter!”
73. JunkKicker2008 | 09.24.08
Hey - these guys have been campaigning for like 2 years now, postponing a debate for a week or so is NO big deal. As MY Arizona senator - I want McCain in Washington. This IS his job.
First off the debate topic is on foreign policy and security - advantage McCain. Obama is the one who has been in classroom for the last several days doing his studies. This change in plans will only mess up his “debate scripting”. His NON-presence in DC is to his advantage being able to “NO VOTE” or “NOT PRESENT” as he so often in the past used.
74. JunkKicker2008 | 09.24.08
Hey - these guys have been campaigning for like 2 years now, postponing a debate for a week or so is NO big deal. As MY Arizona senator - I want McCain in Washington. This IS his job.
First off the debate topic is on foreign policy and security - advantage McCain. Obama is the one who has been in classroom for the last several days doing his studies. This change in plans will only mess up his “debate scripting”. His NON-presence in DC is to his advantage being able to “NO VOTE” or “NOT PRESENT” as he so often in the past used.
75. Its Worse Than “Political” | 09.24.08
I hate making predictions but McCain’s calculation is worse than political. The EU has just issued a report stating that Iran is “close” to developing a nuclear weapon. McCain has been tipped off of an impending strike on Iran–he’s cancelling so he can sit back and bluster how he’s the guy to keep America safe. The Economic Disaster comes off the table. Let’s face it, to the GOP/Neocons, this strategy of attacking Iran is much more effective at giving them a shot at the presidency that McCain stumbling at the debate to try to score points! Stay tuned.
76. Wayne Duber | 09.24.08
I say hold the debate in Oxford, Mississippi, as scheduled. Aren’t Presidents supposed to be able to work on more than one thing at a time? Incidentally, what a great venue - University of Mississippi - conjuring up memories of James Meredith, the first black student at Ole Miss in 1963/64, forced integration, Gov. Ross Barnett, fire hoses, police dogs, lynchings, church bombings, murdered civil rights workers and Bob Dylan’s song “Oxford Town”! Does everyone realize what a staggeringly monumental time this is?
77. Michael | 09.24.08
This is just a ploy to try to make Obama look bad, I’m glad he did not fall for it. We don’t need McCain or Bush to have “input” on the financial crisis, they caused it. McCain has already said he does not know much about the economy.
78. Gary R | 09.24.08
In my humble opinion, McCain has been in congress a long time and can lend a hand in getting this bill passed. Obama is still a junior member and has little input other than he is the democratic candidate for president.
I can just see Pelosi and Reid telling him what they want..
The point here is the Dems can use this for polictical fodder, holding off and keeping the crisis hot until the election and it appears as if that is exactly what is happening. All under the guise of helping the little guy out.
let me remind you, the Bush tax cuts end by law in 2010 and in march of this year, Obama voted to overturn the tax cuts for everyone. Then he has stated that he will have to suspend his spending spree until after the crisis, like maybe around 2010 with your money instead of tax cuts?
79. David | 09.24.08
I am very disappointed in John McCain. I think the American people need to hear from their potential leaders and to gain some confidence in the future from their presence at the debate and to learn more about the financial issues underlying this crisis. There are plenty in Washington to work with the President to come to an agreement on the program going forward and the last thing they need is the spotlight of Presidential politics distracting from the work at hand. This just seems like some grandstanding to me - McCain to the rescue! I don’t understand why he can’t take a few hours off to discuss the important issues in front of the American people. We need to hear from our candidates about these issues, now!
80. Robert | 09.24.08
Lame: Congress needs McCain’s help like I need my 2 year old son’s help lifting a couch. It makes him feel good about himself, and important, but any mature observer knows that the 2 year old is being humored and is contributing little. McCain is asking us to smile at him, the economic two year old, while he goes to “fix” the economy.
This looks like cutting and running from a face to face comparison of him and Obama by the voters.
PS: Funny how he has time for his other meetings tomorrow, and even interviews, and a long drawn out day of announcing his gimmick. This is pathetic.
81. Dave | 09.24.08
FYI I was the 2nd person to post comments on this article but they now show up as number 38, after all pro-Obama comments (by the time I post this they may be down farther). I think that tells you about the objectivity of this site.
I guess that’s indicative of the society we will be living in if Obama and the libs get in power, opinions will be squelched unless they agree with those in power. Right out of the USSR playbook. I hope this posting can’t be traced….
