Post by DeEtte on Sept 24, 2008 21:07:38 GMT -5
NEW YORK (Sept. 24) - The economic crisis and raw politics threatened to derail the first presidential debate as John McCain challenged Barack Obama to delay Friday's forum and unite to help Washington fix the financial mess. Obama rebuffed his GOP rival, saying the next president needs to "deal with more than one thing at once."
What do you think of McCain's decision to suspend his campaign?
Thumbs down 55%
Thumbs up 45%
Total Votes: 261,435
Should Friday's presidential debate be rescheduled?
No 58%
Yes 38%
I'm not sure 4%
Total Votes: 255,839
The White House rivals maneuvered Wednesday to claim the leadership role in resolving the economic turmoil that has overshadowed their campaign. Obama said he would proceed with his debate preparations while consulting with bailout negotiators and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. McCain said he would stop all advertising, fundraising and other campaign events and return to Washington and work for a bipartisan solution.
"It's 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," Obama said at a news conference in Clearwater, Fla. "It's going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once."
But McCain said they must focus on a bipartisan solution as the Bush administration's $700 billion bailout proposal seemed headed for defeat. If not, McCain said ominously, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake and businesses will not have enough money to pay workers.
"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time."
President Bush invited both candidates to the White House on Thursday, along with congressional leaders, in hopes of securing a bill to rescue the economy. Bush took the unusual step Wednesday night of calling Obama directly to invite him, White House press secretary Dana Perino said. An Obama spokesman said the senator would attend.
In a joint statement Wednesday night, the candidates said the country faces "a moment of economic crisis," and called for political unity to solve it because "the jobs, savings and the prosperity of the American people are at stake." Both said the Bush plan was "flawed."
"We cannot risk an economic catastrophe," they said. "Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, McCain's representative in debate negotiations, said McCain will not attend the debate "unless there is an agreement that would provide a solution" to the financial crisis. Graham, R-S.C., told The Associated Press that the agreement would have to be publicly endorsed by Obama, McCain, the White House and congressional leaders, but not necessarily given final passage by the House and Senate.
Asked whether the debate could go forward if McCain doesn't show, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "My sense is there's going to be a stage, a moderator, an audience and at least one presidential candidate."
The competing positions came after the two senators spoke privately, each trying to portray himself as a bipartisan leader in a time of crisis.
McCain beat Obama to the punch with the first public statement. He said he had spoken to Bush and asked him to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.
Even as McCain said he was putting the country first, his surprise announcement was clearly political. It was an attempt to out-maneuver Obama on an issue on which McCain is trailing, the economy, as the Democrat gains in polls. He quickly went before TV cameras minutes after speaking with Obama and before the two campaigns had hammered out their agreed-agreed upon joint statement.
And while McCain's campaign said he would "suspend" his campaign, it simply will move to Washington knowing the spotlight will remain on him no matter where he is.
Obama, too, made a political calculation by rejecting McCain's challenge while still trying to appear on top of the problem. Obama repeatedly stressed that he called McCain first with the proposal for a joint statement in support of an economic fix. He said McCain called back several hours later, as Obama was leaving a rally in Florida, and agreed to the idea of a statement but also said he wanted to postpone the debate and hold joint meetings in Washington.
Obama said he suggested they first issue the statement.
"When I got back to the hotel, he had gone on television to announce what he was going to do," Obama said.
McCain said he would return to Washington after addressing former President Clinton's Global Initiative session Thursday in New York. He canceled a scheduled appearance on CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" and a meeting with the Indian prime minister.
McCain called Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to propose that joint meetings with Obama and congressional leaders be held quickly, according to leadership aides. Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Reid responded by reading McCain his public statement, in which Reid said it would not be helpful for the candidates to come back and inject presidential politics during negotiations.
Reid told reporters later that McCain "is trying to divert attention from his failing campaign."
Both the Commission on Presidential Debates and the University of Mississippi, the site of the forum, said they continued to plan for the debate.
McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, was canceling her limited campaign events. Palin said in an interview Wednesday with the "CBS Evening News" that the country could be headed for another Great Depression if Congress doesn't reach a solution.
McCain adviser Steve Schmidt would not say how long the suspension would last but indicated it would go through the weekend in hopes of reaching a deal before the markets open on Monday.
McCain has struggled with how to handle the financial situation, which he might escape with modest political damage if he and Obama could reach some type of accord on the matter.
Scores of congressional Republicans hinted this week they may oppose the proposed $700 billion bailout, and Reid pointedly suggested that Democratic lawmakers could not be expected to back it if McCain did not publicly do so.
That leaves McCain with two unpalatable choices. He can oppose a major Republican initiative the administration says is essential to preventing a full-blown recession, and risk heavy blame if the prediction comes true. Or he can vote for an extraordinarily costly bailout, which many Americans seem to resent, just when polls show him falling farther behind Obama.
Several GOP lawmakers and strategists said they see no way McCain can oppose the main elements of the bailout plan and present himself as a bold leader. He must say, "We need to get this done for the future of our country," said John Feehery, a former aide to top Republican lawmakers.
But McCain might reap few political rewards for such a move.
