Obama says debate should go ahead

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Democrat Barack Obama says that amid the current financial crisis, it's more important than ever for he and John McCain to sit down and hold a presidential debate.


Republican McCain proposed earlier Wednesday that Friday's debate be postponed while the two candidates work to deal with the nation's financial troubles. Obama said he and McCain are working on a joint statement setting out their ideas on how to solve the financial crisis. But Obama also said he believes it's important to go ahead and have the debate.

Obama said, "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


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080924/ap_on_el_pr/mccain;_ylt=AnZUg8b7jzteK21LqjyfOe6s0NUE

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OBAMA AIDE: DEBATE SHOULD GO ON

From a top Obama source -- He will appear soon to say debate should go on .. perhaps the subject matter can be augmented to include discussion of the economy, but a president should be able to multi-task.

This source says the only thing that has changed is McCain's standing in the polls.

more:http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/24/1442303.aspx


Ole Miss says debate is going forward

AFP:

Organizers said Wednesday they were going ahead as planned with the first 2008 U.S. presidential debate, despite Republican John McCain's call to postpone the event in the face of the Wall Street crisis.

"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 between McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/Ole_Miss_says_debate_is_going_forward.html?showall

In craven political move, McCain suspends campaign over economic crisis
By Jeff Bridges 9/24/08 2:14 PM
I just got a twitter alert from CNN that John McCain has suspended campaigning to work on the economy, and asked Barack Obama to postpone Friday’s debate and do the same. Interesting request, considering McCain’s top advisors helped get us into this mess. If he really wants to fix the economy McCain should start with some pruning of his own backyard.

On Sunday the New York Times documented that “Senator John McCain’s campaign manager was paid more than $30,000 a month for five years as president of an advocacy group set up by the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to defend them against stricter regulations.” He also pulled a Sarah Palin today by skipping a lunch event with reporters. The excuse? He would be “heading out on the trail.” But wait, I thought they decided to halt campaigning?

In any case, it’s great to hear that that McCain wants this guy to stop managing the campaign and instead spend all his time working on a fix for the economy. I can’t wait to see what the Fannie and Freddie lobbyist comes up with.

Then there’s Senator Phil Gramm, who only a few months ago assured us we just made up this whole economic problem thing and we’d become a “nation of whiners.” While Gramm officially stepped down from the McCain campaign following those comments, a spokesmen just this week refused to rule him out as a possible Treasury Secretary should McCain win.

more:http://coloradoindependent.com/9116/in-craven-political-move-mccain-suspends-campaign-over-economic-crisis

[annabanana]

1. GOOD!

from the above link (with my emphasis)

McCain said the Bush administration's plan seemed headed for defeat and a bipartisan solution was urgently needed.

So Bush dropped a turd on the American people and McCain want to apply some of that "republican bipartisanship" on it?

[gratuitous]

2. Yeah, let's go!

Just because Straight-Talkin' Johnny Maverick is so scared he shit himself, there's no reason not to go ahead with the campaign. And what better venue than a joint appearance that discusses the "crisis," analyzes the candidates' historic positions on market regulation, and gets them both to make solid recommendations for what their respective administrations would do to solve this "crisis" and avert future ones?

If I were Obama, I'd even spot McCain an extra chair so he could have Phil Gramm sitting next to him.

[indio55555]

3. Come on guys delay the debate.

McCain needs to help himself and his rich buddies... delay the debate

[LatteLibertine]

4. Yeah

Ol' McCain wants to go help push through the Ben Dover act.

[Hugin]

5. Good for you Sen. Obama.

Keep this thing on it's tracks. Something the opposition seems incapable of doing. :)

[David__77]

6. Good!

It's time.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Wasn't much point in McCain being there anyway

given that he knows sweet fuck all about economics.

[specialed]

8. Now this is presidential fortitude in action.

[Alcibiades]

9. McCain won't be able to delay his duties as president

so why should he be able to delay the debate? It's not like he's even on any of the relevant Senate committees. He agreed to the timing. If he wants to go back on his word, that's to be expected.

[Phred42]

10. Grampy is a COWARD - Change the subject of the Debat to the Economy and GO FOR IT!

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. I am gonna send message to Obama at his website

thanking him for going on with debate.

Anyone else?

Edited to include what we wrote:



We ( 10 of us in the office ) were happy to hear Sen. Obama is not going to cancel the debate even if McCain is not there.
I am sure McCain's VP pick can use the practice of filling in for him.

If not, perhaps the debate can use the same empty chair that Harriet Meirs and Karl Rove refused to sit in after being subpoenaed.
We are very proud of a nominee who is too smart to let Rove lead the dance.
Speaking of music:
McCain's theme song needs to be, with apologies to the late great Roy Orbison:
Running Scared.

Respectfully.............

10 life long Democrats.

