Breaking: McCain suspends campaign over bailout, wants debate postponed; Poll question added: What do you think?; Obama camp responds
Scroll down for poll…what do you think of McCain’s move?…Obama camp responds…upshot: We can walk and chew gum at the same time…4:44pm Eastern…Obama speaking…gives a shout-out to GOP Sen. Tom Coburn…recounts negotiations over joint statement with McCain…staffs still working on joint statement…re. debates: “This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear” from [us]…
John McCain has asked the presidential debate commission to suspend this Friday’s debate so he can return to Washington to vote on the Mother of All Bailouts.
Your move, Barry O.
Lead, follow, or…
McCain is also asking President Bush to convene a “leadership” meeting, whatever that means.
More:
Republican John McCain says he’s directing his staff to work with Barack Obama’s campaign and the debate commission to delay Friday’s debate because of the economic crisis.
In a statement, McCain says he will stop campaigning after addressing former President Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative session on Thursday and return to Washington to focus on the nation’s financial problems.
McCain also said he wants President Bush to convene a leadership meeting in Washington. Both he and Obama would attend the session.
And more from FNC.
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Trackbacks
- Webloggin » BREAKING: McCain Suspends Campaign to Attend Senate Hearings on Bailout
- Badger Blogger » Blog Archive » McCain suspends campaign and asks that Friday debate be postponed so he can do his job
- Bloodthirsty Liberal » ¿Quién es mas Macho?
- Putting Country First.
- Nicholas Fitzgerald » McCain to Suspend Campaign!
- Hey Barry, You Want to Debate Or Fix The Economy? | Stuck On Stupid
- The Other McCain: Holy crap!
- Choices : Pursuing Holiness
- Country First? McCain Suspends Campaign to Deal With Economy : Stop The ACLU
- McCain To Work and Obama To Debate Obama, You’re Fired! « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- Obama spends 3 days preparing for a debate that may be postponed « The Sadim Touch
- David’s Blog of Common Sense » McCain Suspends Campaign “Country First”
- Cramming For The Test « Quipster
- Bride of Rove » So I just listened to Obama’s press conference
- Roller Coaster Wednesday… « Think Tankers
- Post-Partisan Politics « Tai-Chi Policy
- C-SPAN: Debate Hub » Blog Archive » Smart Move by McCain
- McCain REALLY Wants To Vote On The Bailout Bill « Beltway Snark
- The Maverick: “I’d rather lose an election than lose [our economy].” « Pocket Change - Now Lint Free!
- Dingy Harry And Messiah collaborate On Financial Crisis:’No Presidential Politics’ « Nice Deb
- My vote: don’t care, we’re screwed | Cold Fury
- Who’s Leading Now? | Faith and Facts
- McCain, Quicker, Smarter, Faster: « Riggword Weblog
- McCain Must Say “No” to Bush-Paulson Bailout Initiative at No Man’s Blog
- $700 Billion Bailout: See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. « Republican Party of Jefferson County, TN
- Crisis In The Washington Emergency Room « Quipster
- Maybe I’m being too cynical, but… : Pursuing Holiness
- Peoples Press Collective » McCain Pulls Out of Debate Due to Economic Crisis …Update: Obama Says Debate Is On …Update: Reid Says “Don’t Come Back!”
- Peoples Press Collective » Couric Interviews Governor Sarah Palin (Preview)
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What is he going to do by stopping the debates? This is just grandstanding by McCain. McCain should do the debate AND vote. . . like a second job that most of the rest of the country has to take as they continue spending more of our money that they don’t have.
Looks like Obama’s been outflanked.
McCain is showing leadership here. Will Obama follow?
I’m sure the moonbats will make this out to be a ploy to avoid debating the empty suit (Obama).
‘They’ being WASHINGTON spending more of our money that they don’t have. . . driving down the value of the dollar, driving up inflation.
Really? Is this good news? It seems odd to me. He should be able to do both.
Don’t postpone the debate, just change th focus from foreign relations to massive bailouts and socialization of the banking industry.
Let’s see how he responds
How much time off do you think Barry needs in order to vote ‘present’?
McCain is a leader. BO is a list of things, but leader isn’t on it. BO is between a rock and a hard place. Can’t say no, can’t say yes. Another brilliant move by the Maverick.
I’ve no problem with McCain going back to DC to vote on this — I’m just wondering how he’ll vote.
He’s not going back just to vote. He’s going back to debate on it.
Nice.
Calling Barack’s bluff.
BO doesn’t vote on anything anyway…PRESENT don’t get it.
At least McCain didn’t say to vote for the MOAB.
Isn’t Obama in seclusion in FL?
Huh? Call timeout? This is when I would really like to see the candidates, in a time of crisis. This would be an opportunity lost for voters to get a good feel for the candidates as leaders.
