Barack Obama says the show must go on; Debate Commission agrees but McCain camp says whatever

(UPDATE: The McCain campaign responds below.)

Barack Obama rejected John McCain's proposal that the first presidential debate, scheduled Friday, be postponed to deal with the increasingly fragile prospects of the federal government bailout of financial firms.

"This is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person who in about 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess," Obama said. "In my mind, [the debate] is more important then ever."

To read more of Obama's remarks, click here.

Senior advisor Robert Gibbs weighed in more bluntly: "My sense is there is going to be a stage, an audience, a moderator, and at least one presidential candidate."

The Commission on Presidential Debates agreed, issuing a statement that said the debate is moving forward as planned.

UPDATE: The McCain camp seemed unfazed by the commission's remarks. Campaign spokesman Brian Rogers told The Times' Bob Drogin that while the GOP nominee looks forward to going mano-a-mano with Obama, the meeting will just have to wait.

"Debates can be rescheduled," Rogers said. "Dealing with an urgent national crisis cannot be rescheduled."

" ... his only focus now is to bring people together to work out a deal to take some action to deal with the crisis we have," Rogers said. "If we can hammer out a deal by the time of the debate, sure, we'd love to do a debate."

Earlier today, McCain announced that he was putting his campaign on hold to return to Washington, and urged Obama to do the same, calling for the debate to be postponed.

The Obama campaign appeared to be caught off-guard by McCain's announcement, though a stream of comments criticizing McCain's proposal from high-ranking Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, appeared to indicate which way Obama was leaning.

— Seema Mehta

Comments

[coolrepublica]

I'm sick of hearing Obama say that it's important to hear the candidate talk on foreign policy because the economy is in crisis.

He wanted to change the first debate to foreign policy and he got that. What is he talking as if the first debate would be on the economy? Did someone tell him that the last debate would be on the economy not the first?

[latinovoter1]

Another fine Politcal Stunt. John Mccain thinks we are stupid, really stupid.

[C.]

And it is a show; at least that is how Obama views it.

[Jeanne]

McCain doesn't know anything about economics and admitted that. So being in Washington (for show) doesn't do one darn thing. His best bet would go to the debate and PROVE why he should be President. This tactic shows me he must be scared. I don't buy for one minute that he's doing this because of the bailout. Heck he helped sign the 1999 Gramm act, and he and his wife were involved in Keating 5.

This opens my eyes. I won't vote for the guy at all now.

[gaypastor]

BRAVO MCCAIN! This is twice now that the Rep. guy put HIS campaign on hold to take care of our country (once during the Rep. convention to see to the hurriance condidtions and today's decision). Works for me! McCain believes what he preaches....country before party! A much better choice than the clearly opportunist Obama who has spent a year proving he cares mostly about Obama (and his presidential win). He's beaten up the Clintons (remember Bill had the HIGHEST approval rating of any president leaving the White House since WWII - Obama brought his legacy down for his OWN sake) and he couldn't care less about the actual REPRESENTATION of Women and ignored us (the Dems.) when we said we wanted the "Dream Ticket!" And let's not forget that Obama isn't solid on debates at all! He's ignored McCain's invitation to have "townhall meetings" together for months! If anything, McCain is doing Obama a favor!!!!

[Don]

The debate shouldn't be postponed. McCain is undermining the authority of Pres. Bush and his team. As a maverick McCain shouldn't question the current administration, he didn't on Iraq an other issues that led to this crisis.

[Democrats 08]

We now see which can multi task and which candidate calls the shots and wears the big boy pants, and it isn't McCain!

The debate must go on! The American people deserve answers!!!!!!!

Obama / Biden

[Terry]

Gee, why don't we just talk (debate) about it for another week or so, insted of returning to Washington and actually DOING SOMETHING about it.

[James Katt]

John McCain is WEIRD!

He is IMPULSIVE as HELL!

At this moment, there is no more important job for a presidential candidate than to be presidential. John McCain is not.

There is no more important job for the American people than to chose the President to lead them out of this economic mess.