[mountainvue]

12. Do it! Do it! Do it! n/t

[JonLP24]

13. Go Obama!!!

A debate would be more important then ever giving the current situation!!!!! !:bounce: :bounce: :kick:

[Raine]

14. McINSANE is SCARED he's nothing but a chicken shit! nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Yes!

The resolution to the economic situation is going to rely heavily on the president who inherits this mess from Dumbyass & Co.

We are not currently enmeshed in a crisis that will suddenly find itself repaired before Election Day 2008. It's going to take years.

I'm glad Obama wants to move forward with the debates, and allow people to base their presidential selection on this most important issue.

[nyc 4 Biden]

16. AWESOME!!

McCain=PWNED

I am so glad Obama did go along with McCain on this.

[maddezmom]

17. The Nation: Debate should go on..... Obama says presidents need to be able to do 2 things at once

John McCain is so overwhelmed by the task of responding to the economic crisis that he wants to suspend the presidential campaign and delay Friday's first debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees for president.

Barack Obama says presidents need to be able to do two things at once.

"Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time," said the senator from Illinois

So, while Obama says he and his campaign will work with the McCain camp to advance a proposal by the Democrat to have the two campaigns develop a joint statement on how the crisis can and should be resolved, he still wants to debate.

"I think we should continue to have the debate," Obama told reporters in Florida, arguing that, "It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess."

Noting that he was in constant contact with Democrats and Republicans in Washington -- including Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, with who he says he has spoken twice today -- Obama said he was more than willing to go to Washington if it might help advance negotiations on a bipartisan plan.

more:http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/364011/obama_wants_to_debate

[ComtesseDeSpair]

20. Perfect Response.

[JonLP24]

18. This is obviously a political ploy

:argh:

Obama REACHED out to him to release a bipartisan statement regaring the bailout and instead puts a hold on his campaign and delay the debates as if 2 hours during primetime means that much!!!

[erpowers]

19. Should Go On But...

I think the debate should go on, but I think eventually Barack Obama may have to agree to delay the debate. I think this move whether it is a craven move or not can turn out to be a good move for John McCain. I contend it has the ability to make John McCain look like he is really putting politics second while it can make Obama look like he only cares about winning the election. Once again I think the debate should go on, but would keeping it on schedule help or hurt Obama?

[GalleryGod]

21. Obama should debate a chair on Friday or...Sarah and First Dude

could debate him as the "Tag team from the Frozen Tundra":rofl: :spray: :rofl:
Thus... Johnny Douchebag is a chickehawk after all:puke: :argh:

[WriteDown]

22. Amazing how many people miss the big picture here...

This was a brilliant move by McCain's advisers. The mainstream media is going to paint Obama as not caring enough about the economy to put his own ambitions on hold. He needs to tread very carefully here.

[maddezmom]

23. Well McCain admitted he hadn't even read the 3 pages of the proposal yet

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7169305

[WriteDown]

24. And how many times do you think you'll hear this

on the evening news? Probably zilch.

[maddezmom]

26. who knows. But I'm not worried about it. So far the MSM is calling McCain's bluff here

we'll just have to wait and see. :hi:

[tavalon]

51. You'll be happy to know that that is not the way it's shaking out.

[crossroads]

25. At the very least - Obama gets 3 hours of free air time!

McSame is running scared!

CR

[Haole Girl]

27. Why should he let McSame hide? nt

[sabra]

28. Obama weighs in on McCain's call for campaign suspension ("we should continue to have the debate")

Source: CNN

Obama weighs in on McCain's call for campaign suspension.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/

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http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/?loc=interstitialskip

Obama signals he wants Friday's debate to be held:

4:46
"With respect to the debates, 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. ... In my mind, it's more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people."
4:47
Obama indicates he did not know McCain was going to suggest that Friday's debate be postponed. "I thought this was something he was mulling over," Obama says. "Apparently it was something he was more decisive about."

"I believe that we should continue to have the debate," Obama adds.

4:52
"My attitude is that we need to be focused on solving the problem," says Obama. "But it is also important that we communicate to the American people where we need to go."

4:56
Obama says the only miscommunication between the two campaigns appears to have been over how quickly McCain would call for postponement of Friday's debate and the suspension of campaigning. He does not bite, though, when asked by a reporter if he thinks McCain is playing politics:

4:57
"Let's be clear," Obama says. "Sen. McCain is running his campaign, I'm running mine. Given the fierce competition of this election and the enormous stakes involved, the fact that both parties agree we need to focus on this problem ... (is) an important statement."

[FirstLight]

29. wow...

good comment!
"...his 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. ..."

bring it HOME Obama! Remind people that it is almost a MONTH before elections, THE most important one in the century...and McCain is peeing himself!

If they even TRY to fix this election, Obama will really dig in and give them hell, he is OVER it!

ENOUGH! Yea!

