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Reid to McCain: Don't Come Back to Capitol
September 24, 2008 5:14 PM
A Democrat tells ABC News that, in a phone call late this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that it would NOT be helpful for him to come back to Washington, D.C., to work on the Wall Street bailout bill.
McCain this afternoon suspended his campaign and said he would skip the first presidential debate in order to return to Capitol Hill to work on the log-jammed Bush administration legislation, which, as of Wednesday afternoon, was in peril.
McCain had phoned Reid to ask about the prospects of him, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and others to sit down and work together on hammering out a bipartisan proposal.
"Sorry," Reid said to him, a Democrat close to Reid says.
Reid then read McCain the statement he had just put out: "This is a critical time for our country," says the Reid statement. "While I appreciate that both candidates have signaled their willingness to help, Congress and the administration have a process in place to reach a solution to this unprecedented financial crisis. I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Sen. Obama’s suggestion. But it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op. If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now.”
A source close to Reid said McCain didn't have much to say after that. Reid, the source says, thinks McCain's maneuver is a gimmick born from bad poll numbers and the fact that "debate prep must not be going very well."
- jpt
UPDATE: McCain senior adviser Mark Salter emails: "Yesterday, Harry Reid said that consensus couldn't be achieved without John McCain's leadership. John stepped up and is providing that leadership. Now Senator Reid seems to have changed his mind for reasons we'll let him explain. But what he should understand is that this isn't about Harry Reid or John McCain or Barack Obama. It's about the American people and, in the words of Warren Buffet, the financial Pearl Harbor they're facing. John's committed to doing his part to help avert that calamity. We hope Senator Reid is too."
September 24, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (718)
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AGREED...
These liberals who ram through the worlds largest spending Bills with no time allowed to read it will be tomorrows top criminals when the revolution starts...or finishes.
Posted by: Bruce Doran | Mar 30, 2009 3:21:26 PM
Senator Harry Reid is a polemicist for anti-US leftist ideology, on his good days. Most of the time he is simply weak, uninformed, and ineffective: a snivvler who has done nothing of note criticizing heroes who have sacrificed for the country. Senators Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield must be writhing in their graves over the fact that a twit like Reid has inherited the mantle of their noble leadership. Were it not for his seniority and pork projects, his voters would have abandoned him long ago.
Posted by: Dr Russ Ramsey | Mar 27, 2009 10:36:59 PM
Hary Reid and Pelosi are like these strange alien beings that invaded washington. I really can't relate to them as human beings.
Pelosi should wear a T-shirt daily saying "i hate all republicans!" and Harry Reid should wear a T-shirt daily saying "i'm a dork and i can't believe i got this job..."
Posted by: Richard | Oct 1, 2008 9:23:38 AM
If the Democratic congress, Pelosi, and Reid spent as much time legislating, as they do playing partisan politics and making nasty accusations, our country would be in good shape.They both say that from now on, after we get the 750 Billion, we'll make sure their is oversight! ... then, they attach a multi-billion dollar pork bill for Acorn, to the bailout bill. Pelosi and Reid should be reminded that only 15% of the country give them a favorable rating. Conditions would rapidly improve in America, if Pelosi and Reid would step down, so we could replace them with legislators who represent most of the people ... not just 15%.
Posted by: Gina | Sep 26, 2008 6:19:53 PM
Republicans against bad bailout details.
Liberal Democratic leadership are pushing a bailout deal that puts 20% of the money into the troubled Acorn housing organization. This is pure pork by democrats.
The deal that’s on the table now is not a very good deal. Twenty percent of the money that should go to retire debt that will be created to solve this problem winds up in a housing organization called ACORN that is an absolute ill-run enterprise, and I can’t believe we would take money away from debt retirement to put it in a housing program that doesn’t work.