Yes ! NO debates for Republicans. NO press conferences for Republicans. Do it the Paulson way – no accountability to the American people.
Why is it that people won’t just listen to Republican ? Why do they have to question everything ? Do they think this is a democracy or something ?
I think this is stupid, can’t he walk and chew gum at the same time? come on.
#5:
It’s a brilliant strategic move. Obama has been critical of the Paulson proposal. Obama will not give McCain credit, so he won’t agree. Yet he’s on the record for saying the Paulson plan needs to be changed. If he doesn’t agree, then he’ll be seen as doing nothing…and goodbye to this little bump in the polls he’s received because of the economy.
A BETTER IDEA, SKIP THE BAILOUT AND GO TO THE DEBATE!
SNAP! Think the old dude is going to do the right thing? I smell a Sara Palin moment.
Here it comes. zerobama quote to read..
Like I’ve always said….blah blah um uh um.
Someone please spin this in a postive way for me! I am very open to being spun on this.
Maverick..?
I don’t see why he wants to cancel the debate. He needs to get face to face with Obama.
TxSkirt,
Which bailout? The “Screw you, i got mine” bill of 2008, or the bad one? I need to know which way to root!
Country first!!!This bill won’t work!!! Mc for the American people!!! How’s that?
I’m with Paul Revere. Please tell me what makes this a good idea?!?
McCain is speaking now. I’d love to hear Palin’s views on this.
I agree with Rush, if Republicans are truly to blame for this, like the Dems claim, then they would be jumping up and down for investigations and blue ribbon panels. The reason they aren’t behaving as usual-they are in this mess up to their necks.
This is a bad move on McCain’s part, typical, Obama has gained the lead again so it makes sense that McCain would do something stupid.
Wish I could, but I don’t think there is a positive.
What’s the matter is McCain afraid of his own accountability?
Or is he afraid of his lame quotes coming back to bite him?
Or is he afraid of Obama?
Good way to show his no surrender attitude!
Sen McCain: Ready. Fire. Aim.
Does he think his one voice is going to make a difference? Yes, come back to Washington and do some work on the bailout. Then either fly a jet down to Georgia, or do a remote debate from somewhere in the DC area. I want to see the debate.
It is difficult to believe that both, work on the bailout (maybe) and the debate, can not be done. Good grief, I am hoping that Sen McCain can do more than one thing at one time.
Wow! None of us knows how voters are going to feel about this, but at least to me it seems like a pretty shameless way of getting an extension on an exam he knows he will fail. The markets tank on 9/15, but McCain feels it’s urgent to quit campaigning on 9/26, the same day as the big test?
Good move…all hands on deck instead of deserting a sinking ship.
I hope he debates it hard, and votes a firm ‘Nay.’
Unilateral disarmament.
Does anybody think the Mainstream Media in conjunction with the Obama Campaign will suspend its Jihad against Sarah Palin or republicans in general?
Sheesh!
Respectfully,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com
You’re hilarious! McCain survived years of torture and abuse and he’s afraid of Obama? How about your guy who wants to debate instead of go on the official record with a Senate vote?
McCain looks Presidential> Obama will look like a partisan hack if he doesn’t agree.
Thank you Harry Reid for setting this up by saying McCain must be onboard and vote for any Bailout Bill coming out of Congress. The congressional Democrat leadership just threw Obama under the bus.
It is a good idea ONLY IF McCain actively and agressively fights the bailout and is successful.
If this thing is really so bad and in crisis, he does put America first.
It also puts all eyes and all ears on Washington and this bailout.
All media focused on congress, not on campaigns.
Congress wasn’t doing anything productive, yet. Now they must.
Maybe now we can hear what they ARE doing.
Pelosi can not call quitsies and go home again sticking it to the American people.
Advantage McCain…HUGE.
*NICE* A leadership conference without a leader.
Now I feel so much better!
This pushes the foreign policy debate (McCain’s strength) closer to the election after re-scheduling, and shows McCain being more pro-active on the economy (Obama’s strength) than Obama at the same time.
It is silly grandstanding, but campaign-wise, a saavy tactical maneuver.
McCain is showing himself to be far more agile that Obama.
Wow — talk about handing the dhimms some red meat. I think this is quite possibly his dumbest campaign move ever! Yes, he needs to participate in the debate, but he also should be able to take a few hours away to show his superior grasp of foreign policy. How idiotic!! BO is going to steam-roll right over McAmnesty on this one…
McCain is showing leadership. He seems presidential. Obama looks like a doofus.
You know what, you are right about that. It would be a major coup.
Per Hannity…
Obama sees no need to suspend campaign or delay debate.
Sean Hannity wonders if Obama will debate himself.
So he’s forcing Barry (presumably) to go to D.C. and actually vote one way or the other? If that’s the tactic I like it. I still have queasy feeling about this.
