John McCain's new mantra: Statements aren't needed, action is

Barack Obama reached out to John McCain this morning and, about now, the Democratic presidential candidate may be wishing he'd lingered over breakfast.

McCain, in an interview airing on the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" told the anchor he had no problem with Obama's suggestion that they issue a joint statement on the nation's financial crisis.

But that statement has yet to be issued. What happened first was the announcement by the GOP presidential aspirant that he was suspending his campaign, returning to Washington to wade into the congressional talks over a bailout package, and calling for a suspension of Friday's debate in Mississippi with Obama.

And, summing up, here's what McCain had to tell Couric: "Now is not the time for statements. Now is the time to act."

Many Democrats quickly reacted to McCain's decision to return to Capitol Hill (where neither he nor Obama have spent much time in months) as grandstanding.

But expect McCain, Sarah Palin and their surrogates to echo variations of the comment he made to Couric for days to come.

— Don Frederick

Comments

[Gretchen]

What action is McCain going to take? He's not on the Finance Committee. Does anyone really think it will be useful to have either or both presidential candidates wandering about the Senate, waiting to vote and forcing meetings?

[Chris]

Looks like McCain really isn't up to the debate. I don't think McCain is suspending his campaign. I believe it is a "cut and run" situation. It will only be a short while before the American people will have an "up or down vote" on the Bush/McCain methods of running this country.

[Linda Ersk]

It is more important to me for John McCain and Barack Obama to hold to their Friday night debate schedule. It is obvious to me that John McCain wants to hide rather than face questioning in a debate.

[Arty]

Despite heavy media bias toward Mr. Obama (lucky guy) he looks weak and indecisive by not addressing the financial crisis head on. Obama's Katrina? Bad, bad move.

[Republican Folly]

Hey everybody remember when Ross Perot ran for president then suspended his candidacy then decided to run again? He was so funny. What a LOSER.

[commoner]

So, Johnny wants to run home to daddy GWB at the first sign of a major problem. John seems to be developing a real habit of not honoring his commitments; to avoid debating Barack Obama is not only a lack of commitment to the meeting with Obama, it is a lack of commitment to the American citizens to be forthright in presenting his thoughts and goals. My personal opinion is that neither GWB nor John McCain have a clue as to what needs to be done right now. All GWB really said in his speech tonight is, we are in a mess and give us $700 billion. I think they really need to involve Obama as he seems to be the only one who is staying calm in this storm. Obama sees no problem with both coming up with some bi-partisan remedies and still finding time to debate. Obama knows how to organize and utilize his time to its best advantage-GWB and McCain seem to waste alot of their energy on nothing. (Maybe this is McCain's idea of a "bridge to nowhere.")

[Jay Norby]

Just last week, John McCain announced to the world that OUR ECONOMY WAS STRONG!!!!

Now he says we're in a crises?!!!

I don't get this guy.