82. martin | 09.24.08
He wants to continue the deregulation of bush what does he hope to have happen?
He is going to fix the problem by himself? Come on. Besides bush is still president, no matter how hard BUSH
wants MCCain to win.
If he wanted Hillary’s votes he should have picked hillary.
84. Richard | 09.24.08
John McCain simply does not want to debate Barack Obama. McCain knows that once the American people see a cranky, whiny old man standing in the shadow of a dynamic and articulate leader like Barack Obama, his poll numbers will fall through the floor. All through the primaries, I heard many pundits say “John McCain does not want to debate Barack Obama. He would much rather debate Hillary Clinton.” The debate is going to be like Nixon-Kennedy only worse. McCain’s turgid attempt to “postpone” the debate just makes him look desperate. He can’t postpone the inevitable.
Chicken!
85. one4REALchange | 09.24.08
McCain canceled the Letterman show because he had to “run and save the country singlehandedly,” yet… he lies, watch “where’s John McCain:
http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/dave_tv/highlights/index/php/bigshowhighlight.phtml
86. Rob Martin | 09.24.08
Should we skip the voting process too and just hand the office to you and Sarah Palin, you mavericks?
That’d challenge the ‘old bulls’ in the White House!
87. Dave | 09.24.08
No, lets hand it to the empty suit, the gaffe machine, and their empty-brained cheering section in Hollywood. Obama’s an actor just like them, full of empty words written by someone else pandering for the biggest gate. No substance, just fluff. Wake up out there.
88. M.P. | 09.24.08
How on earth can anyone be behind the audacity of McCain’s statement that, essentially, he knows the campaign has been planned for and set up for September 24th for a year, and that people have poured in enormous amounts of time, money, and effort into preparing for it, the city of Oxford, the state of Mississippi, the university, the media, but he has something, for all intents and purposes, that he feels is more important than honoring his commitment to this debate?
I live in Oxford. I know how hard people have worked, how much money and time has been spent on this. That he can just blow these people off and blow off his opponent is sick. The fact is, with those planes, he can be off of capitol hill by his office’s closing time, in Mississippi for the debates by 8 (Central time), and back before the clock strikes midnight. This is 6-8 hours out of his day. This is a year of work and thousands and thousands of dollars for Mississippi. It’s a disgrace that he can’t even honor that commitment that HE MADE.
Seriously, how can one man just decide that even though these things have been set in motion for a year, long before he was the decisive candidate, that he can just decide when a debate should be and where it should be? How on earth does he think he has the right to call the shots in this situation? It’s stunning, it’s shocking, it’s frightening.
I’m really very surprised that no one is remembering what an effort these debates are to the people hosting them, what a drain of resources and time they are, how unbelievably rude it is to not honor your commitment to these people and to the American public, to whom you promised a debate.
89. M.P. | 09.24.08
September 26th, my apologies. I’m all in a tizzy and I wrote today’s date instead of the debate date.
90. dotty | 09.24.08
It is odd that the President of the United States has the same particular look on his face as he did when reading a children’s story to a classroom of children.
In the 911 attacks on our financial backbone, it was towards buildings housing a perception of banking and our military might.
Is it possible that a foreign conspiracy had been investing heavily here and infiltrating our economics to pull out enmasse on 911 this year?
The President has the power to suspend an election during a war doesn’t he?
Mc Cain rightly felt that a response to a disaster for this Country overrides a college debate and blah blah blah with a trainned attorney who’s economic experience was exposed in the documentary
http://www.hypemovie.com/
Talk is cheap, when you get a call to the Oval office isn’t it?
Congress is not always privy to information that the President has.
91. shoemaker | 09.24.08
McCain, show up at the debate.
You Republicans with a shred of truth and true patriotism in you.
How long will you continue to support such an outrageous record of:
deceit
prejudice
hypocrisy
stupidity
greed
If you keep convincing yourself that the U.S. government is the villain and corporations are the heroes you are buying into warlordism which is a sign of a dying empire. The warnings and warmings are ominous. Balance of government oversight and regulation and strong healthy moral corporations is the center holding, and as the great poem said ‘the center cannot hold’ betokens the Second Coming. The Right Wing is treasonous.
92. dotty | 09.24.08
Michael,
If this was indeed an attack on the US, then internal finger pointing is useless.
Look at reality when a local investor put in 5 billion dollars and it doesn’t make a dent.
