McCain Suspends Campaign: McCain Debate Postponed (Video/Pictures)
Posted on September 24, 2008
John McCain requested that the presidential debate, scheduled for Friday in Mississippi, to be delayed and asked Barack Obama to join him in Washington for a high-level meeting of congressional leaders to address the financial crisis. But Barack Obama feels the debate should continue as scheduled.
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Here is the statement from John McCain:
Good afternoon.
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, every 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’ve also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.
It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration’s 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’ll suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I’ve spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision, and I’ve asked him to join me.
I’m calling on the president to convene a leadership meeting from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It’s 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’m directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates to delay Friday night’s debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.
I’m 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’m 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.
Thank you.
But Obama stated, “It’s my belief that this is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible with dealing with this mess,” he told reporters in Florida, where he has been prepping for Friday’s event. “What I think is important is that we don’t suddenly infuse Capitol Hill with presidential politics,” he said.
Obama also took a nasty shot at McCain saying: “Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time,” Obama said. “It’s not necessary for us to think that we can do only one thing, and suspend everything else.”
Thus far, the debate holders plan to continue as scheduled. “We have been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that we are proceeding as scheduled,” said the University of Mississippi, which was to host Friday’s encounter. “We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned,” Ole Miss said in a statement.
Obama’s camp tried to quickly state that they had offered to reach out to McCain Wednesday, to suggest they both put out statements about the financial crisis.
Barack Obama is between a rock and a hard place, if he presses forward to continue the scheduled debate, and appears disinterested in the country’s financial crisis, this will not look good. Really, how can Obama say no?
Guess we’ll have to wait and see if the presidential debate will continue as planned on Friday?
Images: WENN
Source: news
One comment
Don’t fuck with Mississippi, folks!!