Lindsey Graham: McCain will not be at Friday's debate unless bailout deal is done

[sabra]

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

Republican presidential nominee John McCain will not take part in Friday's scheduled debate with Democratic nominee Barack Obama unless a bipartisan financial bailout plan has already been agreed to, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told USA TODAY's Kathy Kiely a short time ago.

Graham said he is going to be delivering that message to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

That is one step beyond what McCain himself said this afternoon, when he announced he had asked his staff to see if the debate could be postponed. Obama then said he believes the debate should go on as scheduled.

Graham is one of McCain's closest advisers and has served as the nominee's representative in dealings with the debate commission. He told Kathy that "the debate can wait a week. A solution to our financial problems, the pending crisis, cannot wait."

[1corona4u]

1. OH WELL, I GUESS OBAMA WILL HAVE THE FLOOR ALL TO HIMSELF!!

Good for Obama!!

[Hieronymus]

31. What a great forum for Obama ..with an empty chair/podium onstage.

[Avalux]

2. ROFL!!!!!

I'm sorry....no words..... :rofl:

[1corona4u]

9. LOL, how about this??

[Avalux]

44. Can you make that kid have a combover???

:spray:

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Now folks THIS fits exactly with Chicago School

[Stand and Fight]

11. Shock doctrine to the "T". n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Get ready for that TONIGHT

I will not be too shocked if idiot in chief goes EO 51

[OneGrassRoot]

49. I'm afraid to ask what EO 51 is, but I assume ...

something to the effect of cancelling the elections altogether in the face of this financial 9/11?

That Army combat brigade should be ready to handle those who consider protesting The Fuhrer's decree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Here you go,

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html

I also posted the text here on DU for a reminder

[OneGrassRoot]

51. Thank you! n/t

[WI_DEM]

4. Fine. I think Obama should use the event to speak directly to the American people about

the economy and what shoudl be done on it. He should also then take questions from the moderator and the audience.

[AspenRose]

26. Crisis -----> Opportunity

True leaders know how to use it

[sniffa]

33. Mmmm, crisurtunity

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Who The Fuck Is Hayseed Graham?

His daddy?

[Somawas]

28. No. His ass monkey.

[Somawas]

29. No. His ass monkey.

[Ilsa]

6. Maybe Jim Lehrer could have a nice chat with Obama then instead.

Let Barack go over his plans for his first term.

[annabanana]

7. Ah.. McCain is one of those "gun to your head" repugs...

Give us your money or we'll kill your economy.

[deadparrot]

8. Apparently, that solution CAN wait while Dipstick and Lipstick meet rock stars. nt

[monmouth]

10. Do ya think the ole man has had a breakdown? I mean, he's

about ready to give up, the Palin thing isn't working, his numbers are tanking and the hole he's trying to get out of is just getting deeper. No tinfoil here, I think he just wants out....

[annabanana]

17. good question... Are they running around looking for a McCain look-alike?

...good fuckin' luck with THAT

[endarkenment]

12. So now they are holding the debates hostage to a quick vote on

the scam of the century. Fuck that. Obama stand strong. Debate the empty chair. Take your two hours to talk to the american people and explain how it is time for the smart people with good intentions to take back control of our government.

[Boz]

13. Are they late with thei homework, why is the DEALINE for this solve so set in stone

what do they need to back up this weekend, is the Attack monday or what.

[Cosmic Charlie]

14. The empty chair might have more life in it than ol' Five Plane

Isn't that pretty much what Palin is? Thin Air

[yardwork]

15. Is Graham trying to bully Democrats into agreeing to the bailout plan?

This is pathetic. McCain is obviously afraid to debate Obama.

[zulchzulu]

16. Lindsey says we can only do one thing at a time...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

18. Graham talks as though he has some leverage...

The Republicans don't dictate terms to the Senate and they don't dictate terms to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

McCain can either live up to his obligations or he can shirk them.

[renate]

19. this McCain Meltdown just gets awesomer and awesomer n/t

[BrainStorm]

20. Maybe we've got the wrong motive. Maybe the campaign suspension was blackmail for GOP Congressmen

who are fighting this "socialism" of the American economy.

[seabeyond]

21. wow our countries welfare not only held hostage by greedy wallstreet, but repugs as well

geeeezus, can they be more absurd and in face. this is simple amazing

[Schulzz]

22. Well...90 minutes of free airtime for Obama.

:popcorn:

[sui generis]

30. eggZACKLY!

Yeah - as slow as McDumb's brain works, I think we should get together and Slow Boat him. He probably wouldn't even get it.

[mvd]

24. Fine. Obama will show up and an empty chair won't look good on TV

nt

[PA Democrat]

41. Tee-hee. It will look better than the empty suit who would have occupied it.

[mvd]

48. LOL

Really it's the premise behind the empty chair that makes it look even worse than the empty suit. :-)

[Arkana]

25. Fine.

Barack Obama will be there. If John McCain refuses to show up that's his prerogative but I can tell you that Americans will not look favorably on it, financial crisis or no.

[Lugnut]

27. What a shame.

He'd probably make an ass out of himself anyway.

[BlueIdaho]

32. Its bullshit like this

That makes the "bailout" look more and more like a political stunt.

[Parker CA]

34. If he really doesn't attend, I'm fairly certain he will have Palin take his place.

[JimGinPA]

35. Aunt Lindsey's Pissed That Obama Called Their Bluff

So is 'Droopy Dog' Lieberman. They've backed themselves into a corner now.

[crazylikafox]

36. How long does it take to fly to Miss. from Washington??? 2 hours?

Have Barack spend all day in DC if necessary, then fly back for debate. Fly back to DC afterwords. No way can McCain handle that physically or mentally. It will highlite Obama's mental & physical superiority. No one wants a weakling for Pres.

[kestrel91316]

45. That's EXACTLY what he should do. ROFLMFAO.

[mitchum]

37. Thus spaketh Gomer

[msallied]

38. Do you hear that sound? It's the sound of real history in the making.

I have to say, I'm so effing THRILLED to be alive during a time like this. To be able to think back and say "Oh and remember that election of '08? Lordy!" LOL!

[LynneSin]

39. HOLY FRICKING BATCRAP you have got to be kidding me

We'll hold the debates hostage in order to ram thru a deal that profits Wall Street and NOT Main Street.

[vaberella]

40. It can't wait a week since it's the Veep debate unless you're telling me your Veep is not prepared.

Which I can actually believe.

[whatchamacallit]

42. Why hasn't this guy been drawn and quartered yet?

STFU Lindsey, you scum sucking POS!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

43. McExtortion?

[rlb]

46. Can Palin Replace Him at the Debate????????????

Even though this is a presidential debate? God no. If someone knows the answer please let us know.

[Mz Pip]

47. 4th grade playground rules

The Bully wants to change the rules uin the middle of the game so he might have a chance of winning. If he can't he'll take his ball and go home.

Eric Cartman would be proud.

[Born_A_Truman]

52. So McCain can't even deliver his own message?

What a wuss.

[flpoljunkie]

53. McCain has dug a hole, now he's digging it deeper. Not presidential! Poltical gimmick!

[AzDar]

54. They are PATHETIC!