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.
***
What say you?
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
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)
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Subprime crisis
Right Pundits
» Joe Lieberman: Fort Hood Shooter Is ‘Home-Grown Terrorist’Legal Insurrection
» Bruni de la Motte for Health Care CzarRiehl World View
» Obama: No Military Death Shall Go UnexploitedLegal Insurrection
» In The End: No Public Option, No Abortions, No Pelosi, No ReidThe Other McCain
» Paralysis by analysisThe Powers That Be
» Obama: ‘Don’t Jump to Conclusions’ About Ft. Hood; Immediately Jumps to ConclusionsLegal Insurrection
» NY Times Names Names
Odhimmi would NEVER have done such a thing. He has done nothing even closely resembling leadership in either his state term or national term as a Senator, thus he would only be worried about what all this mess will and has meant to his chances of becoming President and future Premier of the United Socialist Republic of America.
Right now, his people are busy scurrying to find a way to turn this around to make McCain appear to be ducking out of the debates, will be calling him scared and such. You wait and see.
Now, what was that saw somewhere about them making it so I don’t have to pay back my student loans?
I believe you’re missing something, NJ-A. That gives McCain the context of “I asked Obama to join with me in putting country before politics”. i.e., it was a good setup move.
Ha! Good one. They think they are competing for the Media Medal of Honor or something.
Obama called McCain at 8:30 suggesting the joint statement. McCain called Obama at 2:30, agreeing to the statement and then said he was suspending his campaign and wanted to delay the debate.
I think he means the horizontal ‘cells’ right next to Ken.
McCain should re-iterate his call for more debates AFTER this crisis (real or semi-real) is resolved. Remember, it was McCain that wanted more debates and Barry who winced and said, “NO!”. I hope the McCain-Palin campaign will refresh everyone’s memory.
Which would look better to you?
Obama hogging the stage solo at what would have been the debate – lapping up the limelight and making much ado of McCains’ absence – while typical Americans angst over their homes and retirement accounts?
Or John McCain hard at work for the American people in Washington?
Compare and contrast.
I like Dave’s idea. Best outcome for the lowest price. Thought out like an entrepeneur instead of a beauracrat.
This debate is about national security, something that McCain has experience in and something else that Obama is completely clueless about. The fact that McCain was willing to postpone something which he will rack up the score against Obama to do the nations business pretty much tells the story.
The fact that Obama wont get to work in a crisis when he can get that pumpkin head of his on TV should also tell you what the idiots priorities are.
McCain said he would not agree to less than ten, which is an absurd number, and he was unwilling to be flexible with the formats of any of the town halls. Basically, he set up absurd inflexible terms that he knew would be rejected simply so that he could go on about how Obama didn’t want to debate him.
And IR, I don’t get where you think his plan is some sort of big secret. You may not like the plan, but I don’t think anyone that has honestly listened to him and actually researched his proposals has any excuse for not knowing what they are.
And why is that? Because he heard there was ill-gotten gains being tossed about on the floor of the Senate and he didn’t want to miss out on his chance to scoop up a coupla mill’?
Here’s Obama, claiming credit for everything, when he’s right in the middle of this with Fannie and Freddie.
No suprise there.
Oh God! Don’t even say that in jest!
AAaaaaahhhhh…. running….. screaming!!!
Unfortunately, I can see your forecast as being prophetic.
OH, NOW Obama wants to debate, eh?
Then again, there wouldn’t be any reason for Obama to consider a bi-partisan economic solution – Obama’s socialist system suits his consistuents and rabid followers just fine.
McCain: “Race you to see who makes it to the Senate floor first!”
Obama: “I thought of it first!!”
The problem McCain has here is that if Obama says the debate is on (which he apparently has), then McCain either looks foolish for not showing up or looks weak for caving to Obama.
I must have missed MM on Cavuto, DAMN
Unfortunately, Mr. McCain is screwed, royally. Thanks, Mr Bush. This time it’s actually Bush’s fault. Thanks Bernanke, Paulson, et. al. I really don’t even want to comment about the underhanded BS that is pervading our gov’t now. This will go down in history as a simile to Lenin taking over Russia.
Trying to justify the need for the debate to go forward on Friday, the Messiah just said that either he or McCain will be responsible for this in 40 some-odd days.