That’s a grossly illogical way to spin this. It was McCain who wanted more debates and Obama who wanted fewer. McCain is known to be better when spontaneous and unscripted, Obama is known for stammering and making up 7 new states.
You can think this is cynical or a bad move and those are arguable points. But to say that McCain afraid of debating Obama makes even less sense than most things Biden says.
How will BO vote? Present?
Crap.
For a moment, I thought he was permanently suspending his campaign so that Mitt could step in.
Romney / Palin 2008!
I lol’ed @ “FAIL” on that poll!
Fox is saying Obama initiated the return to Washington this morning in a phone call to McCain.
Is it impossible to both vote on the bailout and be at the debate?
I don’t get this move. It looks as much like he is ducking the debate as it does he is trying to be a leader on the issue.
McCain would go a long way toward making me feel better about him if he showed up in DC and voted against this POS.
I’m fuzzy on the logic behind canceling the debate though, unless it’s simply to give the impression that this bail-out ripoff is getting everyone’s undivided attention.
Hope Obozo votes PRESENT. It will be like Christmas in September…
*sigh* Okay… I’ve thought about this for a few minutes, and maybe shouldn’t have spouted off so quickly. I can see some advantages here — most have been mentioned above — but I still think that BO’s campaign is going to spin, spin, spin this to their advantage somehow. Couldn’t McCain still have gone to Washington, debated, been in the spotlight — and then done the debate?? BO would have been sequestered in FL for the whole time. It would have made McCain look soooo much better! Especially if McCain had to do the debate long-distance because he was actually doing what he was elected to do.
This is another showing of Country First, just like when Hurricane Gustav promted McCain to cancel the first day of the RNC in Minnesota. This may work out well for him politically, with independant voters particularly.
Interestingly, Hannity just said that the Obama campaign was given a heads up before the announcement, and they still have said nothing. He’s suprised them again. Is he back inside the OODA loop?
Buck up people, don’t get all defeatist just yet. Obama has been crash-studying for this debate in Florida for a few days, he’s caught off guard.
OBAMA DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Damn straight. I’m reading on LGF right now that The ONE has said something to the effect of seeing no reason to suspend the campaign or debates. Linky from CNN, via Drudge.
I have this mental image of him showing up with great fanfare at the debate location — and he’s the only one there.
If that is the case, Obama looks like he is ducking the debate and trying to be a leader on the issue (but I probably wouldn’t like where he is going).
McCain suspending his campaign, is brilliant campaigning.
Actually, 8 new states. He said he’d been to 57 and had one more to go.
I’ll check that out, Mookie because Sean Hannity just reported the Obama’s campaign didn’t want to postpone the debate.
Good move by McCain. Right now he’s slowly losing ground in the polls due to the economy. This could be a chance to show some actual leadership in a crisis and force Obama to DO something, not just talk a lot of fluff as usual.
The debate is only DELAYED. I see no problem with having it on Sunday night, for example, instead. Also, less people watch TV on Friday, so maybe more will get a chance to see it on another day.
Originally I suggested he go to a health camp in Sedona till the election. Short of that, this is as good as it gets I suppose.
Besides if he is on the campaign trail and draws 11 people and Sarah is on the trail and draws 60000, it looks bad.
I’m ok with his vacation in Washington.
I just pray they do not screw up anything more with our economy.
Though I know that is a long shot.
Facts are that the Dems are much much deeper in the failures than the republicans could ever be.
This IS and WAS a DEMOCRAT/LIBERAL fueled ( and hidden) failure.
This will all come out now, hopefully.
You can not completely fix a problem without knowing what it is and what started it.
We need exposure and transparency in this MOAB or …..
I don’t even want to think what Barney , Pelosi and Dodd could shovel into this thing.
I voted for “I don’t get it” because, well, I don’t get it.
This will help Obama, which is a good thing.
Washington CAUSED this financial meltdown. Does anyone really believe they can fix it?
Unless McCain is willing to return to the rule of law, enforce the laws, deport illegal aliens, exclude illegal aliens from participating at all levels in our society, he’s blowing hot air.
I don’t vote for hot air.
Yeah, let’s try to leave the lights, cameras and mics ON this time!
I think it’s a good move on Senator McCain’s part. Things are going nuts in Washington (okay, nuttier than usual) and all the senators should be on deck, doing their jobs. It shows he does put his country ahead of winning an election, unlike the community organiser.
A leadership meeting? And Obama’s invited? *chuckle*
Another thing, does Sarah jet back to Anchorage for a few days, or does she jet to DC and hang with the Maverick through the crisis?
We shall see.
Here it comes. OBAMA SAYS..
“Like I’ve always said….blah blah um uh um,.. it was my idea.”
The senate should be in session and the two top dogs should be there to show their stuff. A GREAT chance for Americans to see the two candidates with the spotlight right on them….