But John McCain is abdicating this job.

This is SO WEIRD of McCain.

Something is seriously wrong with this man.

I shudder to think what impulsive acts he would do as President.

This is like the Quarterback abandoning the SuperBowl in the 4th Quarter.

You just don't do this.

John McCain is once again MISSING IN ACTION.

This is SO WEIRD.

John McCain IS WEIRD.

[tlhwraith]

good. Obama is exactly on point here. Now, more than ever, we need to see these two men, on stage, going back and forth about why they should be POTUS during one of the most difficult times in recent history.

Also, Obama had another outstanding point, if McCain is saying he's ready to be POTUS, he darn sure better know how to multitask!

It's 3am McCain, the phone is ringing and you just dropped the receiver on the floor.

[uninterested]

I must have seen a different Reid than you did. I saw him say we needed McCain in washington. dont three of our candidates have a job to do? I want McCain there at least to scrutinize the proposal since I think the whole thing is a wash and should not be done.

[erik]

This is going to be good.... McCain is going to wish he paid a little more attention in school with this one... blood in the water and guess who smellls it

[Carol]

How fitting that Obama cannot put aside the handshaking and backbiting for a few days to actually *do* something to help the country. No more than ever we need to put aside the griping and partisanship and take rapid measures to prevent Morgan Stanley and Goldman (and the rest of the economy) from sinking. Obama is for Obama, and that's it - he just wants to be elected at any cost and will paint McCain's efforts to save the economy as a political move. Sad.

[Morris]

ohn is on the ropes and calls for a time out.

Funny, just after the poll numbers showed him behind on economic issues he decides to stop his campaign and try and become an 11th hour convert to regulations and responsible economic policy.

Funny thing is Ole John is just showing us, every day, that he doesn't have what it takes to be president of the USA

[SoCalGal]

This is exactly the kind of non-cooperation that Nobama claims to eschew. He simply doesn't want to be one-upped, so he's going to force the debate when, McCain correctly opines, both their sorry asses should be in DC to work on this issue.

[rJ Arena]

Is Obama so full of himself that he can not do the job we are paying him for, being a U.S. senator? this is clearly Obama first and the country second. He can not take time out of his campain to debate a 700billion dollar bill?
What is wrong with this guy?

[Eliot]

GOOD!

McCain has had TWENTY SIX YEARS to work on the economy. Trying to pull out of a campaign right as he is falling far behind in the polls is purely for political purposes.

Obama should say he'll handle the debate on his own if McCain does not want to show up.

[Kathleen]

McCain is a coward and a liar, making this proposal to return to Washington look like it was his own idea. Not so! It was Obama's idea--BUT--to return to Washington after Friday's debate. How dare McCain do such a thing. But, then again, he's been lying for months and steading Obama's ideas and words ever since the DNC. Almost worse, the news media headlines are showing McCain as proposing to head back to Washington for "patriot" reasons. The news media have committed TREASON against the American people by promulgating a lie in its headlines, instead of the truth. I'm disgusted by it. It's not good enough that the truth is buried in a small paragraph somewhere. People read and believe headlines. Again, the news media are committing TREASON against the American people they are supposed to serve with facts and truth.

[Black Sheep]

McCain is right. There's plenty of time for debates but the bailout plan is a here-and-now thing and it needs handling NOW. Obama is just trying to make McCain look bad. More and more, I'm leaning toward McCain. He shows more sense and the experience issue is starting to mean a lot more to me.

[Jake]

You don't have to physically be in Washington to particpate in negotiations of the current financial crisis.
There is a thing called "tele-commuting" that is done through an invention called "the internet"

Oh... right, John never learned how to use the internet... nevermind, guess he does have to be there.

[Campbell]

Obama now is refusing to delay the debate to discuss "foreign affairs" no less. McCain challenged Obama to ten debates and he refused them all. Now he's ready. Its seems that for Obama a debate is more important than country. Maybe Obama should debate himself in a Senate stall.

