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

[Brian Edwards]

Obama is the smarter man.

At Terry:

You know that if they go to Washington, they'll just talk about it there, right?

[Outraged]

RE: "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."

Because, penis, the last thing the United States needs at this point is John McCain in Washington, trying to do something about it. Do the names Phil Gram or Rick Davis mean anything to you?!? DO THEY???

[Lawrence]

Remember when McCain suspended campaigning and the first night of the GOP Convention? Another one of those times when he was slipping in the polls and affraid that carrying on the campaign might be a personal disaster.

Why didn't McCain call for suspending the campaign when the disasterous hurricane was headed to Texas or anytime during the last eleven days when th people of Galveston were prohibited from returning home and the others along the Texas Gulf Coast were without power and other necessary conveniences? Oh yeah ... during those days his poll numbers were stronger.

Postponing the debate and suspending the campaign is McCain's way of stemming his falling poll numbers and even more so, conserving the limited financial resources his campaign has left.

I regret the day I voted for McCain in the GOP primary. What a disappointment!

[TV]

I'm sure the people of Illinois are well pleased that the man they elected to represent them in the US Senate feels it is more important that he pursue his Presidential bid than it is to represent their interests in the financial crisis that is before them and the rest of the country.
Then again he is only half way through his first term in the Senate so he probably wouldn't play any important roll in the debate regarding this bail out plan anyway.

[matthew]

' "This is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person who in about 40 days will be responsible for with dealing with this mess," Obama said'. why should the american people have to wait 40 days? If Obama has this secret plan to save the economy (which he hasnt really shared with us) and he cares about this country, and our people, why isnt he gonna do anything about it now?

[mike v]

So cynical..........this is the only crisis worth suspending your campaign for during the last 20 months or so?

I believe this is a planned move, and the reason is.news about......Rick Davis.

[John]

Pushing a 700 Billion bailout through congress without looking at the details would be as bad as what George did with the Iraq war. What does McCaine hope to accomplish in Washington? I'm sure he will say that 700 billion is nothing in a " strong economy"

[beatupfromfeetup]

I smell a McRat!!! McRat openly has told anyone that listens that he does not know squat about the economy. McRat said just days ago the economy is basicly strong. McBull! Question for McRich "how many cars and houses do you have?". Out of touch, old boy network honorary redneck. McRich knows this " I can see banks from some of my houses...banks have doh", HAD DOH!!! Fench sitters are formaly invited to the much smarter and wiser Democratic Democrat Side!!! Obama/Biden NOW!

[keith]

Maybe it's because McCain is trying to actually DO something about the bailout legislation instead of HOPE it'll get proper consideration. Barack's lack of experience probably put's him on the little bus when it comes to important legislation, the senior Democrats Reid, Pelosi, et al. do the heavy lifting. That's the way his Presidency will go as well, he's sort of a pretty dashboard bobble-head doll.

[Bryan]

Obama would just vote "Present" anyway.

[Caldwell Young]

McCain's behavior is, as people have been noted, most bizarre. Here we have a critical decision to make, the American people need information, discussion and, yes, an open debate about it, and one of the parties to that debate says, hold on, as soon as I get through appearing at Bill Clinton's totally irrelevant bash in New York, I'll be too busy to discuss my position or that of my opponent, in public.

Another McCain Palin bail out.

Anyone want to vote for this secretive team? It's like having two Cheney's on the ticket.

Caldwell Young

[Silus]

Its so simple. When George Bush has to gos back and use the SAME arguments he used to convince us to go to war, you KNOW something is wrong.

The only argument he uses for this 700 billion dollar package is to pretend we have only two options, his option and nothing. Then claim by doing nothing would mean total catastrophe for the world.

Screw that. I'm not buying it anymore.

[baseball sensei]

Let me explain this REAL SLOW so Obama, Don, and FDR on the TV Biden can understand it. The "public" wouldn't get anymore info about the financial situation in Friday's debate since it was going to be on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. Sorry boys once again sticking to the facts seems to trip up the BO boys.
The Democratic misinformation machine will try to spin this, but shouldn't the people who are trying to be the leaders in the future be involved in trying to stop a financial meltdown. Or is it not possible for BO to do since you can't vote "present" in the Senate, and this will take some bi-partisan effort, which BO has NO experience at.

[Eric]

McCain is about as stable as Uranium .

[Terry Hughes]

The current events in Washington regarding the bail outs and investment of taxpayers funds addressing the housing and complete economic recovery plan is more important to every american then any staged posturing from an inexperienced unproven Senator. Obama sounds very much like Fidel Castro when he was running for dictator of Cuba. Lots of good talk, but; lacks decisive action plans. He seems well funded by people who love to work a puppet President. Are the American People ready to give up all of there rights systematically to an Obama type President at anytime regardless of their host party. Personnally I question his alligiance to the United States, his ties to the Muslum world makes him appear like a Trojan Horse. (Is He?) Further more the Democratic Party seems blinded, simply trying to win the Presidency at any cost, including the Soverienty of this Great Nation.

