From The Road
September 24, 2008 5:45 PM

UPDATED: McCain Suspends Campaign

(CBS)

From CBS News’ John Bentley:


(NEW YORK) – John McCain is suspending his campaign and returning to Washington to work on the financial crisis. He has asked Barack Obama to join him, and for Friday’s debate to be suspended until legislation is agreed upon, but a senior Obama adviser says they are “inclined” to go forward with the debate.

“I am calling on the President to convene a leadership meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Sen. Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem,” McCain said. “We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved.”

But Obama said he was surprised that McCain had called a press conference and said he was suspending his campaign and asking the debate be postponed. “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. “What I'm planning to do right now is debate on Friday, and that's what I'm preparing to do.”

The Commission on Presidential Debates released a statement saying they are also "moving forward with its plan for the first presidential debate" because preparations have been underway for a year and a half. "We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled," the release stated.

If an agreement is hammered out before Friday morning, McCain would participate in the debate, according to senior adviser Mark Salter.

McCain has also suspended all political advertising and canceled all campaign events, Salter said. He added that McCain’s colleagues on Capital Hill have told him that passing Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson’s plan was going to be “next to impossible.”

Yesterday, McCain expressed concern on the proposed bailout legislation, and offered five provisions of his own that he’d like added to the bill. But he stopped short of saying he would not vote for the bailout, arguing that passing the legislation quickly was of the utmost importance.



Tags:
mccain ,
obama
Topics:
John McCain
Add a Comment See all 43 Comments
by tazheutlin September 24, 2008 3:39 PM PDT
Isn''t this the time when we most need to hear from our candidates?
Reply to this comment
by strangeworld September 24, 2008 3:43 PM PDT
McCain has not been involved in the senate for months, and now he''s interested in America again? More mcCain/Palin dog and pony show politics. What''s next, McCain faking a heart attack on the stage of the debate to get the sympathy vote?
Reply to this comment
by coconnor55-2009 September 24, 2008 3:45 PM PDT
No delay - we need to hear from our candidates. I''d suggest changing the topic from foreign policy to domestic economics for this week.
Reply to this comment
by factfinder44 September 24, 2008 3:50 PM PDT
A reporter asked John McCain about the Keating 5 scandal this morning. Perhaps that has something to do with the decision to suspend the campaign and hide back in Washington.
Reply to this comment
by auntmisbehav September 24, 2008 3:50 PM PDT
Yeah, McCain is dropping in the polls, Sarah is disgracing herself everywhere she goes, and this is nothing but a grandstand play to play for time.
Reply to this comment
by strangeworld September 24, 2008 3:53 PM PDT
I agree, the debate this week should be changed to domestic issues and the debate should go on. The American people deserve to hear what their candidates have to say here. This move from the mcCain campaign smacks of the Bush administration. The American people deserve better than McCain.
Reply to this comment
by i1magine September 24, 2008 3:55 PM PDT
Bernake and Paulson where on 27 different talk shows in the last 3 days. McCain has been aware of the situation for 2 weeks, but now 4 days before the debate - 40 days before the election of the most powerful position in the world, he wants to give the American people less information b/c he can''t spare an 1 1/2 on tv. Sorry I aint buyin what you sellin. Maybe the WA PO is right, maybe he has lost his mind.
Reply to this comment
by theporch September 24, 2008 3:55 PM PDT
John McCain is a true American. He puts his country before his political career. He always has and always will. He has fought for this country and will continue to do so.
Reply to this comment
by strangeworld September 24, 2008 3:57 PM PDT
John mcCain is a dishonorable American who lies to the uS voter daily. The adulterer is a very poor example for our children.
Reply to this comment
by stevemehere September 24, 2008 4:09 PM PDT
Obama called McCain at 0830, sept 24, suggesting they work together for a bi-partisan economic conclusion. McCain steals another idea, just like the Obama''s "change" idea, to try to score political points. McCain is such a phony it is outrageous and on top of it, he steals others ideas and takes full credit. Hypocrite!