Obama also risks voter wrath if he supports the bailout. But he could frame his stand as bipartisan statesmanship, whereas McCain's vote could be spun as another example of his siding with Bush, a major impediment to his campaign.
news.aol.com/article/mccain-to-halt-campaign-due-to-economy/172887?icid=200100397x1210211757x1200621705
What do you think of McCain's decision to suspend his campaign?
Thumbs down 55%
Thumbs up 45%
Total Votes: 261,435
Should Friday's presidential debate be rescheduled?
No 58%
Yes 38%
I'm not sure 4%
Total Votes: 255,839
The White House rivals maneuvered Wednesday to claim the leadership role in resolving the economic turmoil that has overshadowed their campaign. Obama said he would proceed with his debate preparations while consulting with bailout negotiators and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. McCain said he would stop all advertising, fundraising and other campaign events and return to Washington and work for a bipartisan solution.
"It's 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," Obama said at a news conference in Clearwater, Fla. "It's going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once."
But McCain said they must focus on a bipartisan solution as the Bush administration's $700 billion bailout proposal seemed headed for defeat. If not, McCain said ominously, credit will dry up, people will no longer be able to buy homes, life savings will be at stake and businesses will not have enough money to pay workers.
"It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration's proposal," McCain said. "I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time."
President Bush invited both candidates to the White House on Thursday, along with congressional leaders, in hopes of securing a bill to rescue the economy. Bush took the unusual step Wednesday night of calling Obama directly to invite him, White House press secretary Dana Perino said. An Obama spokesman said the senator would attend.
In a joint statement Wednesday night, the candidates said the country faces "a moment of economic crisis," and called for political unity to solve it because "the jobs, savings and the prosperity of the American people are at stake." Both said the Bush plan was "flawed."
"We cannot risk an economic catastrophe," they said. "Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, McCain's representative in debate negotiations, said McCain will not attend the debate "unless there is an agreement that would provide a solution" to the financial crisis. Graham, R-S.C., told The Associated Press that the agreement would have to be publicly endorsed by Obama, McCain, the White House and congressional leaders, but not necessarily given final passage by the House and Senate.
Asked whether the debate could go forward if McCain doesn't show, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "My sense is there's going to be a stage, a moderator, an audience and at least one presidential candidate."
The competing positions came after the two senators spoke privately, each trying to portray himself as a bipartisan leader in a time of crisis.
McCain beat Obama to the punch with the first public statement. He said he had spoken to Bush and asked him to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.
Even as McCain said he was putting the country first, his surprise announcement was clearly political. It was an attempt to out-maneuver Obama on an issue on which McCain is trailing, the economy, as the Democrat gains in polls. He quickly went before TV cameras minutes after speaking with Obama and before the two campaigns had hammered out their agreed-agreed upon joint statement.
And while McCain's campaign said he would "suspend" his campaign, it simply will move to Washington knowing the spotlight will remain on him no matter where he is.
Obama, too, made a political calculation by rejecting McCain's challenge while still trying to appear on top of the problem. Obama repeatedly stressed that he called McCain first with the proposal for a joint statement in support of an economic fix. He said McCain called back several hours later, as Obama was leaving a rally in Florida, and agreed to the idea of a statement but also said he wanted to postpone the debate and hold joint meetings in Washington.
Obama said he suggested they first issue the statement.
"When I got back to the hotel, he had gone on television to announce what he was going to do," Obama said.
McCain said he would return to Washington after addressing former President Clinton's Global Initiative session Thursday in New York. He canceled a scheduled appearance on CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" and a meeting with the Indian prime minister.
McCain called Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to propose that joint meetings with Obama and congressional leaders be held quickly, according to leadership aides. Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Reid responded by reading McCain his public statement, in which Reid said it would not be helpful for the candidates to come back and inject presidential politics during negotiations.
Reid told reporters later that McCain "is trying to divert attention from his failing campaign."
Both the Commission on Presidential Debates and the University of Mississippi, the site of the forum, said they continued to plan for the debate.
McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, was canceling her limited campaign events. Palin said in an interview Wednesday with the "CBS Evening News" that the country could be headed for another Great Depression if Congress doesn't reach a solution.
McCain adviser Steve Schmidt would not say how long the suspension would last but indicated it would go through the weekend in hopes of reaching a deal before the markets open on Monday.
McCain has struggled with how to handle the financial situation, which he might escape with modest political damage if he and Obama could reach some type of accord on the matter.
Scores of congressional Republicans hinted this week they may oppose the proposed $700 billion bailout, and Reid pointedly suggested that Democratic lawmakers could not be expected to back it if McCain did not publicly do so.
That leaves McCain with two unpalatable choices. He can oppose a major Republican initiative the administration says is essential to preventing a full-blown recession, and risk heavy blame if the prediction comes true. Or he can vote for an extraordinarily costly bailout, which many Americans seem to resent, just when polls show him falling farther behind Obama.
Several GOP lawmakers and strategists said they see no way McCain can oppose the main elements of the bailout plan and present himself as a bold leader. He must say, "We need to get this done for the future of our country," said John Feehery, a former aide to top Republican lawmakers.
But McCain might reap few political rewards for such a move.
Obama also risks voter wrath if he supports the bailout. But he could frame his stand as bipartisan statesmanship, whereas McCain's vote could be spun as another example of his siding with Bush, a major impediment to his campaign.
news.aol.com/article/mccain-to-halt-campaign-due-to-economy/172887?icid=200100397x1210211757x1200621705