WASHINGTON - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has proposed postponing the first debate with his rival, Democrat Barack Obama, citing a need for the two senators to return to Congress to help hammer out a compromise on a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street.
For his part, Obama said the debate, which is to focus on foreign policy, should go ahead because now is a time when Americans need to hear from the candidates.
Should the two White House hopefuls go on with the show? Should they switch the topic of the debate to the economy? Or should they cancel as McCain suggested while dealing with the crisis?
Have your say in the comments section, or log onto the news prediction market HubDub to place a virtual wager on whether Friday’s scheduled debate will take place.
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61 comments so far
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We are both normal blokes representing normal people. We just both have airplanes, otherwise we are pretty normal blokes in touch with the average American.
Possibly the two worst presidential candidate choices America has had in a long time.
Vacuous sociopathic windbag v doddery old man.
I feel sorry for American voters.
- Posted by NickThe debate needs to go on. Congress is doing its job on the financial issues. Injecting the presidential candidates will do more harm than good.
McCain is trying to kill several birds with one stone–postpone or cancel the VP debate and pretend to take the high road while he is doing just the opposite.
May his chickens come home to roost!
- Posted by Marcia KirkpatrickIt is evident the old ailing man just got tired desperately, and needs a break before the debate with young, smart, and energetic Obama.
- Posted by Reasonable GuyThe bailout is just his pathetic excuse to delay the debate as McCain has never been any kind of an expert on economics (he admitted it himself), and his absense for several hours from Washington would have no effect on working out the bailout deal.
Mcloser!
- Posted by OmarSince the Democrats have said they have a breakthrough on the bailout plan and only a few other things left to finalize before meeting the Republicans at 10am on the 25th for bipartisan approval, the debate should happen. Now we can only hope that bipartisan work can be done and not have the plan politicized to try and make his decision look like leadership.
- Posted by MyVoiceHereA president should be able to multi-task. if McLame can’t handle running a campaign and following headlines(he’s not a member of the Finance Committee, so he has no responsibility in putting together this agreement)he has no business being in the White House. If there was a 3AM call, could he even find the phone?
- Posted by winnie47Of course the debate must go on. This is another cheap political trick by McCain. If he truly supported a bipartisan effort to addres the economy he would have negotiated with Obama BEFORE unilaterally announcing his intention to chicken-out of the debate.
The real reason for his suspension of his campaign is that he will have to fire his campaign manager Rick Davis, and needs time to regroup and find a replacement. Here’s why Rick Davis is dead meat:
The lobbying firm of Rick Davis, the manager, was being paid $15,000 a month by Freddie Mac until last month. That fact is a direct contradiction of words McCain had spoken Sunday night. At that time, responding to a Times story being prepared for Monday’s paper revealing that Davis had been the head of a lobbying consortium led by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae until 2005, McCain said Davis had done no further work for either mortgage giant.
McCain lied again. This, after accusing OBAMA of being compromised by campaign contributions from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae!
After firing his economics advisor Phil (”we are in a mental recession…, …Americans are whiners..”)Gramm recently, McCain’s campaign is in DEEP DO-DO!
- Posted by John PeddicordSounds like a good fight is going to be on Tv. These people must payed alot for the tickets. (the debate)
- Posted by Dave B.I hope you do not get disapointed.. Some people do not care about there country, just complain when it dose not go there way..I am a x-vet..
My first reaction was “what???”
- Posted by chrisWhen did this guy become president or even president elect ??
The best suggestion I’ve seen so far is from a conservative blogger. Mr McCain can make good use of his time and that of his team by delegating Sarah Palin to stand in for him at the debate.
Or if he’s not so sure his VP nominee is up for that yet then perhaps have the VP debate on Friday.
McCain suggested that he and Obama should debate on the date scheduled for the VPs, which means more time for Palin to prep.
McCain is dropping in the polls. Early voting is starting soon in several states. If McCain avoids the debates it could help with the early voters.
As Obama said they both have airplanes so it would not take much time for travel. They could still be in touch with DC by phone.
Congress has two full days to work on the issues, what will it matter if McCain and Obama are gone for a few hours Friday night?
- Posted by JimHaving a debate during the hours in which Congress is not even in session should not interfere with the intentions of either Senator, whether they choose to continue campaigning or go to Washington, D.C.
- Posted by Michele in ArizonaThe debates should definitely go on. If not, then why don’t the vice presidential candidates step up? They’re supposed to be ready to take over at any time, so let’s see how Biden and Palin do with this little curve ball. My money’s on Biden.
- Posted by MeganIt seems to me that both of the candidates have jets at their disposal, and could conceivably leave Washington D.C. late Friday afternoon for the debates and be in Mississippi in plenty of time for the 9PM start time.
- Posted by Concerned CitizenSen. McCain is afraid of the debates.
JOHN MCCAIN OPTS FOR CRYOGENIC STORAGE!
For his campaign. But seriously, it’s win-win, because without him there, there’s no debate, regardless of what the Commission says. He’s working while Obama is more interested in winning.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m for Obama 100%. I just think this was a shrewd move for The Oldster.
- Posted by Matt[...] Senator McCain has recently called for his first debate with Senator Obama to be canceled. (To debate, or not to debate, that is the question) [...]
- Posted by Demand the DebateYes, I do feel the debate should go on, but the topic should be the economy.
Aside from their thoughts on the overall state of the economy, these senators should explain to the people what they think contributed to the current crisis, what their position is on the proposed bail-out, and what they would contribute to the bail-out discussion that is going on behind closed doors. Which measures do they support, and why? How are they going to protect the interests of the average-day citizen?
It makes me wonder why McCain is trying to back out of a public discussion of this important matter at hand. It seems he is shying away from just having to deliver sound-bites via scripted news conferences and advertisements.
- Posted by ElkeI eagerly await the debates as I haven’t decided my vote yet. However, what’s more important is to address this issue immediately. We have no idea if the urgency is real, but do any of you want to wait to find out or would you rather leadership meet to discuss? I am tired of the political grandstanding during these hearings - and want to hear a more thorough resolution. Obama and McCain should be present for the discussion - one of them will inherit it. They can debate next week - get this finished first!
- Posted by EliahsThe Debates should go on. I detest the Republican ploy of suspending free speech during crises- real and manufactured.
- Posted by AfricaliveGood grief, of course they should go ahead with the debate — now more than ever! If McCCain cancels I’ll be furious and disgusted.
- Posted by margaret winterElderly White Woman Who Will Now Have to Work Until She Drops
Is McCain for real? This guy is a joke. First of all, it was Obama who called McCain to suggest a bipartisan approach to the crisis. McCain, being the underhanded GOP sleaze-bag that he is, tried to fool the American people by going on television and announcing the move to cooperate while Obama was speaking in Florida. He is stooping REALLY low, proving that he is desperate and pathetic.
Obama is 100% right to insist on continuing with business as usual. Washington doesn’t need this crisis to be overshadowed by politics, and there has never been a more crucial time for Americans to hear from both candidates.
McCain is just a chicken.
- Posted by Sarah