John McCain's return to D.C.: Great move or stunt?

Think John McCain's bid to show himself a man of action in grappling with the nation's financial crisis -- ostensibly setting politics aside -- did not quickly chuck a new political football onto the presidential playing field?

Check out some of the statements issued shortly after McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign, traveling to Washington to try to help honcho a bipartisan bailout plan and recommending that his Friday debate date with Barack Obama be rescheduled.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, leader of the 1994 "Republican Revolution," offered this:

Today John McCain showed what it meant to put country first.

He put everything on the line to try to put together a bipartisan sizable economic package to replace the failed ... bailout package (being pushed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson).

This is the greatest single act of responsibility ever taken by a presidential candidate and rivals President Eisenhower saying, ‘I will go to Korea.’

Every House and Senate Republican should join him in seeking the best ideas and the best solutions from across the country.

This is the day the McCain-reform Republican Party began to truly emerge as a movement which puts country first, solutions first, and big change first.

For good measure, he added:

It is surprisingly irresponsible and politically dangerous for the Obama campaign to try and insist on a debate Friday night.

I'm not sure Senator Obama has ever participated in a crisis of this magnitude at this level, but he should set aside politicking and commit to working with Senator McCain to find a solution to this problem.

The economy can’t wait; postpone the debate.  We can get back to talking later.  For the moment, let’s produce a real solution for America.

A different take, to say the least, came from Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California:

The American people expect their President to be calm in a crisis, not engaging in political theater, which is what John McCain is doing today.

He is desperate to change the subject -- everyone knows that a deregulation fever led to this crisis and John McCain helped lead the way.

This is certainly the right time for the American people to see these two candidates talk about the serious challenges our country faces both here and around the world.

We need a President who can handle more than one challenge at a time.  In life, when times get tough, you don't get time-outs.

Boxer's California colleague in the Senate, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, is much more of a middle-of-the-roader, much less ... 

of a rhetorical flamethrower. But she also took umbrage at McCain's move. Said she:

The economic crisis facing this nation is gravely serious.  The stakes are high.  The foreclosure crisis has spread to Wall Street and is affecting the entire economy.

Congress is moving quickly.  A process is underway, the House and Senate Banking committees are negotiating and working to come up with a plan that makes sense, protects the taxpayers, ensures oversight, and limits executive compensation for those who accept public dollars.

Senator McCain’s announcement today won’t help find a solution.  It is a distraction, at a time when sober reflection is needed.

Simply put, we must not inject Presidential politics into this process.

Per Feinstein's closing plea: The train has long since left that station.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credits: Associated Press (Gingrich); Bloomberg News (Boxer)

Comments

[COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret]]

Wall Street Greed VS Main Street Need

Dear concerned citizens of America and Mass Media of the U.S.A.
As a concerned registered independent voter, forensic psychiatrist, disabled American I made my decision to vote after taking into consideration following joint tickets attributes and characteristics.

1. Has the ticket shown adequate calmness, coolness, and connectedness's under pressure to lead our nation [Presidential Temperament]?
2. Has the ticket shown sustained sound "Judgment and Caliber"?
3. Has the ticket shown adequate understanding of depth and degree to address the crucial challenges in their their purpose, policies, and positions [ Honesty, integrity and sincerity]?
4. Has the ticket sufficient "understanding and knowledge" of inside Washington workings [Experience]"?
5. Has the ticket reservoir resilience, wisdom, and vigor to address the present and future f our beloved "Great-grand Nation"?
6. Has the ticket enough joint foreign policy experience and exposure based on " Values, Virtues, Vastness, and " [American moral soul]"?
7. Has their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsively? [No "imminent danger to national
security and safety"].
8. Has the ticket genuinely kept on message of country first and politics last and avoided copying [Message change"]?
9.Has the ticket message stayed away from Culture divide and war[ Disaster prevention ]?
10. Has the ticket resisted being surrounded, supported and surrogate's by divisiveness, distortion's, and destructive characters, [ Real patriotism VS shiftiness and shameless parrot-ism]?
11. Has the ticket thoughtful, real non-partisan, & non-impulsive plans to address our current economic crisis or political tactics and temperamental statements.
I have personally and professionally concluded that OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will lift and inspire our greatgrand nation back to its greatness within and restore our global standing with the use of maximum, firm
international diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated {" Peace thru Strenght "}.
12. The era of responsibility has to replace irresponsibility and unaccountability will change to accountability and transparency. The Wall Street greed will change to Main Street need.

Yours sincerely,

COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] MD.
Forensic psychiatrist, Disabled American Veteran and Iraq
Freedom team. Grass roots California leader per Senator McCain's

PS: It is sad and unfortunate that Hon, Temperamental Maverick McCain has been turned into " Roller-coaster" by his political moves and handlers.

[COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret]]

Simply a stunt

[Michael]

Obama needs to screen the HBO movie Recount. He's coming across like Warren Christopher--weak and manipulated by the crafty Republicans who will do anything at all to win--lie about their reccords, deny responsibility, utilize fear. This mess can be laid at the doorstep of George Bush's ineptitude and John McCain's philosophy of no regulation. Obama needs to hit home on this loud and long, instead of acting non-partisan (40-some days from an election!!!) and acting like he'll work with Bush and McCain to craft a solution. That's like LA Prosecutors joining forces with O.J. to look for the "real" killer.

[McBush-08]

My friends, its time to tell those Fat Cats in Washington DC to get off the backs of Wall Street bankers. As the original Maverick, I intend to go to Washington, and fight for the oppressed, as every true american wants. So to those liberal democrats I say - if you demand Limited executive compensation, then No Deal. We can not afford to limit the bonuses and pay of these proud, wealthy people, Sarah and I will fight for you! I am angry at the thought that executives will not have their bonuses. These are my friends and advisors. As a POW, I can personally vouch for their efforts to fleece the Treasury of the United States of America!

[Thinner]

I'm so sick of hearing, "Well, your leaders misspent your hard-earned tax dollars, so you the people have got to tighten your belts and we gotta start payin' this back, because we, your leaders, misspent your money." You know what would make tightening my belt a little easier? If I could tighten it around W's scrawny little chicken-neck. "AHHHH, I feel better about the sacrifice right now!" I'd tighten my belt if that were the case. I'd eat bologna for a week, you know what I mean? I'd sacrifice.

R.I.P. Bill Hicks

[Artoo45]

Hmmmm, the house is on fire . . . the fire department is on the job trying to put it out, should we let the arsonist who helped set the fire throw in his two cents? I think not. It seems Mr. McCain will do just about anything to stay away from Mr. Obama at this point. Who can blame him?

[Martin, GA]

GOP republican gimmicks: no substance all politics that got us in the mess in the first place.

[coolrepublica]

John McCain could save a school of children from fire and the press would find a way to make it into a negative. There is no love lost between McCain and the press.

Yesterday McCain said he would stop campaigning to go to Washington and help with the bailout because republicans said they would not vote for it unless McCain was for it. So the headlines were as followed. McCain suspends campaign to delay debate. I wish I was making this up. That's what they came up with. The same McCain who has been asking Obama for 1 debate a week since June is afraid to debate him, so the press says. The same McCain who wanted more presidential debates but Obama rejected the idea.

I don't know what world the media live in, but I know it's far removed from the one I live in. Here we have a possible 1 trillion dollar bailout and one of the senators running for president decides to go back to his day job and everybody finds something wrong with that.

I have given up on the media since Hillary was running and winning and they kept calling for her to quit. The media wants to decide who our next president is, I hope the American people don't let them make that decision. This is not Russia.

[Freedom Eagle]

He misses 416 votes previously, didn't even read the Paulson plan until Wednesday, waits until the negotiations are near finished, and *then* decides to swoop in like a white knight and take credit?

He says "suspension" while he and his staff are still doing interviews, and while ads are still on the air?

He says Rick Davis has no connection to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, when it turns out the company Davis's still Treasurer and Director of gets $15K a *month* from them?

Lies, lies and more lies. And now the addition of political theatre while his numbers tank and as he tries to duck the debates.

GOP: The party of lies and hypocrisy.

[S. Burgess]

At a critical time in the election process; a time when reasonable men and women are deciding who the future leader of U.S of America should be is not the time to eliminate an essential deciding tool as the Presidential Debate. The debates are a couple of hours in the evening; a time already prepared and highly anticipated by the American public. I hope John McCain can find the time to show up. I hope he can respect the process owed the American people and face his opponent man to man.

[Mike in Sac]

McCain has no legislative role in this process. He is not on any of the committees reviewing the plan and won't be in on any of the work right now. His presence is pure stunt. He is trying to change the subject away from Davis' 2 million in pay from Freddie Mac and away from his long history of de-regulation that led to this crisis.

Why is nobody talking about the Savings and Loan scandal and how involved McCain was in trying to protect Keating. Keating spent time in prison for his part that required a 5 billion dollar bailout. McCain was very close politically to him and tried to protect him.

Keating Five anyone? Why aren't the press all over this as now we have McCain the de-regulator having led us into a 700 billion dollar bailout.

MSM needs to buck up and grow a pair! Where are the comparisons!!

[frankangelo]

Congressman Barney Frank called McCain's move for what it is, "a stunt". The selection of Sarah Palin as VP choice was another one of his "stunts". Heaven help us if this manipulative "stunt man" and his feckless running mate ever manage to get elected. He has shown us that he is impulsive, puts his own interests ahead of the country's and in the process shows appallingly poor judgement. I'm sorry to say it, but that this election could be as close as it is, is an indictment of this country.