There needs to be a poll asking the American people what they think....I bet most want the debate to go on.
Reply to this comment
by ladyvet1 September 24, 2008 4:11 PM PDT
Yesterday McCain said he didn''t think his vote should matter. I think McCain is panicking with his free fall in the polls and is looking for anything to change the subject.

The election will go on as scheduled. Obama should continue to make his case to the American people and call for calm. He has laid out very simple, strong principles for the strenthening of our economy in both the short and long term and will make sure that Main street will be stronger as the result. Obama needs to be out there, reassuring us that we can pull through this thing together and that he''s making sure we don''t get the short end of this deal.

McCain''s actions are not very confidence-inspiring, instead making us think this thing may be more serious than we previously thought. His actions are increasingly disturbing to me. Talk about lurching from crisis to crisis.....
Reply to this comment
by thebob-bob September 24, 2008 4:12 PM PDT
Panic sets in as the McCain campaign disintegrates. Why not just have Bush declare martial law? More reckless, impulsive and desperate reaction by a failing campaign. If he really wants to put country first, endorse Obama and get Bush out of there!
Reply to this comment
by besjml September 24, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
The credit crises seems really about restoring confidence. Paulson''s plan seems to simply be a strategy to restore confidence or credibility to the financial sector. It would seem most prudent for the President and his hopeful successors to stand up and lead during this crises. Americans expect someone to step up and be optimistic about our abiltiy to find a solution no matter how dire it might be in the interim. The opportunity to demonstrate leadership is now, I''ll vote for the first to step up!!!! Huckabee/Pickens 2008
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday September 24, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
How can McCain say he is suspending his campaign?
He didn''t have any campaign stops scheduled anyway. He was going to be using the time to cram for the debate.

Mccain is actually a pretty scrappy debater, who has had a lot of experience with it. Debating isn''t Obama''s strong suit. McCAIN will do just fine.
Just do it and get it over with.
Reply to this comment
by asdfqwertyui September 24, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
What a transparent political ploy by McCain. Just like the hurricane delay at the convention. He''s trying to look "Presidential" by blackmailing Obama because Obama''s in the lead and he knows the debates will put Obama even farther ahead.

This has nothing to do with being Presidential and everything to do with cheap politics. The financial disaster is McCain''s fault and everyone knows it.
Reply to this comment
by ltk01 September 24, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
McCain is a "Class Act"...He is correct to return to DC to work and vote on our "Econ. Meltdown"! Good for him...for unlike Obama, the "empty shirt", who just wants to talk, debate and play like Nero while Rome burns...Obama would just vote "Present" anyway, like he has 100 times, so no need for him to return to DC.
Reply to this comment
by weseebs September 24, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
Listen to you "Country be damned, we need a debate!". Keep drinking the karl marx flavored kool-aid guys.

Obama has slithered away from McCain''s invite to tour the country for townhall style meetings. If not Friday, they will debate soon and I''m looking forward to BHO speaking without a teleprompter.