[John]

Another desperate play by the McCain campaign, it's not like he's an expert on anything that can go save the country, he's just scared of the debates.

[Tex...]

A cheap political ploy from a senile old man who 10 days ago said "The fundamentals of our economy are sound".

He is no hero. He is a coward who is 9 points behind in the polls.

Barack...stay the course and call this coward out. He's responsible for the mess. Too late for him to call for "unity".

[Jonny McKey-D]

John Going back to Washington isn't going to help anything.
John avoiding the debate with Obama keeps him from looking like what he is, and thats out of touch.
John is a true American war hero, and God bless him for it. But, what's needed now isn't a war hero.
We need a change from business as usual in Washington.
John is business as usual for the GOP.
Obama is change.

[GeraldD]

I guess Obama picking Jim Johnson, who was the person most responsible for this Fannie Mae induced mess says it all. And now Obama doesn't want to put his country first before his campaign. If ever there was a website you should see and try to understand it is http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/19/1424326.aspx

Or perhaps http://archive.redstate.com/blogs/soren_dayton/2008/may/22/meet_jim_johnson_obama_bundler

Hopefully the FBI will get the ones who have heaped this mess upon the shoulders of America to tray and bail out. And the odds are high the Obama, and Chris Dodd and Raines and Goerlick and Barney Frank are going to be implicated as well.

When CHuck Hagel, and John McCain and Elizabeth Dole tried to get legislation passed in 2005 which would have stopped Fannie Mae from continuing with these SUPER RISKY LOANS, the DEMOCRATS Blocked every attempt to get the loans stopped. I'm sure some of you rabid Obama fans out there will not believe it but just GOOGLE it for yourselves and see what REALLY happened. Instead of shouting ignorant insults, you should see just how your beloved Obama sold you out in order to get his campaign coffers filled up with Fannie Mae money. Obama got $MILLIONS in Fannie Mae money, more in fact in only 2 short years than all but one other Senator received over a 16 year period. Obama is neck deep in this whole mess.

[Zach]

This is a total sham. McCain is trying to weasel his way out of actually talking about solutions during the debate.

How can anyone think that there is nothing political in his motives?

[matthew booth]

McCain is "wierd"? Grow up a little before you speak. It makes perfect sense. Remember the two candidates actually have real positions in government. Being a candidate shouldn't be their first priority.

Saying McCain's decision shows a lack of an ability to multitask is absurd. It's setting a priority. If your mother was having a heart attack you wouldn't continue a conversation while trying to take her to the hospital, you would stop what you were doing and take care of your mother.

How do people not see the difference? You people voting for our next president scares me.

[Pablo Vitaver]

We see who puts the Country before their personal political ambitions and who does the opposite. This is time for senators to be senators, and help us get out of this mess. Obama was not a senator each time he voted 'present', and he can't even sit down to work as such today. He is too preoccupied with his political career to be distracted!

[SWMIssouri]

I'd like to know what McCain thinks he's going to do? They have a committee working on this already...that he's not on. So what's he gonna do? Stand there and pester the crap out of everybody every five minutes: "You made a decision yet?!!!" Maybe he'll wave his flaccid McCain wand and make everybody agree!

And they talk about Obama being arrogant. Apparently the US can't handle this...all the other congressmen and Senators can't handle this without McCain. Here's come John to save the Daaaaaayyyyyyy!

But that's the $5 dollar questions, what's he gonna do to help? Anyone? I guess he could send Gramm to deregulate some more. All of his Fannie Mae folks can hold their hands out for their piece of the pie. And John can lead the Senate in an old, wrinkly rendition of Kum-Ba-Ya.

[chris c]

First of all it was a nothing more than a political ploy and stunt by a desperate team that sees it is starting to lose. If he has not shown leadership on the economy in the past 26 years he has been in Washington, how is he going to go back for a week and solve everything. That is the current Presidents job not his. If he is scared to debate and cannot handle prepping for a debate and staying up on the economy, how can he handle being President? I guess without a screened town hall meeting audience hurling soft ball questions, the maverick is not so maverick like

[baz]

Good for Obama.
Like McCain, or Obama for that matter, is needed in negotiating the possible bailout?
I actually think what McCain did, made the negotiations more difficult. The negotiations, thus far, have been pretty bi-partisan. McCain injecting Presidential Politics into it, can only make the job more difficult.
Obama should also suggest that the debate's focus should be changed to the Economy.
Nice to see one of the Candidates, understands his place.
Neither are President yet, and McCain doesn't seem to get that.