[No more of Barack's Bull]

I have no Doubt Obama will vote "Present" again and avoid
actually doing anything that requires he do more then run his mouth.

This man is nothing more then a puppet for the Dem Party
and is incapable of doing anything other then talking and
putting on a good show.

Even Hillary would have been a better president and she is
probbably the most hatful person every nominated since
McCarthy tried ot run for the job.

[jules older]

Cut and run.

[drew]

Doesn't matter, McCain wins.

[Gary]

John McCain can't handle the heat !!!!!!!!

[Deborah harry]

You're right! McCain is so decisive and proactive. He's BLINDSIDED the new guy once again...sending him scrambling off course, again.

[B. Lowry]

John McCain has had the last eight years of the Bush Administration to be in Washington and "fix" the economic crisis before it happened. It is rather transparent and opportunistic to suddenly decide the problem needs his immediate presence in Congress. Besides a photo op, what does he figure a few days at his "regular job" will accomplish?

[MessengerBoy]

Hmmm. I guess we know who Terry is voting for. LOL!

[pete]

I guess if he were president and there were two major issues (say Katrina II and god forbid some other concurrent issue). McCain would have to deal with one at a time? Its a 2 hour debate in 48 hours. He is grandstanding and it is so obvious that he can look for a further drop in the polls. Multi-tasking is the term McCain.

[joni davis]

U GO OBAMA!!! THE DEBATE MUST GO ON. I HAVE BEEN WAITING SEVERAL WEEKS FOR THIS. OBAMA IS ACTING PRESIDENTAL IN LETTING HIS ADMINISTRATION RESOLVE THE ISSUES AT HAND. BRAVO. WE KNOW THE ELDERLY (SOME) CAN NO LONGER MULTI-TASK. I THINK MCCAIN FALLS INTO THAT CATAGORY. HIM AND HIS SIDE-KICK PALIN ARE JOKES TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE(SOME). ME. R U READY ALASKA, FOR PALIN TO COME HOME. THROW HER A PARTY SO SHE WON'T FEEL SO BAD ABOUT LOSING.

[Dan Nelson]

Once again Barack shows that he likes to talk more than he likes to take action when the country is in time of need. Sounds like a typical politician

[Kramer]

Debate is more important than fixing the nation's economic crisis and getting a bipartisan agreement on it? NO WAY AND NO HOW MR. OBAMA. We have had several debates already. McCain and Obama will say nothing new in this one. IS OBAMA ON CRACK COCAINE AGAIN? More than 8 years of crack cocaine use by Obama during high school and college. That must have caused serious brain damage to this guy.

[Obama is all talk]

McCain is doing what is right for the american people. Crossing party lines and working with others to come up with solutions.

Obama is doingwhat is best for him. Talking alot and doing nothing. He has done nothing in two years so why would he start now.

We do need change. McCain has crossed party lines 56% of his time in congress and worked with the democrats to pass real legislation. Obama has only crossed lines 17% of the time and earned the rank of the most liberal member of congress. The change we need is someone who can cross lines and unite the congress to get things done.

McCain has 22 years of experiance proving he is a maverick and can cross lines to get things done. Obama... well he talks a lot but let's face real facts. Talk is cheap and unfortunatly that is all he has... talk.

[Sloane M.]

I think that this financial issue is BI-PARTISAN. Since not many people, from either side, knows what that means I'll elaborate. This is a CRISIS. A SENATOR like Obama and McCain are STILL Senators despite their campaign. It is their responsibility to pass legislation to deal with this; because if something is not done soon, we will all be screwed; and not thinking about a debate. I think that McCain is fulfulling his duty as a Senator that he was elected for. I think that what he is doing is responsible and necessary.

[Joe]

As Senators, both should be in Congress doing their job at the moment.

[SDSims]

Desperation. Maybe if McCain acts like he's on top of this everyone will forget his week of gaffes. But remember this guy was denying there was even an issue last week. This is a deer-in-headlights moment for McCain, and further evidence that he is unfit to lead.