No, this seems to be an enmasse money pull out by big big money.
The only upside is that we Nationalize the Country and put business, land, and the economy back into the hands of the American people.
FBI is looking into who put beeeg money in, and who took beeeg money out all one day, all one time.
93. Carol | 09.24.08
I voted McCain as an Arizona Senator, to do the job of being a senator, I did not vote for him to run for president, and i do not believe it is his job to run for president. His job is to be a senator, and he does have the best interest of our country in mind. Good for him!
94. Jim | 09.25.08
The McCain advisors are making mistakes. This move shores up republicans, but puts off the swing voters who would base decisions on the debates. Overall a negative. The fact that both candidates endorse a bail-out also is very disconcerting.
I want a debate, and it would be good if it wasn’t memorized sound bites.
95. MRM | 09.25.08
For those who say McCain is dodging a debate because he’s “afraid”, there will be plenty of time for debate in the coming weeks—I look forward to them. Politically motivated or not, he’s doing what’s in the best interest of the country as a senator. Where else should any senator be right now? Giving lip service to “hope” and “change” is one thing, leading it is another.
96. dotty | 09.25.08
Michael,
If this was indeed an attack on the US, then internal finger pointing is useless.
Look at reality when a local investor put in 5 billion dollars and it doesn’t make a dent.
No, this seems to be an enmasse money pull out by big big money.
The only upside is that we Nationalize the Country and put business, land, and the economy back into the hands of the American people.
FBI is looking into who put beeeg money in, and who took beeeg money out all one day, all one time.
97. JacobZberg | 09.25.08
The world doesn’t stop for anyone. Bad move on McCain’s part, incredibly cowardice. We were the laughing stock of the world before and even more so now. People are working on this crisis, you and Obama need to debate this issue, there are only 4 weeks left. This is absolutely ridiculous and because of this, I know exactly who I’m voting for now. It’s clear who is the better leader through all this, Mr. Obama, calm cool and knows what he needs to do and how to do it. It’s just that crystal clear.
98. Manuel Hernandez | 09.25.08
McCain has let me down. His hero image has splintered into several scared debaters. T. S. Elliot: “This is the way the world ends, now with a bang, but a wimper.”
99. Dave | 09.25.08
McCain going to Washington to try and “fix” the economy is like a chef who says, “I don’t know much about cars” and comes to overhaul my engine. I wouldn’t let him touch it with a 10 foot pole! McCain, the people are not stupid. We see through this political game. When and IF the debate happens, you can bet your A** that when the economic question comes up, McCain is going to use this as a political gain, that he is “a leader” because he was doing something by going to Washington to fix something that (in his words) he knows nothing about. Don’t tell me this is putting politics aside.
Oh, and the whole deal with Barack’s camp calling McCain to make a joint statement, and McCain agreeing to it and the next minute making a wild cowboy move by issuing the statement before the two camps got together… Wild cowboys fall hard Mr. McCain. If you do this kind of **** as President, the people will not trust you. But after this stunt today to avoid the debate, we’ll see if you even get close to the Presidency. I highly doubt it. This was not expressing leadership, this was undercutting your opponent to make yourself look good. It was offensive and most of all cowardly.
100. Nancy | 09.25.08
This is like a kid tipping over the chess board as soon as he starts to lose.
There is a phrase for this. It is called “finking out.”
101. John Brown | 09.25.08
I think John McCain is the one with a “Messiah” complex. McCain in his dramatic fashion will suspend his campaign, go to D.C., part the waters of the Potomac, and lead congress through the sludge of the river bottom to economic salvation.
102. Carlo | 09.25.08
A week ago McCain was telling us “… the fundamentals of our economy are strong.” The current financial crisis is a problem that has the potential to impact all of us and a debate provides a good opportunity to address the issue.
103. Dr. Chuck | 09.25.08
If McCain truly puts country ahead of his ambition(s) he would never have picked Sarah “I-can-see-Russia” Palin. Palin has less knowledge about U.S. and World History, International Relations, Economic (101) and the U.S. Government than most college seniors.
104. Alice | 09.25.08
I am very disappointed in Senator McCain. I cleared my schedule 2 weeks ago so I could watch the first presidential debate. Why not switch the topic from foreign policy to the economy? I am very interested in hearing what Sen.Obama and Sen.McCain have to say about their economic policies. If they cannot make it, then perhaps Sen.Biden and Gov.Palin can take their place?
