Friday night Campaign Postponed?
Find a Conversation
| Wed, 09-24-2008 - 4:03pm |
(Does anyone know how Obama has responded? I'm just curious)
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/24/john-mccain-on-the-economic-crisis/
JOHN MCCAIN: America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.
Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.
It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administrations proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.
Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.
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.
We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday nights debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.
I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country

Pages
First, I have a question...is it the whole Congress working on the bailout plan or is it just the proper committees working on it before the plan is brought to the House or Senate floors?
I'm honestly not sure, trying to research it now - maybe someone else knows?
OMG, McCain is being a real fox on this one... gotta feel sorry for Obama, what is he supposed to do? Follow McCain's lead and cancel all this stuff (and not be the leader, but instead the follower) or go to the debate and be the one who put his campaign above the good of the country? Either way he's screwed.
<>
It's not about being a leader or a follower - it's about doing what's right for the current financial crisis the country that he wants to lead is in right now.
He's a Senator - this is his JOB, this is what he SHOULD be doing, as is McCain.
Susan
I was wondering (and having a hard time finding anything) whether it was the full Congress or just the pertinent committees meeting.
I'd agree, but I don't think that's the case.
Obama's speaking right now.
He said he agrees D's and R's need to come together right now, to do "everything's that necessary" to get a bill passed...and "do what's right for the country"...but haven't heard anything yet regarding Friday night. (he's actually pretty much repeating what McCain said earlier).
ETA - he did just say it's part of the president's job to do more than one thing at one time...said it's more important than ever right now to debate...hmm.
Personally, I think it's the president's job also to prioritize...
You're right that a President needs to prioritize.
<>
That's actually a great idea - I'm not sure, I know McCain has tried talking to the Debate Committee about this (whatever it's called, sorry forgot exact term - whoever's in charge of the presidental debate).
I'm sure we'll hear more in the hours to come.
Pages