Posted by: edabe | Sep 26, 2008 12:48:13 PM
First the Democrats blindly follow Obama ... now, they are willing to blindly follow Reid, Bush and Paulson ... in a decision which could dramatically affect every American for decades. Well, thank God, Senator John McCain doesn't just want to take a few people's word for it. I didn't think I could dislike inept Harry Reid, with his 15% approval rating, any more than I already did, but this isn't about Reid being left alone to decide America's future. It's about the best and the brightest collectively solving this dire problem.
Posted by: Howard | Sep 26, 2008 11:24:17 AM
There was never a deal- and McCain had never signed on as Harry Reid announced.
Reid is the one playing politics!!!
Monday 9/22
Fearing a political backlash against Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week's end.
Posted by: pecanpii | Sep 26, 2008 11:00:33 AM
Believe in Obama - Believe in what??? He doesn't have any leadership experience, has never ran a business, did not vote on anything to be judged by, does not salute the flag, and you want this guy to be president???Everytime I apply for a job they always look at my experience. They don't look so much at my Masters Degree...so what is the difference now??? Regardless of the party - I want someone who has experience, someone who has military experience..If that person were a Democrat I would vote for him but that is not the case. People are going to vote for Obama expecting some kind of check or they are so mad at Bush they will vote for anyone of the opposing party. No wonder this country is so screwed up..
Posted by: kcell | Sep 26, 2008 4:04:55 AM
Is anyone forgetting that there has to be 2/3 majority vote in both the House of Representatives AND the Senate for a bill to pass? How is the addition of two senators going to assist this? If you bring in the two presidential candidates, then there IS going to be a partisan tinge to the negotiations. Harry Lied said that NEITHER candidate should appear; and Congress is unable to do anything when there is a presidential veto. If there is a Democratic president, then I can assure you that Congress will begin to pick up on action. Another interesting note: according to officials in the White House, Barack Obama was calling daily to recieve updates on the situation. McCain sent one. Suddenly, right before a debate he was hadn't prepared for, he decides he needs to be entirely involved in the negotiations. Not to say that he was afraid to debate Obama; but taking on a prepared opponent is much more difficult than taking on someone who is also unprepared. As a side note, did anyone see the Palin interview by Katie Couric? Talk about sound-bytes.
Posted by: anonymous | Sep 25, 2008 8:28:03 PM
I would like one of the Obama supporters to explain to me how we taxpayers and our nation will manage to pay for the 700 billion dollar (as I work in the investment industry, my prediction is that it will be over a trillion dollars) debacle and any more associated with it, along with all the expensive goals including eradicating world povery that Obama proposes? D How exactly will that be done? I am a lower middle class person according to my pay (which, as a female is 70% of what my male colleagues get) supporting college age children and an elderly parent. My taxes will double under Obama (read his plan very, very carefully - it is misleading to think that only those earning 250K an up will be hit. Those earning from 55-60K and up will also). I am already struggling, his plan makes it much worse. Compounded with the bail-out his plans will tax us to death. He has taken too much from the corporations and is now beholden to them, so I do not believe for a minute that he will call upon them to pay up. We will bear double the burden with him at the helm.
Posted by: question | Sep 25, 2008 8:07:05 PM
It's over and McCain knows it. He can't make it. Obama is the light and the one meant to be POTUS and he is coming ever closer to achieving that for all of us who believe in him and the fact he was meant to be our leader.
Forget the republicans and forget the debates. He doesn't need to go through that. Look at the polls: people are gravitating to him more day by day and they know: he is the One.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
- Barack Obama, Super Tuesday
Posted by: obama ascension | Sep 25, 2008 5:46:00 PM
Sen Reid does not want Sen Mccain back in town so he can sneak in Sec 1602.
Sec 1602 continues ban on oil shale. The language follows:
SEC. 1602. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 152 of division A of H.R. 2638 (110th Congress), the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, the terms and conditions contained in section 433 of division F of Public Law 110–161 shall remain in effect for the 19 fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.
Now who is on the side of the American people? It's pretty easy to see; Obviously not Reid.