Change the debate to domestic issues? Please do. Let''s talk about Barney Frank and the other Democrat''s success turning Freddie and Fannie into a cess pool of bad debt all in the name of political correctness. Why hasn''t Waxman screamed for hearings on this one? You know why, there''s no Republicans to put on trial, just Democrats.
Reply to this comment
by whitedude4bo September 24, 2008 4:22 PM PDT
Why didn''t he go when the crisis started. Oh yeah, he had to take Caribou Barbie to the UN to get some face time. This guy is a joke.
Reply to this comment
by nomolies September 24, 2008 4:29 PM PDT
OH NO!!!! I just had this vision........"a sinking ship,,,,, half the passengers screaming to run to the front, the other half screaming run to the back!" the effing life boats are stowed in the middle! couldn''t we just stop screaming insults long enough to realize that the middle of the boat is the america we all love. in my 51 years i have never seen it this partisan. FOLKS....... our country is dying and you dumb *** won''t stop pointing fingers long enough to even lay 1 positive idea out for discussion. I"M SCARED!! scared for my family, my business, my employees and their families. OH NO!!!
Reply to this comment
by hillarynow September 24, 2008 4:33 PM PDT
We don''t need you to run to the rescue of your rich buddies who own and operate all these banks John, we don''t need you to help dig the hole YOU and your Republican friends dug so deep with YOUR deregulation ideas even deeper! the deregulation YOU greedy Republican IDIOTS lobbied hard for. No McCain what the American people need, the people you so mistakenly refer to as "my friends" what WE need you to do is to STAY AWAY FROM OUR MONEY, stay OUT of Washington and to keep your hands OFF our money. Nice try running and hiding from Obama too, you can run McCain but you can''t hide. Why don''t you just suspend your campaign for good, we don''t need you and your kind, you are the ones who got America INTO this mess, you are the last ones we need to get us out. NO BAIL OUT FOR THE RICH REPUBLICANS!!!
Reply to this comment
by crowesnests September 24, 2008 4:37 PM PDT
This is obvious attempt by McCain to turn the attention away from issues with the economy...its a Stund...Palin has hidden from the press and McCain does not want to debate because he knows he will slip further because of his ties to George Bush. Besides where is Bush? He is the President should he show a more interest..guess not.. What a mess. I would care if Obama does not go along with this he would still be the best Leader for our country.
Reply to this comment
by weseebs September 24, 2008 4:56 PM PDT
Will all the Obama experts here please tell us exactly what he will do to save the economy? And tell us what the Republicans did to cause this mess? Please, this is a serious question.

HillaryNow
asdfqwertyui
thebob-bob
whitedude4BO

You have all thrown insults out. nomolies makes a good point, can we make points of fact here or do we keep bickering until Nov 4th?

Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 September 24, 2008 5:08 PM PDT
The Republicans cleared the way for revelry to take place within the various markets sighting Free Market Deregulation. The money has been taken and they are gone! Now, the same Republicans are attempting to backfill lost revenues with your tax payer money.

What will Barack Obama do?
Well first and foremost by not re-electing the same people that have pilfered the wealth (in many different ways) from the masses will be a start to economic recovery.

Stop the bleeding first, then begin the healing.
Reply to this comment
by weseebs September 24, 2008 5:45 PM PDT

Mattcat25, If you''re watching the mainstream news it''s understandable that your answer lacks the facts. What decree did Repubs pass to de-regulate?
In 2003 the Bush Administration took steps to reduce the risk Fannie and Freddie were taking...
Barney Frank said ''''These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis,'''' said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ''''The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.''''

read the NYTimes article at
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Before this, in 1999 there''s more. Lending criteria was relaxed in the name of political correctness.
see NYTimes again at
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE7DB153EF933A0575AC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all


I think you''ll find that most of those who profited at least at Freddie and Fannie were Democrats. There was a party line vote by Senate Banking Committee that would have prevented this... Democrats opposed the reforms.

check out Bloomberg at http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

I hope you don''t see my response as simply partisan bickering. I''ve sighted sources that could be considered liberal, not neo-con sources.

The facts are telling.
Reply to this comment
by albrightw September 24, 2008 5:53 PM PDT
Let Obama have debate with himself, use what positions he has taken is the past against his positions he is taking now. I believe it will be very funny.
Reply to this comment
by suzyku September 24, 2008 5:53 PM PDT
Gee, if he suspends his campaign does that mean we get time out from his and palins constant lies?!
Reply to this comment
by albrightw September 24, 2008 6:03 PM PDT
Come on !!!This country has a very powerful Senate and House of Representatives. The Country is being led by the House and Senate. I''ve seen what the House and Senate can do to the President, they don''t consider the issue, they vote against the man. Half don''t know what the issue is,
Reply to this comment
by dburfears September 24, 2008 6:10 PM PDT
Obama PRIVATELY called McCain at 8:30 this morning to work through a TRULY BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

Why not WORK WITH OBAMA FIRST before making a TOTALLY POLITICAL MOVE?

