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McCain: Scrap Friday Debate for Bailout; Obama: The Debate is On
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ShareSeptember 24, 2008 3:04 PM
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos and Rick Klein report: Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Wednesday said he would "suspend" his presidential campaign to come to Washington to help negotiate a financial bailout bill and argued Friday's first presidential debate should be scrapped -- a dramatic move designed to seize a powerful issue.
McCain said he called on the Commission on Presidential Debates to postpone the debate scheduled for Friday in Mississippi, to ensure quick congressional action.
"I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me," McCain said in New York City Wednesday. "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.”
Preparing for the debate in Florida, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama held a previously unscheduled news conference, arguing the debate should go on.
"I believe that we should continue to have the debate," Obama said. "It is my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess." "It is going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once," Obama said.
Obama said that unlike McCain, he will not suspend ads, or campaign events scheduled between now and Friday's debate.
"I think it's very important that the American people see the people who potentially could be in charge of this problem within the next couple of months and so my attitude is that we need to be focused on solving the problems, as I have been," Obama said. "It's also important that we communicate where we need to go in getting us out of the situation."
Obama said he will stay in Florida for the time being and will not return to Washington unless asked by Congressional leadership.
"I've told the leadership in Congress is that if I can be helpful then I am prepared to be anywhere at anytime," he said.
President Bush will attempt to shore up public support for the administration's $700 bailout plan in a primetime address to the nation tonight.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said the Bush administration "welcome Sen. McCain's announcement" that he is suspending his campaign to deal with the bailout bill.
"We are making progress in negotiations on the financial markets rescue legislation, but we have not finished it yet," Perino said.
"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," Perino said.
Obama supporter and chief debate negotiator Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., told MSNBC that "we can handle both," when asked about his reaction to McCain's call to postpone the first debate because of the administration's bailout plan.
Earlier Wednesday, a senior Obama campaign official told ABC News, "The debate in on."
An Obama campaign official told ABC News the Democratic presidential candidate called McCain this morning to suggest a joint statement of principles.
McCain called back this afternoon and suggested returning to Washington.
Obama is willing to return to Washington "if it would be helpful." But Obama reiterated that Obama intends to debate on Friday.
Obama senior strategist Robert Gibbs said that Obama and McCain spoke today at approximately 2:35 pm, for about five minutes as Obama was leaving a campaign event in Florida en route back to his hotel.
Gibbs insists that Obama at that time was not left with the impression that McCain had decisively decided to suspend his campaign, or would ask for the debate to be canceled.
The first time Obama found out McCain was suspending his campaign and returning to Washington was when McCain made his statement earlier today.
The McCain campaign has pledged to suspend campaign advertising.
"To be clear, in addition to suspending his campaign to return to Washington to work for a bipartisan solution to this problem, this campaign is suspending its advertising and fundraising," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said.
McCain and his top advisers said the Republican presidential candidate has not committed to voting for the massive financial bailout plan proposed by the Bush administration, with aides saying he will reserve final judgment until there is a final product.
A senior McCain campaign official said that the “Bush package is dead. This is a serious situation. Package must be resolved by the time markets open on Monday."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that McCain had assured Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that he would support the $700 billion legislation.
Asked about that Wednesday, McCain responded: “I did not say that.”
Senior advisor Mark Salter then interjected saying, “He hasn’t said that to Paulson or to Reid or to anybody else. He hasn’t said that to me.”
McCain campaign political director Mike DuHaime told reporters at a lunch meeting in Washington that the senator will not commit until he sees the final package that comes to the Senate floor.
“He’s going to do what he thinks is right,” DuHaime said at a lunch sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. “He’ll make a vote as a leader in this country, and people will look to him.”
DuHaime added, “Quite frankly, I think you could ask Sen. Obama if he’s going to do what he thinks is right. I mean, he has never -- I believe -- never once made a decision that is an unpopular decision or went against the orthodoxy of his party, and was one that was one that was a tough decision to make. . . . Sen. McCain has done that throughout his entire career, his entire life -- not just in politics, but his life.”
DuHaime said that while McCain understands the urgency, many voters continue to have important questions about what the bailout means to them.
“When you start talking about $10,000 per household or per family to go toward bailing out Wall Street, they have legitimate questions about it,” DuHaime said. “People understand that that is a big thing and it affects them, and they do legitimately have questions about, is this really going to go to bail out companies or leaders of companies who now are relying on taxpayer dollars to bail them out, and are going to get these huge compensation packages after they come to the taxpayers for it.”
“There is some frustration, certainly, in that, and it’s understandable to say the least. And it has not been a quick rush to say yes or no. People understand the gravity of this, want to see it done right, while still understanding the timing factor.”
ABC News' Bret Hovell and Sunlen Miller contributed to this report.
September 24, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (2912)
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The recent ECONOMIC problems are NOT some "POOR GUYS BUYING WHAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD".
Typical that the CONS that SET UP this CRISIS would "BLAME THE VICTIM".
At least with KEATING 5 and ENRON we STILL had the NERVE, OUTRAGE and ABILITY to INVESTIGATE,BRING CHARGES and PROSECUTE some of the TOP MANIPULATORS that destroyed so many ordinary citizen''s lives!
As it looks NOW the FAT CATS that used LOBBYISTS to push through SUCH DIRTY DEALINGS will "GET AWAY WITH IT" this time.
Guess "Financial Crisis Fatigue" has set in.
So many of the American people are acting like a BEATEN HOUSEWIFE who STAYS WITH the MONSTER that beats and abuses her!