105. Greg | 09.25.08
McCain has really lost touch with what Americans want. I have never seen Americans more tuned in to an election. So, The McCain camp hides the VP and now wants to back out of a debate that everyone wants to see. Thanks John: Election First!
106. Dave | 09.25.08
Are we to believe that Congress will still be in session at 9pm on a Friday, making debate impossible - and that McCain’s input on Capitol Hill is so indispensable? Is this really reason to delay the VP debates as well, giving Caribou Barbie a further reprieve from answering questions of any kind?
107. MPP | 09.25.08
Yet another head-scratch provoking decision by McCain. I used to see him as a viable president, someone who was relatively moderate and didn’t come off as a partisan. Years back, I even thought I could vote for him if the Democrats couldn’t put up a solid candidate of their own.
But things have really changed. First, he maintained his Bush-like arrogance about the righteous of our strategies in Iraq. The, in bringing Palin on as his vice-presidential candidate, he got me furrowing my brow wondering what he was really thinking and doing (not to mention that she pulls the ticket much, much further to the right than I like).
Now he requests to postpone a debate that addresses the topic that he is considered to be stronger at than Obama, foreign policy. As another commenter wrote, other senators know that the economy is McCain’s weakness, and they won’t seriously turn to him for advice, insight or guidance in the negotiations. Moreover, it would seem to me that the McCain campaign should want to turn the focus away from the economy, even if for a brief time on Friday evening. By delaying the debate, he’s simply keeping the spotlight on his weakness, on the economy, which polls say people think the Democrats are better able to manage at this point.
I’m scratching my head trying to figure this man out. And if he wins in November I’ll be scratching my head trying to understand how he was elected.
108. meredith | 09.25.08
If this is really so pressing, why not swap the VP and Pres debates? Oh, wait . . if the delayed debate is re-scheduled and displaces the Biden-Palin debate next week I guess the VP candidates will just have to schedule another for sometime in November.
109. Tim | 09.25.08
Absolutely no question that this is just another ploy by the republicans to avoid embarrassment. Those who support this move by McCain are simply either ignorant or as evil as the current republican party. Obama needs to win this election so we can move on to fixing everything the republicans have messed up. Enough is enough! I don’t want to hear anything about “country first” from these republicans anymore.
110. Jawad Malik | 09.25.08
Perhaps the presidential election - ought to be postponed too, to give Mr McCain enough time so he may “resuce” us from this financial disaster …
I used to have a lot of respect for John McCain (he used to talk about campaign finance reform) but I am afraid I am losing it swiftly. Its obvious McCain/Palin strategy is to avoid tough and serious policy questions and hope that voters dont see through their attempt to mask either their lack of ideas or flawed ideas.
111. David S. | 09.25.08
I find the people claiming this to be a ploy by Senator McCain laughable. Our nation’s economy is at a critical stage. This single piece of legislation is one of the most important items to come before congress in decades. Sitting back and saying “I’m too busy working on getting myself elected to bother with the American people” is criminal. I’m glad one of the candidates is putting Americans first. This is a classic example of why Barak Obama is the wrong person for the job. This time voting “present” just won’t cut it.
112. Lori | 09.25.08
We have a genuine crisis in our country and have a right to expect our senators to focus on the job they were hired to do. Insisting that the debates go on for your convenience reminds me of children stomping their feet and demanding that they get to watch their favorite tv show while the country burns down around them. The comments about McCain’s age are juvenile jokes much like an arrogant teen commenting on how out of touch his parents are. This is serious business. If you can’t pay attention to real issues go back to the sand box.
113. Regular Guy | 09.25.08
I truly believe this is a stale tactic by the GOP/McCain camps to help McCain and keep Palin out of the eyes of the country. The McCain campaign knows Palin is weak and unprepared for any type of national debate on issues she has no concept of. That’s why they are putting her in daily meetings with various heads of sate for the next week so that the news and media can no longer say she has never meet a foreign head of state. McCain is clearly in over his head and unprepared to deal with the debates and the presidency seeing that he can not “multitask” as a president must do. This is a ploy by the GOP/McCain camps to dupe the unintelligent voters into thinking McCain is doing something that no one else in Washington D.C. can do. Most of the people who are still for McCain are in denial and have been since Bush won his second term and no new emergence of any evidence showing these facts will change their minds and that is what the GOP and McCain campaign is hopping for. Anyone with a wit of intelligence knows that the economy is not McCain strong point but, yet, he’s going to close shop so he and he alone can help fix that which he knows not much about. That sounds about right for the person who should be running this country…If you’re a GOP candidate, you don’t really need to know. You’ve got all the other guys who do it for you. It’s just that they’re greedy and now they’re in trouble so, McCain thinks he needs to help them out with his lack of intelligence. Perfect if you ask me and my cynical mind.