So McCain says to himself "HEY, WE CAN MAKE SOME POLITICAL POINTS IF WE MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS OUR IDEA!"

THEN McCAIN HURRIES OUT AND SAYS "MY IDEA, MY IDEA!"

If McCain REALLY wanted this to be a "Country First" moment, he would have AGREED TO OBAMA''S BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL. Instead MCCAIN USED THIS for POLITICAL GAIN.

It''s clear- McCain wanted to get a big CAMPAIGN SPLASH. His claims of BIPARTISANSHIP are a SHAM.

If MCCAIN REALLY MEANT IT - HE WOULD HAVE DONE THE JOINT STATEMENT THAT OBAMA CALLED HIM ABOUT THIS MORNING. THEY COULD HAVE JOINTLY ANNOUNCED A BIPARTISAN INITIATIVE.

MCCAIN IS SLIME.

Reply to this comment
by jackiean1 September 24, 2008 6:16 PM PDT
MC CAIN LEADS - OBAMA PRATICES

Sen. McCain once again puts country first.
No surprise there.
If Obama really wanted to debate he would have accepted McCain''''s invite to the ten town hall meetings.
Obama wants to stay "mum" and vote "not present" in this economic crisis. He just dosen''t know what to do. He would rather stay where he is and practice being a leader than go to Washington at this time and be one.
No Surprise there either.
Reply to this comment
by khhammerle September 24, 2008 6:46 PM PDT
Obama should return to Washington immediately. He is being paid to be a Senator, not a political candidate. If this is not to his liking, resignation is an outstanding option.
Reply to this comment
by bcdwriter September 24, 2008 7:12 PM PDT
Sen. McCain is ducking the issue and task of facing the American people in a debate against his opponent, Sen. Obama. The debate should go on, and Sen. Obama was correct when he stated that the American people have the right to be told what''s going on in this economy, particularly since it will affect foreign policies & security of our nation! Hell, Pres. Bush is scheduled tonight to speak to the American people about this very same thing, which in part, he AGREES with Obama''s assessment about informing the American people about what''s happening. In addition, Obama agreed on a JOINT STATEMENT about this financial bail out, but by the time Obama hung up the phone, McCain is on television "calling out" Obama to join him to discuss the financial bail out, as well as postponing the debate - MCCAIN''S A COWARD and a LIAR!
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday September 24, 2008 10:17 PM PDT
John McCAIN suspended his campaign?
If there is a crisis when he is president, will he cancel the presidentcy?
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday September 24, 2008 10:19 PM PDT
oh please, just send your economic team to work on the problem. It isn''t like anybody would actually think that john McCAIN is going to be writing economic legislation!