I certainly hope not! We’re a Constitutional Republic… if we can keep it that is…
Ilovemycountry: Help me here please. Which country is it you love? What about said country do you love? Why?
What are you doing to show your love for said country?
Hannity says the benevolent Messiah will pass down the word from Mount Olympus within the half hour.
Lead, follow or get out of the way.
McCain just showed Barry and his Veep, Chief Footinmouth what leadership is all about.
I’m not a savvy political analyst. But this make ME like what McCain is doing.
If he goes there to debate the bail out as wrong, and he proposes a viable alternative, he will come out a hero.
We shall see. The old coot’s unpredictable. Which is why this campaign is so interesting.
http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000172.html
Bill Whittle on agility – from fighter pilots.
No need to cancel, Obama can debate Biden.
LOL
I think it’s a mistake and will only make McCain look weak….like he’s trying to run away from yet another of Bush’s blunders.
Keep in mind that many voters (like my dad for instance) never read blogs or do so on a very irregular basis. They’re often not aware of the subtle day-to-day nuances of this race.
To all of the undecided and independent voters, this could come off as a cynical ploy by McCain to garner favor.
McCain certainly didn’t think it all that important to show up for other crucial votes so why all this posturing now?
IMO, this stunt is just silly and totally unnecessary.
Okay, now *THAT* is funny.
John McCain is once again showing that he is walking the talk of “Country First.” Aside from that, I think the old fighter ace McCain just pulled a Pugachev Cobra maneuver on the bogey 0-bama.
Its only a great move if McCain can somehow twist this as if the Democrats are pushing Bush’s plan I think he needs to use this as a means to contrast with Obama.
Other than poll numbers against this bailout plan, what has changed? Why the need to suspend the campaign now?
I think it is a smart move. Put the country before the campaign.
I think it is a massive failure. I am sick of bailing folks out. They build luxurious mansions on the beach in Florida, but when the rain comes they run and hide their heads and I have to bail them out and they build right back in the same spot. When they build below sea level in New Orleans and get flooded out, I have to bail them out and they build right back in the same spot. When California will not control their forest and allow tender to burn, I have to bail them out and they build right back in the same spot. When the folks on the banks of the Missouri get flooded out, I have to bail them out and they build back in the same spot. Now I have to bail out the richest folks in America or we aren’t going to have credit available for John and Jane Irresponsible so they can buy a new SUV or a second home in the Hamptons.
It is time for the government to get out of my back pocket. If these institutions have a couple of billion set aside for “bonuses” for their staff, they don’t need my help. Period.
LMAO
this is just some showmanship that will work great to McCain’s advantage. If he was really interested in winning the conservative vote he would have said
NO BAILOUT
NO WAY
NO HOW
Stephanoppulus has been told by a Obama campaign official that the debate is on.
WTF??
This is brilliant on a lot of levels:
1. Sarah Palin continues to campaign drawing huge crowds while The One struggles to find his Senate office, which he hasn’t seen for two years.
2. Obama and Biden are both forced off the campaign trail to go back to DC.
3. McCain returns to DC as the presumptive leader of the GOP and gets a chance to prove his economic chops.
4. Obama has already voiced support for the bailout. If McCain works out a substantially different plan, he proves that he is not Bush 2 while Obama is embarassed that he sided with Bush!
5. The debates go on after a delay. McCain pounds Obama on all fronts with a fresh economic victory.
This is good stuff.
A shallow mind might jump to the conclusion that McCain was running from the debate. I say that because having the appearance of that would be just as harmful, yet he made this decision anyway.
Obama could follow and debate the MOAB against McCain on the floor. It is not as though he does not have equal opportunity here. Also, if the debate is not postponed and McCain performs better than Obama, what will the left say then?
This is a huge financial issue for the U.S. and easily a market version of a category 5 hurricane. I respect that Sen. McCain is interested in doing the job to which he was already elected by wanting to be an active part of the senatorial debate. Sen. Obama should do the same.
If nothing else, Sen. McCain is showing that he cares more about the welfare of the country than he does about the potential harm to his campaign his desire to put the debate on hold might cause.
Liberals may wish that McCain is “afraid” of Obama and jump at the chance to point it out like some school yard bully; but down deep if they are honest with themselves, they know this is not really the case. It is not as though the debate will not happen. Right now, there are more pressing matters at hand. That, I believe, is the message that Sen. McCain is sending. He would rather be a part of the decision making process than on the campaign trail only talking about it.
Right when I was telling my fellow veiwers that McCain is taking a leadership role and will finally quiet the MSM accusations of him being “reactionary” to BO…the MSM announcer said that BO actually had sent him an email this morning stating that they should set politics aside and come together on this financial “crisis”.
BO sure doesn’t like being upstaged! Geez!