McCain Will Head To Washington To Work On Bailout Plan

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(NEW YORK) – The day after suspending his presidential campaign, John McCain will start the day here with a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative, Bill Clinton's non-partisan organization that aims to bring together leaders to address global issues. McCain will be introduced by Clinton and plans to speak about climate change. Barack Obama will address the event via satellite shortly after McCain's speech.

McCain will then head to Washington, D.C., where both he and Obama will meet with President Bush to work on the $700 billion financial bailout plan. The presidential contenders issued a joint statement calling for bipartisan action to avert further catastrophe on Wall Street.

"Now is a time to come together -- Democrats and Republicans -- in a spirit of cooperation for the sake of the American people. The plan that has been submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration is flawed, but the effort to protect the American economy must not fail," the statement reads. "Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country."

McCain was originally scheduled to go to Oxford, Mississippi, today, ahead of Friday's first presidential debate. He has asked the debate be postponed until the bailout bill is finalized, but Obama says the debate should go on as scheduled. McCain has indicated he will go to the debate if sufficient progress has been made on the financial legislation.

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by shingles1 September 25, 2008 7:00 PM EDT: Bentley, like Vaughn you''ve been totally suckered by the McCain campaign into reporting this ''''suspended'''' BS.

* McCain campaign offices in battleground states are open and operating, just like yesterday.

* McCain''''s television ads are on the air, just like yesterday.

* McCain media flacks are all over the news networks, just like yesterday.

* McCain''''s campaign staffers are working, just like yesterday.

* McCain''''s campaign website is up, soliciting contributions and promoting McCain''''s message, just like yesterday.

* For the big White House meeting today, Barack Obama was told not to bring any campaign aides, so he''''s bringing a legislative assistant from his Senate staff. John McCain is bringing a campaign advisor.

So what exactly did McCain ''''suspend''''.; Reply to this comment


by tattors-2009 September 25, 2008 2:47 PM EDT: McLame''s lame attempt to be the BOSS, play the game his way. A small samplin of his MO and the disaster he will be whnen he is president. He will be pres. The stuff on the shelf to smear Obama will be shot out of cannons in the comming weeks. McLame also had to rub up with the Georgia prez, his big buddy. Couple of pack dogs. I have given up all hope for America.; Reply to this comment


by javalation September 25, 2008 12:57 PM EDT: The best thing to come out of McCain''s grandstanding may be that by politicizing the "bail-out" he has killed this theft of public money. He is obviously positioning himself as the savior, and hopefully, the Democrats will let him choke on it. Say no to corporate socialism!; Reply to this comment


by DCropp September 25, 2008 12:49 PM EDT: McCain is the biggest fraud we''ve ever had in Washington.

Wednesday morning, Obama calls McCain and suggests the agree to not campaign until the legislation is done.

In the afternoon, McCain and Obama are ironing out the details on a simultaneous announcement.

McCain runs in front of the cameras and declares he has suspended his campaign (while his staff keeps discussing things with Obama).

Wait, it gets funnier...

McCain tells people he''s flying to DC that night.

Instead, McCain stays in New York City and attends a few events, even holds an interview.

McCain spends the night in NYC and attends the Clinton Global Initiative event in NYC.

This would be funny if McCain was applying for a job at Walmart. Instead, he''s asking for the most important job in the world.; Reply to this comment


by javalation September 25, 2008 12:47 PM EDT: Whatever happened to the Republicans believing in the free market? Now they think that govt has the solution? This appears to be the ultimate flip flop and if the Democrats want to align with the people they will oppose this theft of our money.

Besides, who really believes that this is the final solution? Most likely this has a long way to go before it''s over. I''d rather they just bail out the FDIC and let those who have created this mess fail.; Reply to this comment


by junkkicker20 September 25, 2008 12:44 PM EDT: Hey - these guys have been campaigning for like 2 years now, postponing a debate for a week or so is NO big deal. As MY Arizona senator - I want McCain in Washington. This IS his job NOW.

First off is not the debate topic on - foreign policy and security - advantage McCain. Obama is the one who has been in classroom for the last several days doing his studies. This change in plans will only mess up his "debate scripting". His NON-presence in DC is to his advantage being able to "NO VOTE" or "NOT PRESENT" as he so often in the past used.; Reply to this comment


by mdsaw1 September 25, 2008 12:36 PM EDT: Some differences between the two candidates became glaringly obvious in the light of their respective announcements. McCain seems to be the man of action who has the judgement to priortize the multitude of tasks as an executive. On the other hand Mr. Obama wants to talk some more about the situation. Action or talk? Which does this country need more right now?

It appears that Mr. McCain does indeed put the country''s best interests ahead of his own personal ambitions in contrast to Mr. Obama''s opposite position. My feeling is that Mr. Obama may want to distance himself from what may be another unpopular bailout because he has no idea what steps to take to remedy this crisis. Simply put, the US Senate was in session for 143 days of Mr. Obama''s first term when he announced the formation of committee to explore the possibility of his becoming U.S. President. A new hire at a Quick Lube would be unlikely to be promoted to manager with only 143 days of experience.

This country is in dire straits if the greatest leaders we can offer for president are Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama.; Reply to this comment


by junkkicker20 September 25, 2008 12:22 PM EDT: Hey - these guys have been campaigning for like 2 years now, postponing a debate for a week or so is NO big deal. As MY Arizona senator - I want McCain in Washington. This IS his job NOW.

First off is not the debate topic on - foreign policy and security - advantage McCain. Obama is the one who has been in classroom for the last several days doing his studies. This change in plans will only mess up his "debate scripting". His NON-presence in DC is to his advantage being able to "NO VOTE" or "NOT PRESENT" as he so often in the past used.; Reply to this comment


by pastdue1 September 25, 2008 12:21 PM EDT: His contribution to "working on the plan" is trying to get those dissident Republicans in a row to vote for the president''s plan. Lord only knows, we all would hate for him to actually be in on drafting the legislation.; Reply to this comment


by tattors-2009 September 25, 2008 12:21 PM EDT: McLame''s lame attempt to be the BOSS, play the game his way. A small samplin of his MO and the disaster he will be whnen he is president. He will be pres. The stuff on the shelf to smear Obama will be shot out of cannons in the comming weeks. McLame also had to rub up with the Georgia prez, his big buddy. Couple of pack dogs. I have given up all hope for America.; Reply to this comment