He canceled his TV ads? If the economy is in dire straights, wouldn''t it be wiser to continue putting money into the economy?
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday September 24, 2008 10:56 PM PDT
So why can''t his number 2 take over the campaign while he is in Washington D.C.
He told us she was 100% qualified to be VP. She should be able to step in and handle the campaign events while he is in D.C.
Reply to this comment
by roc2341 September 24, 2008 11:04 PM PDT
McCAIN MEETS WITH ROMNEY/CEO''S, BUT REFUSES TO MEET/SHARE HIS IDEAS IN A DEBATE WITH OBAMA. HE GIVES HIS WORD TO JOIN IN A JOINT REPLY FROM BOTH CAMPS AND TEN MINUTES LATER IS HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE SAYING SOMETHING ELSE. IS THIS THE KIND OF CHARACTER-ISTICS WE WANT IN A PRESIDENT? JOHN McCAIN IS/WILL GO DOWN AS THE WORST, MOST INCOMPOTENT, UNTRUST WORTHY,AND COWARDLY POLITICIAN IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNING HISTORY!!!!! GUARANTEED!AFTER THIS SPINELESS ACT HE SHOULD SEEK REFUGE IN SARAH''S BACKYARD IN ALASKA.
Reply to this comment
by femaledem September 24, 2008 11:21 PM PDT
SUSPEND IT..HE SHOULD JUST WITHDRAW AND BOTH HE & SHE HIGHTAIL IT HOME(OOOOPS HE HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE 7 HOMES) ME I''VE BEEN FORCLOSED UPON..WHAT ABOUT THE $84,1 MILLION OF TAXPAYERS $$ BY SUSPENDING HIS CAMPAIGN..GIVE THE $$ BACK TOWARD THE BAILOUT!!! OR ARE "you" GOING TO BUY ANOTHER HOME # 8 OF A CAR # 14!! WAKE UP VOTERS..HERE COMES THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS!!!!
Reply to this comment
by katharine9 September 25, 2008 12:29 AM PDT
You don%u2019t think McCain is playing politics with this decision? I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska.

McCain is turning into the biggest poser of them all. First flying to Georgia with %u2018bottles of water for dehydrated babies%u2019 during the hurricane, before even finding out what was needed, now flying to Washinton without a clue of what he will be doing there. Of course both candidates should be intimately involved in the decisions being made in Washington right now, but canceling the debate is a political move as his poll ratings drop. We get you McCain, do you think we%u2019re stupid?
Reply to this comment
by everym-2009 September 25, 2008 12:41 AM PDT
John Mccain needs to kill his campaign! He has a unique situation, his policies and lobbyist friends are responsible for this mess in the first place! He had an opportunity for over 20 years, to fight for regulation, oversight and less lobbyist influence in Washinton, but he chose to go with his republican party 90% of the time, which is a major reason for this debacle! This is just another political stunt by John Mccain to grab a spotlight! He and his party was for the Iraq War! Which has cost Americans taxpayers1 trillion dollars! He wants credit for a surge that is incomplete, but no credit for costing taxpayers 1 trillion dollars or for supporting going after Sadamm Hussein instead using the full might of our military, to go after Bin Laden!
His hindsight like the surge and stopping his campaign after the fact to fix his judgment errors in policy illuminates his inadequacies and ignorance! We need a proactive president who forsees major problems and have the wisdom to safeguard America''s interest! I am tired of this presidents manipulation of the country and congress! He waits until we are in dire circumstances, then whips a crisis management scenario on the people of America.
Reply to this comment
by hungry4goodg September 25, 2008 1:02 AM PDT
What this says is that McCain has no ability to multi-task. McCain shouldn''t throw in the towel, and if he does....Sen. Obama wins by default.
Reply to this comment
by stevemehere September 25, 2008 1:27 AM PDT
Letterman got it right on his show tonight...you have to watch...great stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E
Reply to this comment
by lpr35 September 25, 2008 5:12 PM PDT
If McCain has suspended his campaign why is he still campaiging? After his announcement he gave an interview with Katie Couric. He spoke at the Clinton Global Initiative. His staff is still doing press releases and interviews. Sarah Palin gave a mini press conference. He is still running political ads. What gives? Just another lie and political stunt to divert attention from his incompetence and dementia.
Reply to this comment
by cliffyworld September 26, 2008 10:39 AM PDT
Please read the related article titled "Liberals Forgot Obama Stiffed SNL Only Two Weeks Ago! Bring On The Ginko Biloba!" at http://www.cliffyworld.com/blogs
Reply to this comment
by cliffyworld September 26, 2008 10:41 AM PDT
Please read the related article titled "Liberals Forgot Obama Stiffed SNL Only Two Weeks Ago! Bring On The Ginko Biloba!" at http://www.cliffyworld.com/blogs
Reply to this comment
See all 43 Comments

About From The Road

Description for From the Road

  • MOST POPULAR
  • Viewed
  • Commented