Posted by: mollyhm | Sep 25, 2008 5:31:45 PM
Does anyone else find it odd that in an interview yesterday Senator Reid said "with all due respect to my good friend John McCain, he is not needed here in Washington at this time" yet the McCain Campaign has referenced three different times today (that I heard, could be more) that "at the urging of Harry Reid" Senator McCain is suspending his campaign and returning to Washington. How ignorant do they think the American people are? Or are they hoping few listened to the interview with Senator Reid that aired after McCain had his grandstanding Press Conference to announce his campaign suspension and his return to Washington?
Posted by: DebraCA | Sep 25, 2008 4:25:14 PM
In 2006, to avoid the melt down we're experiencing today, the Republicans and Alan Greenspan wanted legislation for regulation and oversight regarding fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ... but, the Democrats blocked it. The same Democrats, Pelosi and Reid, with the 15% favorability rating. Now, with the biggest bail out in history, Reid criticizes McCain for wanting to participate in the solution. And, if Obama gets elected, we could also face four years of a tax and spend White House and Congress ... who will be responsible for oversight. It's called having the foxes guarding the hen house ... again.
Posted by: Gina | Sep 25, 2008 4:23:43 PM
Robert Vesco have to be smiling in his grave. AT this 700billion deal.
Posted by: parrada | Sep 25, 2008 3:13:04 PM
What does it mean when the Senate Majority Leader does not want a sitting Senator to come to Washington to debate such an important piece of legislation? What kind of leader is that? A pretty darn partisan one. How Reid ever rose to the position of "power" he now holds is a mystery.
Posted by: rickbrownell | Sep 25, 2008 1:38:30 PM
OBAMA IS LEADING! In the polls, in history, in new voter registration, in fundraising, in campaign management, by every metric possible! Conventional wisdom has always said that you can determine how a president will lead by observing how he leads his campaign and the decision he made in picking his vice presidential nominee! Obama/Biden 08, real leadership for a new generation! What a STELLAR campaign being run by an incredible young, American leader! Go OBAMA/BIDEN
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There's were I made my mistake. I thought a LEADER was the person elected to lead the country... not "In the polls, in history, in new voter registration, in fundraising, in campaign management, by every metric possible!" The problem is he can't LED the country because his only experience is this election! Not good enough reason for me to vote for him. Show me some real ability to lead! Can't do it, can you? He is great at following and parroting someone else, but he has not original ideas, statements or actions. Not the right choice for president! McCain/Palin THE RIGHT CHOICE IN 2008
Posted by: Voting for McCain because of Palin | Sep 25, 2008 1:33:30 PM
"The most significant change that Obama/Biden will bring to the White House is leadership that actually leads"
What has brought you to this conclusion? So far from where I sit, Obama has only sat back and been reactive to everything. In '05 McCain points out in a sponsored bill that this would happen without intervention. Obama chimed in in early '08 after the fact that it might happen.
Crisis happens, McCain suggests and oversight committee that it would be hard for anyone to argue with and the same stipulations that the democrats are fighting against the republicans for, Obama chimes in after there is enough of a concensus to those talking points that he agrees. He's not leading, he's following, yet because many Americans are clueless he still elads in the polls.
McCain made this decision knowing the media would favors Obama and would spin it negatively. There is no possible gain for him to do this other than to kick his own party in the rear to agree to the conditions set forth that he's stated needed to happen all along.
Posted by: MikeVa | Sep 25, 2008 11:16:02 AM
Wouldn’t this be a big shocker; Obama ends up debating Palin on Friday? This would be because McCain is taking care of business and putting duty to country first. What a hoot! (Not that that would be permitted. But it would be great to see Obama's expression if he sees Palin coming onto stage instead of McCain. It would be worth the entertainment.)
Posted by: MBell_TX | Sep 25, 2008 11:05:02 AM
Look at the timeline McCain is desparate so he's waggin the dog He's OLD and never could multitask ON with the debates.Can you just emagine what a McCain run war would be like geez what a mess.
Posted by: faxbot | Sep 25, 2008 10:20:54 AM
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