MEMO to the Messiah, IF he’s lucky enough to be elected, he won’t be responsible for this problem until after innauguration… in January 2009!
Dooh!
Huh? How does McCain look foolish for heading back to Washington to get something done? That is leadership. Obama wouldn’t know about that quality; he is still waiting for his economic team of Johnson & Raines to put a position together for him!!
Sounds like McCain and Barry agreed to issue a joint statement earlier today, but McCain is the only candidate who actually had the balls to get on a plane, go back up to the hill and let his vote go on record.
Barry is suggesting that McCain doesn’t know how to multitask…. gotta love that.
McCain can send Palin to the debate in his place. She can show her mettle against Obama and prove that she is indeed capable of being a heartbeat away from the presidency.
T. Boone just said what I said a week ago.
$700 BILLION is the same for this bailout as the amount we spend each every year for foreign oil.
So…drill baby drill and in three years we have tapped hugely into 2 TRILLION dollars of energy money, all of it kept right here in America.
yep,
all of it kept right here in America.
I disagree that McCain looks foolish if he skips the debate, even though Obama insists. I think he would look principled. “You wanna debate? Debate yourself. I’ve got work to do.”
bi-partisan means bend over republicans. unfortunately that is something mccain does all too often..I think he didn’t help himself with this stunt.
If Obama insists on a debate, then the McCain camp needs to come out with a statement to the effect of “McCain offered to debate Obama in a series of ten debates. Obama refused. Now, in time of crisis, Obama decides he simply HAS to debate.”
Obambi wants to play “kick the can” when he is a part of the reason for the financial crisis.
Okay….I don’t get it…If McCain isn’t there, who is Obama going to debate on Friday?
Uh-bumble says “If you need me, call me”
Earth to uh-bumble, “We don’t need you”
NOPE, looks like obama B.S. took precedent, so far anyway. ( i’m on dvr time)
TxSkirt, how about Mrs. Palin?
Last Mass Con–wouldn’t you love to see THAT debate? Saracuda would eat him alive. It would be so cool. I’d give up all rights to my “screw you I got mine” money for that.
Ok. Here’s my concern about postponing the debate.
– They’re not postponing Election Day.
If Sen. McCain wants, why not make the bailout the only topic for the debate? (I get that the debate would have to be structured to allow it, but why not?) He and Sen. Obama can give their pros/cons and yins/yangs all night. They’ll be the only game in town.
Only if people think politics is more important than country and are willing to risk their leaders do nothing in the face of what may be a major economic disaster. I tend to think Americans prefer to see their leaders being “on the job”.
I could send my twelve year old son. He would kick Barack’s butt. (He’s homeschooled.)
shooter, tks, she was probably preempted for the empty headed 1.
What is their to debate. McCain wants to do the job his constituents voted for him to do and Obama does not. I would only assume Obama would think the same way if President. It is not about the country. It is always about him.
Perhaps… but Obama actually asked McCain to take part in a joint statement.. to which McCain agreed. Then said he wanted to postpone the debate and return to Washington.
While the last part.. postponement.. was an OK move, the part about agreeing to put out a joint statement supporting the bailout was weak. very weak.
Ooooo, I like that one! Brilliant.
Gee, debate? Vote? Hear myself talk? Vote? Appear before my adoring crowds? Vote? Such a difficult decision for BO, since he doesn’t have the option of voting “present”.
Typiical. McCain asks for a POSTPONEMENT and to RESCHEDULE in order to go and do the job he was elected to do…something that is completely foreign to The Tarnished Bovine who has spent the better part of his term in the Senate out of Washington campaigning to be the leader of his desired new Politburo, missing key votes and not coming up with even one single bill of his own, and all his little Odhimmi-ites are here on record as saying he is cancelling the debate and refusing to debate him.
Honesty is definately not in their vocabulary or in their abilities.
Meanwhile…where is Captain Big Ears? Is he still thinking about hen to unveil his plan to solve this mess his party created?
He could send Sarah Palin. What a move that would be. If she’s on her game she could make him look like Community Organizer that he is.
Obama gaffe alert! He just said the that “in approximately 40 days the next President will have to deal with this…” Obama seems to be a little over eager to take the reigns of power (should he be elected). He almost sounds like Alexander Haig. Tee he!