[JS]

Both these idiots are responsible for what is going on, just start printing more dollars baby. Money comes from the air anyways. We will soon be borrowing money from Mexico.

[Joe]

As Senators, both should be in Congress doing their job at the moment.

[Omidal]

Terry, you do not get. You are as clueless as glue.

We have a leadership in the white house, don't we?
We have a full congress, don't we?

If you go to school and let's day you are taking chemistry this semester. There is a quiz on Friday. You and your friend do not show up. Does your teacher cancel the quiz because two students are not present?

No.

[John advocate]

This is not a time for you Demoncrates to be participating in the retoric of the Demoncratic party. It is time for both of our Senators to be in Washing dealing with what may be the single most deciding issue in the history of our country. And, btw, it was the Demoncrates who got us into this mess. Check the facts and you will see that I am right.

[David Michaels]

It would seem that Barack Obama is the candidate who can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. Certainly, we cannot focus our entire attention to this effort. It is funny that the two campaigns discussed a joint statement in the morning and by early afternoon, McCain was calling for a delay and "suspending" his campaign.

It sounds like he was trying to steal the show and take the spotlight for himself. Talk about making a political football out of a terrible situation!

I'm sure that Obama would fly back if need be, to do his work. He has shown tremendous leadership while McCain has shown a lack thereof.

If I was on the fence before today, I;m not anymore.

[Bob Clarke]

McCain is just giving members of his staff the time they need to write the bailout legislation for Congress... What a guy.

[Bob Loblaw]

Bush is still the President until January, and the Congress will not miss two Senators for one night on Friday, when they already have been absent for campaigning purposes over the last 9 months. McCain just wants more time to get a crash course on the economy; the fact that he knows nothing about it is going to be obvious during the first debate. Next, you will see the McCain campaign try to delay the Vice Presidential debate so Palin can lend her expertise to Sec. Rice regarding the Russian tensions. Obama, for all his faults, made the right call here.

[Jim Zorn]

John McCain probably needs more time to prep for the debate. He just realized, two days before, that he won't be ready because he doesn't know jack about the economy by his own admission.

You know what else is FLIP-FLOPPING about him? Last week he said, "we should stop bailing these banks out." This week he wants to stand in agreement with Obama on the plan.

The McCain train really is losing its bearings. And so much for treating women equally by 1) being super "protective" of Palin; 2) opposing a woman's right to equal pay.

I don't know what's worse, John McCain or George Bush?

[TruAmerican]

This shows who really cares about us Americans. John McCain is serious! I like him.

[Monica]

I'd rather vote for a "weirdo" than someone who's basically abandoned his senator's seat since he's declared his candicacy. Obama's been noticiably absent for some VERY important votes (stimulus package ring a bell).

McCain realizes there is work to do and working on it (as a SENATOR in the LEGISLATIVE branch- where change can be made)

suspending his campaign to work on something in a capacity that he was elected to do (by the citizens of Arizona) - wow what a jerk, actually working for his paycheck.

Yes I'd love to see the debate go on, at the same time i'd rather see this matter get settled before we sink into another depression. thank you very much!

[Kaylen Addison]

So, as a student at the University of Mississippi AND a McCain supporter, this is a strange situation. We have been planning for a year to host this debate and we are not gonna let some "maverick" come mess it up. I think that McCain has good intentions, and I'm totally still voting for him, but (i can't believe i'm saying this) listen to Obama, and have the debate. You can go have your little Washington fun time later.

[Kathie Van Loh]

Senator McCain just demonstrated his lack of ability to multitask. Senator Obama did not sound at all as if he were caught off guard. He was decisive, as a President should be.

[Anol]

The financial crisis will certainly not be resolved within the next 40 days. So is McCain planning to suspend his campaign for 40 days and abandon all of the scheduled debates? If he is running away from the debates now, how do we know that he won't run away from fixing the financial mess after he becomes President (if at all)?

[Kathie Van Loh]

Senator McCain just demonstrated his lack of ability to multitask. Senator Obama did not sound at all as if he were caught off guard. He was decisive, as a President should be.