[Demit]

30. He has perfect pitch with this response. Go Barack!

[corporatemedia]

31. If they do debate, what will McCain wear??? .......... Depends. n/t

[qwlauren35]

32. Red shirt...

Brown pants.

When "Depends" aren't enough for the mess.

[MomforObama]

33. Now THAT'S Presidential!!

[Riddler]

34. Are there any doubts that McLoser wouldn't suspend his campaign if he weren't tanking

and if he had a VP pick that wasn't a total zero?

[Danieljay]

35. Obama Rejects McCain's Call For Suspension Of Debate; Says He Was Blindsided

Source: talking points memo

At a press conference just now, Barack Obama rejected John McCain's demand for a suspension of the debate.

"I believe we should continue to have the debate," he just said. "I believe it makes sense for us to present ourselves to the American people."

snip

Obama also said that he was blindsided by McCain's public call for a debates suspension. After describing their conversation about a possible suspension, Obama said: "I thought that this was something that he was mulling over. Apparently this was something that he was more decisive about in his own mind."

Read more: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/obama_dismisses_mccains_call_f.php

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GOEFFINGBAMA!! I love this man.

[FightingIrish]

36. If McCain was really thinking country first, he would have

worked an a joint statement from both campaigns. He did this to stop the bleeding and get time to collect his dim wits.

[Native]

37. "in his own mind" - that says it all! n/t

[SemperEadem]

38. all the koolaid drinkers over on the msn lifestyle message boards

think it's a great idea for mclame to cancel the debates. It is really, really sick!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

39. Obama was politely sarcastic at times.

The contrast could not be more clear, as McCain had spoken just before Obama did, and McCain
rattled off his short message then left the podium, press did not have chance for questions.

Obama came on, said his piece, then allowed questions.

He got in several points:
1. Presidents need ability to multi-task.
2. McCain fled from debate without further conversation with Obama.
Obama acted mildly perplexed at this....lol!
3. Obama pointed out holding the debates was a way for the candidates to communicate
the voters about the economy issues.
Left unsaid of course was that McCain had passed on this opportunity.

Overall, Obama came across as intelligent, very calm, acted very Presidential.

[tanyev]

40. Obama should also commend McCain for finally realizing that

all of his years of pushing for more deregulation have indeed created a crisis.

[krabigirl]

41. Yes!!! Why can't McSame multi-task?

[pink-o]

42. Here's the Congressional leadership's response:

From the WaPo:


"...But Democrats blasted McCain's action as a political stunt, delivered as the economy has surged to the forefront of voters' concerns, and to Obama's advantage.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said McCain's move was "the longest 'Hail Mary' in the history of either football or Marys.'' The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which was holding a hearing on the bailout, added "I'm not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I guess if I wanted expertise there , I'd ask Sarah Palin." :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada had a similar reaction. "It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation's economy," Reid said. "If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."

He added: "If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/24/mccain_suspending_campaign_ask.html

[maddezmom]

45. LOL

:D

[pink-o]

50. Okay, getting a little apprehensive now!

We're 2 mins away from Bushy-boy addressing the nation re how we have to support the bailout, McCain suspending campaign ads and headed towards DC--something's up between those 2 and it can't be good.

It stinks, rankly of Rove

:wtf:

[mapatriot]

43. A stunt

This is a stunt....a McSame scam cause he's SOOOO out of touch with the complexities of and potential solutions to this financial crisis. If he debates on Friday night, he'll be shown to be the helpless, hopeless dope we all know he is. This moronic stunt is the best thing that could have happened to the Obama campaign and signals the beginning of the end of McSame & Gov. Pathetic.

[Pachamama]

44. Whoa! Grampy McCain is scared! (and he should be...he's getting his rear kicked and on economics..

...he's toast!) Especially in light of all of the people (Gramm, Davis etc.) that are involved in his policies, not to mention his 26 year voting record!!!

But, he's such a tough guy I thought and so prepared for leadership....and he wants to postpone??? Yeah, I bet he does....

[Hubert Flottz]

46. Just bring in a pig with lipstick and set it in McCain's chair...

nobody will be the wiser! Put a Navy hat on the pig and make it bounce up and down on it's toes whenever it gets ready to tell a big lie. The freepers and the TV Snooze people will all be raving about what a fine job the pig did and how "Pereidential" it looked to them.

[sarcasmo]

47. Obama should show up and give a speech about the economy.

Mccain knows he is screwed.

[jpertello]

52. YES!

That is what everyone I know is saying! It would be a great op for Obama to show he IS the president we need in a crisis.

[goclark]

48. Remember suspend the convention

This windbag needs to realize or care that America is on to him/

[OhioChick]

49. The Debate "should" go on.....

McCain can't use the financial crisis excuse.....it's not going away any time soon.

[The Craw]

53. What would happen to McCain if he's a noshow?

What if McCain doesn't show? Can he be fined or held accountable somehow?