114. TWD | 09.25.08
Reminds me of a stunt I witnessed in junior high school. Big examination was coming up so a kid pulls the fire alarm! Also reminds me of a scene in the Marx Brothers’ movie “A Night at the Opera” as a mute Harpo prepares to “address” an assembled multitude by downing a glass of water, and then another: Groucho - “We’re OK as long as the water holds out.” We’re at war aren’t we? A war that has cost a trillion dollars, thousands of lives, and has ground us into a recession - any day of the week McCoward could say “I am suspending my campaign to rush back to DC and help manage the war!” Go ahead then. I heard him say recently “I know how to win a war.” What war has he ever won?
115. Jim | 09.25.08
Let’s just remember that this is politics and when a politician senses that he is losing ground, he/she will do anything to stop the bleeding. The fact is that Mrs. Palin is not ready to debate. She knows this and the campaign is aware of this fact. This whole drama is being done to delay or more importantly keep her from having a debate. Just this morning, the drama unfolded. Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that the presidential debate be delayed for tomorrow night and instead be in place of the vice-presidential debate scheduled for next Thursday. This is what this whole thing is about folks. Palin isn’t ready to debate and it is scaring the **** out of the campaign. It looks like the Democrats and surprisingly the Republicans have agreed to a deal and will vote tonight. Very smart. Now John will have to go through with his debate and finally we will see if Palin is up to the task next week in an unscripted debate. But then again, we have several days between now and then to come up with another “drama” don’t we?
116. Jessica | 09.25.08
This is a political race right??? Then EVERYTHING these two men do is political. Both of them are going to do what they “think” is best.
The economic crisis should be first, but don’t say that it is a political move … come on … everything at this point is a “move”.
117. DW Boston MA | 09.25.08
The overwhelming majority of posters here consider this a charade by McCain. I agree. He used to be a man of respect. Not anymore. I’ve seen this syndrome in clubs I’ve been associated with - some extraordinary and personable people morph into unpalatable characters once they become president.
120. Kwaayesnama | 09.25.08
Is this the financial genius we are talking about?
The Chicago Tribune Interview 12/07: McCain said, “The issue of economics is something that I’ve really never understood as well as I should. I understand the basics, the fundamentals, the vision, all that kind of stuff,” he said. “But I would like to have someone I’m close to that really is a good strong economist. As long as Alan Greenspan is around I would certainly use him for advice and counsel…”I’ve never been involved in Wall Street, I’ve never been involved in the financial stuff, the financial workings of the country, so I’d like to have somebody intimately familiar with it,” he said of a potential vice presidential candidate, that’s Sarah Palin?
GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!
121. SUZYBLU | 09.25.08
This is clearly a national crisis. Both of these gentlemen are senators. They both need to personally be involved in the “bailout” decision. The debates can wait.
122. Mark Phillippi | 09.26.08
I think the decision to delay or cancel the debate demonstrates sound judgment on Senator McCain’s part. I certainly would try to avoid debating anyone as intelligent as Senator Obama. Delaying the debate could have the added benefit of forcing the cancellation of one or more Vice Presidential candidate debates, thereby allowing Governor Palin to continue to avoid public scrutiny. I suspect the Governor is not eager to go head-to-head with Senator Biden.
With the election only 40 days away, the delaying tactics may be successful.
123. sam c | 09.26.08
Ido not see why McCain can’t do both the debate and contributting to a bail out plan. No one on here has been able to provide a reason why both cannot be done as Obama has suggested.
124. DGS | 09.26.08
McCain says enough progress has been made on the bail out plan so he can attend the debate. So the debate is on according to CNN news. Yes!
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1. Blake | 09.24.08
How can McCain possibly say “Its time to put politics aside” and by that… he means going back to Washington where the attention is right now to try and score a few extra points on the “Who can best handle our economy” question which he has been losing by some 20 points in the latest polls. This isn’t putting politics aside… this is adding politics to a real crisis. We don’t have time for this charade, he needs to give up this grandstanding bit. Its almost offensive.