I agree that McCain needs to come out with a news conference and spell out to the American people that he asked Obama to debate him more than 10 times and Obama declined but now he wants to take the spotlight and debate now?? McCain needs to come out and say in essence “BRING IT ON”! You want to debate then let’s go. I thought it was the right thing to do to focus on the economic disaster…sorry you don’t feel the same way”. Obama’s press conference is nothing but a “he said, she said”. He comes across as so immature compared to McCain being a commander-in-chief trying to put his country first.
Why not move the debate to D.C.?
If Obama loses this election, he will a castoff by his own Democratic party. They work, why he seeks his own glory. It only works if you win bubba.
Yeah, send Sara. She would prove what a lot of Democrats are worried about. She is more qualified than he is.
I couldn’t verify that McCain refused to do less than 10, but I did find this:
So, effectively Obama wanted only one townhall on a holiday when no one would be likely to watch.
While many commenters here talk about Obama avoiding the extra debates, I have not really seen this pressed by the McCain campaign as you suggest. In good faith, I did a quick search to see if I was wrong and I might be missing something; but this does not seem to be an attacking point for the McCain campaign.
But, either way, isn’t quibbling over the number of debates still a contradiction to “anytime, anyplace”? It was meant to be bold and courageous, but it lacked substance and action in my opinion. There seems to be a invisible “but” hanging at the end of that challenge.
So simple and yet so darn true. It IS their job, to make a WELL INFORMED decision and then vote.
I was thinking the same thing. Have it in the House Chamber. Sweet!
The debate issue is finished.
McCain saying he has more important things to work on wins.
Obama standing around saying whatever the hell he is standing around saying is useless.
He lost. Move on.
There are still weeks to go but on this issue McCain took the high road. Obama simply looks ineffectual.
Begging McCain to notice him is a losing position.
McCain is showing leadership. Obummer is not. All this idiot does is talk in generalities. What is Obummer doing? Preparing for a debate?
Now Obummer is claiming that McCain is not doing the right thing and that the President is a “multitasker.” I think both candidates need to resolve the financial crisis by showing leadership. The debates need to be rescheduled.
The Dems are politicizing the issue by claiming that McCain is ducking the debate and not showing “multitasking” abilities. It really shows that Obummer really doesn’t care about the American people and cares more about his own political fortunes. Where’s your leadership, Obummer? Where’ve you been while you and the Dems were pushing cozy arrangements between banks and unqualified loan recipients?
LMAO!!
Like I said in a previous post, his crack economic team of Johnson & Raines is working on it.
McCain puts his country first. Glad to see this. Not surprised at Obama…what has he ever done for his country except run for office?
OBAMA’S KATRINA
Obama doesn’t even want to “flyover” this financial hurricane.
He wants to stay in Mississippi and wait for the cameras.
McCain just took the underdog status away from obama on this Friday’s debate.
Zerobama has been crying for weeks he’s so disadvantaged, they even had this Foreign Policy debate changed to be the first debate, placing more distance from the election date for poor little snobama.
If Obama does go back to DC, he’s expected to vote “Present”
I think this was a smart move. I think it makes him look serious about something that could change this country forever. THE MANCHILD has reduced this down to a phone call! Like, “At the tone please leave your catastrophic financial message for THE ONE and he will get back to you in 40 days!”
He is insinuating McCain cannot multitask and that is ridiculous considering President Bush is asking for air time tonight to address the American people.
With the earmarks the Democrats are attaching to this bill; I sure do want all GOP Senators up there hacking those things out. And McCain is ALL about making sure earmarks are not in this.
I guess ultimately THE ONE has the same attitude about this financial crisis as he did in saying that with HIS leadership the seas would go down and the planet would heal. In the press conference he said HIS proposals should be adhered to in this bill! Does anyone out there know what those are?
McCain isn’t going back to vote. He is going back to make laws. big difference McCain is going to make this bailout his. Let’s see if any earmarks are in it.
The first reaction of Obama’s staff was to continue with the debate. Probably because they’ve spent so much time crafting the words which Obama will deliver. McCain should invite a change of topic from foreign policy to this economic crisis, and let the O’staff wear themselves out.