It''s been a long and convoluted CON JOB based on SELFISHNESS and GREED by people who ALREADY had MORE THAN THEIR SHARE of the Nation''s WEALTH yet in their BOTTOMLESS PIT OF GREED - Wanted MORE!
They wanted it ALL AT ANY COST even up to and Including the DESTRUCTION of the American People and their way of life!
So, this TINY SLICE of people AT THE TOP "worked" over decades to STEAL the ENTIRE WEALTH of our great Nation slowly inserting laws that FAVORED them, buying politicians, destroying leaders they could not buy and through careful media control and education "mismanagement" -DUMBING DOWN millions.
Posted by homespunlady at 02:52 PM : Sep 24, 2008
Posted by: beck | Sep 24, 2008 3:08:56 PM
McCain's chickens are now in full roost mode.
Look at him attempting to run, but cannot hide.
Translation: I'M JOHN MCCAIN AND I DON'T HAVE A CHANCE IN THIS ELECTION.
ITS OVER
Posted by: Nat Turner | Sep 24, 2008 3:10:08 PM
Whoa... McCain is using us again to benefit himself. He is afraid to go up against Obama in a debate so lets do the right thing here, lets call off the debate and go and save America... After all, I helped destroy it, maybe I should pick up some of the pieces. McCain = EMPTY SUITE.....
Posted by: beck | Sep 24, 2008 3:10:56 PM
McSame is just trying to postpone this @ss whipping !!!!
Posted by: Raider | Sep 24, 2008 3:11:38 PM
Good for him. I want to see this "plan" include more oversights, and help for those that have lost their homes, yes I pay a mortage, yes I am responsible, but some of these people got in over their heads because they were tricked. I'd rather see them have another opportunity to pay for their home than for the bank to own it. At least they'd be making some money. This is a huge deal, and I think it's smart to work out all the details instead of rushing it.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | Sep 24, 2008 3:12:18 PM
McCain wants to cancel the debate because he doesn't want to announce his final decsion until Palin is fully briefed enough to announce it for him on Limbaugh. That way his base won't drive off a cliff because Rush will simply say Ditto to Sarah.
Posted by: ricky | Sep 24, 2008 3:13:19 PM
Maybe he should suspend his campiagn FOREVER
Posted by: Vanessa | Sep 24, 2008 3:13:34 PM
John McCain is stopping his campaign not on the day the bailout was announced but on the day the polls showed him way behind.
What a chicken. What a chickensh** way to lead.
BTW: Is Palin stopping her work??? If not, this is all about politics.
Obama, I believe you can do both at the same time. Go to it.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Sep 24, 2008 3:14:22 PM
oh cmon mccain you dont give a crap and you know it...
its obvious he doesnt want to debate
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 24, 2008 3:14:37 PM
Does he think Obama is that stupid to follow his cloak and dagger move to postpone the pure b**** slapping during the debates?
At this rate, with a gaff a day, McCain will have morphed into Bozo the Clown by November 4th.
POTUS OBAMA - Like Taking Candy from a McCain
Posted by: Nat Turner | Sep 24, 2008 3:14:49 PM
McCain wants to postpone the debate so his campaign manager, Rick Davis has time to check and make sure he does not have any more payments in his account from Freddie Mac that he did nothing to earn.
Posted by: ricky | Sep 24, 2008 3:16:21 PM
"I am calling on a suspension of campaigns"
In other words, I need Obama's momentum to stop. I don't need this debate to happen after my week's worth of gaffes. I need time to re-group. His lead is growing, and polls arent even counting newly registered voters. Please, let me call a "timeout"...
And the answer is......No
Posted by: PoliticsAsUsual | Sep 24, 2008 3:16:35 PM
yea exactly hes behind almost ten points in a few polls right now nationally (and i take the national polls with a grain of salt believe you me)
and he has no way to get it back
this is his only way, my god forty days left lets get this going mcworse
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 24, 2008 3:16:48 PM
Harry Reid should talk about Obama voting or not voting for the Bill. He should keep quiet about what McCain intends to do unless the democratic party accepted Sen. McCain as their leader. In that case, Obama should step down and say he is not a candidate for the Office of the President of the US. Until that happens, Sen. Reid should make use of his brain cells and keep quiet because he himself admitted he does not know what to do.
Obama, a fellow missing in action when challenging times calls for Leadership. Voting present is not leadership.
Posted by: Roger Miller | Sep 24, 2008 3:16:53 PM
i guess the fundamentals of the economy are no longer strong?
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 24, 2008 3:17:28 PM
NO McSame.......H#LL NO !!!!!!
You can't run from this a$$ whipping.
Posted by: Raider | Sep 24, 2008 3:17:35 PM
Paulson has time to go on all the talk shows and still get his work done. Mc can show up at Ole Miss for one little ole debate.
Posted by: ricky | Sep 24, 2008 3:18:20 PM
This is a crisis, and no time for politics all of a sudden. Where was this mentality from McCain when the day after it happened; he keeps yelling, "Obama hasn't come out with a plan, he just lectures"....No way, this is a joke; he has to try something else, cause we aren't buying this one.
Posted by: PoliticsAsUsual | Sep 24, 2008 3:19:10 PM
roger miller im sorry you are misinformed your candidate is ducking and running right now
he has no idea what the economic crisis is he only knows he cant win it with this going on
so stopping campaigning is the only thing he can think to do... and then wiat for people far smarter then he to figure out the crisis and then he can tell bush and some of his pals to give him credit for pushing the measure through
just like he did with the GI bill he refused to endorse and refused to vote for
but he sure took credit for it
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 24, 2008 3:19:22 PM
how many days did it take him to realize we were in a crisis?
what is this week 2
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 24, 2008 3:19:49 PM
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