McCain suggests a delay so that they can both go back to the Senate for important work.
The Obama campaign takes the opportunity for a soundbite on “walking and chewing gum”.
Which part of that metaphor is attempting to find a solution for an economic crisis: the walking or the chewing? What is on the other side of that scale right now?
Perhaps the Obama campaign should not be so casual and flippant to an issue that has most of America very worried right now.
Both candidates have a choice, here. They are not compelled to stay and debate.
McCain is willing to be “present” and put his vote on record, five weeks before the election. No fear.
Obamas’ choice? “absent”.
Ask yourself why.
Obama wants the debate Friday to continue.
Shall we have a pool on what time in the next 24 hours Obama flip-flops?
You just know he’s going to buckle just like he did to accommodate Bill and Hillary for the convention.
His excuse. He needed time to gather input from his 200 economic advisors.
We’ll have to disagee on that, NJ-A. As I said, I think it was a good move in a larger chess strategy. That is, even though you don’t agree with that one move, sometimes you sacrifice a pawn to put an opponent in checkmate.
Wow, this thread is bringing all the Obama shills to the yard.
Never forget what Obama is.
A freshman Senator who only has 140′ish days in the senate.
He has no clout in that room.
Do you think Reid, Schumer and the other long time senators are going to defer to 140-day-barry when real world problems are confronting them.
They already have pages to bring them their coffee,
what the hell can uhhmmm-bummer actually do?
Harry “we’ve lost the war” Reid apparently has just called McCain and told him not to bother coming to Washington — he’s not needed.
But yesterday, Reid told McCain to come to Washington.
I guess Reid needs to protect the messiah and not make him look bad or something. And diss McCain while he’s at it.
What an idiot. No, he’s not partisan, is he?
Postponing this debate is not good for Obama. People will be paying more attention to this crisis over the weekend. If Obama performs poorly, which he most likely will, it will be overwhelmed by the news about the economy and damage will be minimized. He will have had a chance to practice against McCain and will be better prepared next time with minimal damage. And no doubt the MSM will aid and abet in covering up a poor performance. Barack desperately needs this debate now.
Explain this someone!
How can McCain really be against this bailout SINCE he wanted illegals here and be able to get mortgages?
Obama’s statement…they’ll (Dodd, Reid, Frank and Pelosi) will CALL ME if I’m needed….
What great leadership!
Are they setting him up to….be the savior, or is he waiting for a deal to be made, so that he can (once again) take credit for something he had no hand in?
There are 40 days left, plenty of time to debate many times. Whats the big deal about a little delay in the first debate?
McCain has clearly outflanked Uhbama. THE ONE does not take kindly to being outflanked…..therefore will resort to lies, distortion, untruths, etc., etc.
Get back to Washington Uhbama, you need to slip something into the bill for ACORN.
Arrgghh!!
You both beat me to it.
I agree.
Why not have a debate in the…oh, I dunno…in the Senate?
Why not indeed?!
According to Drudge,
Sounds like the GOP is bailing on Bush. Which side will McCain be on??
What if BO goes to the debate by himself with no bailout bill approved…then financial meltdown occurs. What then?
lmao @ odopey……
one talks
the other leads…..
It’s Killin em and
I Love it!!!
McCain/Palin 08′
Image: his royaldopeyness was just whizzed on again…how that speech or whatever it was go in denver? roflmao
after saddleback I’m not to sure Odopeyness should be so anxious….
plenty of time to debate… especially on FOREIGN issues…
Hey Odopey, howz about we send Gov. Sarah there to debate you so you don’t waste all that practice you been a doin for two days…. er uh um what’s up doc?!
Obama says he’s “willing” to go to DC “if that would be helpful.”
Willing!?!@????! If it would be helpful!@#$?##$
HE’S A F#$$%$%@#$$ING SENATOR FOR GOD’S SAKE, ITS HIS F%^%^$#$#%%ING JOB TO BE IN DC IN THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS.
I apologize for blowing my top, but this is just ridiculous. I simply cannot believe the people of this country want to elect this man. Just boggles the mind.
He’s done NOTHING of merit in his entire life, he’s attended to the job for which he was elected by the people of Illinois for all of amout 150 days, he’s taken more money from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac than anyone but Dodd, he sat for 20 years in church listening to the “Reverend” Wright spout anti-American, anti-white hate and never said anything, … the list goes on and on and none of it is good.
He’s a damn Marxist and the people of this country want to elect him. We will live to regret every minute of every day.
all this BS x 10 Odopey is so great on the economy… from what? squandering 100 million dollars worth of coin for his and Ayerheads own agenda?
WAKE UP OBAMA SUPPORTERS
YOUR ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH!!!!
This has probably been said about 100 times in as many ways, but McCain should just hammer away at Obama’s total vapidity in the US Senate… they have no need for Obama at all there. Never have.
Obama has been and remains an inconsequential member of the Senate even as he runs for President.
Obama is like a high school debator and happens to be running for a pretend president (except it’s real) – sort of like me applying and pretending to be the next CEO of GE. He will want to debate rather than do real work.
I have lost hope – he will our next pretend president no matter what. Our only hope is to keep the House and Senate enough to let him do nothing.
No apologies required, I think most of us feel like you do. Well said.
Odumbo implying that McCain can’t multi-task. How lame.
He just got one-upped, and he ain’t happy about it.
“Obama Statement”
“Not Present”
sound familiar? someone give his royal odopeyness a gps device……
It’s Killin em and
I Love it!!!
McCain/Palin 08′
Barak is leading in the polls right now due to this economic crises. It is well known most feel he is better on economic issues than McCain. However, what better way to prove this wrong by doing what McCain is doing and having Dopey respond “I’ll go to Washington if they need me.?”
PLAYING.INTO.MCCAINS.HANDS.
So it turns out that cancelling the debate was Obamas idea and McCain now McCain wants credit for this idea – so here’s the question:
Why does John follow Barack is it because John hates America?
Hey, wait a minute! Obama said McCain can’t MULTITASK.
Is that another wimpy passive-aggressive shot at McCain per his stupid ad about computer use?
Like the lipstick on a pig comment, or Michelle “IceCube” Obama saying don’t vote for her cause she’s cute?
That little weasel! He’s flipping off McCain like he did Hillary! Damn I don’t like this wimpiness!
IF YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, SAY IT LIKE A MAN, OBAMA!
Matt Millen just got fired from the Detroit Lions maybe Obama can run them into the ground (worse than they are) for some practice….. that job is open…. not President of My Country for you sir!
he sure the He!! isn’t ready for the White House.
I think most of this is speculation and conjecture, but I’ll say this about McCain – he survived his experience being a POW by reading people, i.e, anticipating responses before they happend AND how to effect a response from the “enemy.” I’m not sure about his other abilities, but I’m pretty sure he’s a whiz at reading people..Obama is a piece of cake compared to the vietnamese.
Yes, that pompous A$$ was implying just that.
I have an idea:
We suspend the environmental laws until this financial crisis is solved. That allows us to drill for and pump all the oil that we need until the money is paid off.
THEN the companies that we bailed out, are on the hook to pay us back at future market rates and for any environmental issues we may have encountered in the mean time.
If we need to cap the wells and reinstate the environmental laws at that point then we can.
Ihatemycountry spewed,
backwards BS………
Get the facts fool…..
It’s Killin em and
I Love it!!!
McCain/Palin 08′
Hey at least Obama can read a teleprompter and use his voice to tell us exactly what he is reading at the same time. That has to be tough to do.
don’t know about that one…piglosi would probably pulled the plug once the obamination looses any ground….lol
I’d like to make 2 points;
First: Obambi don’t want this to get fixed, hell look at the polling this week and if he can go to a foreign policy debate while everybody is talking bailout, he won’t have to defend his moronic positions and every chance he gets he brings up the economy. Its a win win for him and by the same logic its exactly why McCain has to get something done on this before the debates.
Second: What possible good could he do in D.C., he is still the junior senator from Ill. Hell John McCain could persuade some votes on this thing but I seriously doubt B.O. would.
It’s idiotic for Americans to think that the Dems are “better” with the economy than Republicans are.
It tells me that those people are only interested in freebies and handouts – the exact same ones who helped create the mess at Wall Street by spending more than what they earn and buying homes they could not pay for.