[karen smolar]

You are my American hero,John McCain. What you did was put your country first, unlike BHO who puts BHO first. What a looser.

[deeppeace]

Stunt.

[deeppeace]

Gingrich has a fat lot of nerve criticizing Obama here. McCain hasn't hesitated to campaign while 4,000 Americans die in Iraq and vets return to horrific conditions.

[Captbilly]

McCain going to washington and bringing Presidential campaign politics into a crisis is a bit like sending a truckload of road flares to a gasoline spill. The best thing that can happen is nothing, the worst a huge explosion. The treasury asked the candidates not to get involved because the knew what could happen. Obama even mentioned in his speaches that he was going to be mindful of not inserting Presidential politics into the crisis. But McCain saw the pole numbers and paniced. He knows that he will not win if he doesn't do something dramatic. He apparently doesn't care if his actions precipitate the crash of the banking and stock markets.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised. When McCain picked Palin he showed us how he behaves in a crisis (the crisis that time was the that he was losing the election), he panicks and makes crazy decisions that show no concern for America. Palin is inexperienced to a degree that is beyond the pale, her politics and beliefs are wildely conservative and fringe. She was in the middle of an ethics investigation, and many of her actions as govenor were in direct contradiction to McCain's stated beliefs, yet McCain gambled on Americas future and picked her anyway.

Now he is doing the same thing again, for the same reason. He is panicked about the latest poles and he will do anything, say anything, to try and find a way to keep the topic of the campaign something other than the issues that actually face the American people. He wants the campaign to be about what a hero and decicive leader he thinks he is, and not about anything of substance.

[Larry Linn]

President Bush, "the Worst President in history" is able to manage two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, deal with the invasion of Georgia by Russia, the devastation in the Texas and Louisiana by a hurricane, Korea reactivating their nuclear program, etc. McCain did not even read the three page proposal until Tuesday. He then suspends his campaign “to provide leadership”? McCain has exposed the limits of his myopic mentality. If he honestly believes that the condition of the United States of America is more important than the campaign, he should give his concession speech today.

[Kathy in Texas]

Our country is falling apart at the seams and the news media and politicians are stuck on sincerity or stunt. My future and the future of my grandchildren are at stake and, as their employer, I EXPECT every member of Congress to be at the job they are currently being paid to do. This didn't happen overnight and I'm sure mistakes were made by both the elephant and the donkey. Now work together and get it resolved.

Kathy in Texas

[D. Weis]

MCCAIN IS RUNNING BEHIND IN THE POLLS AS YOU CAN SEE
ACTING FAST, HE JUMPS A PLANE FOR WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE ECONOMY NEEDS A FIX,
SO THE DEBATE HE HAS NIXED.
WILL OBAMA BE THE ONLY ONE INTRODUCED BY THE EMCEE?

[Charlene]

mccain is an idoit

[Mike W]

This is the biggest govt bailout in our history, and, unfortunately, it seems that the economy needs it. McCain is smart to be involved because he has influence in the Senate. Obama, on the other hand, is just a boy in the Senate, so he doesn't want to go. Democrat senators will laugh in his face before they listen to the junior senator Obama who has no experience. Actually, they'll pretend to listen to him and then they'll forget what he said. So, Obama would rather stay away and write another book or something.

[Larry Linn]

President Bush, "the Worst President in history" is able to manage two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, deal with the invasion of Georgia by Russia, manage the devastation in the Texas and Louisiana by a hurricane, deal with Korea reactivating their nuclear program, etc. McCain did not even read the three page bailout proposal until Tuesday. McCain then suspends his campaign “to provide leadership”? McCain has exposed the limits of his myopic mentality. If he honestly believes that the condition of the United States of America is more important than the campaign, he should give his concession speech today.

[PacificGatePost]

WHO SHOULD OVERSEE THE FIX?

Too many have fed at the trough. What Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives did was illegal.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/09/fanny-mae-freddie-mac-congressional.html

Still no time to panic, but some executives and some in Congress should see jail time.

[Montanan4Obama]

I love it when people say "John McCain is a hero who puts America first". Really? Can you honestly believe this garbage? Did he put his country first when he chose a VP candidate without a scintilla of experience. She can't even answer real questions from reporters. The woman can scarcely speak English. But, she'd be fun to have a beer with and shoot up the wildlife! Woohooo! McCain puts his country when he worked for the last 26 years on the very deregulation that got us into this mess? No, I am not falling for this crap. I was one of the 10% of Americans who knew G.W. was a walking disaster from day one and I see the same telltale signs with McCain.

[DEMOCRAT NOW FOR McCAIN/PALIN]

It is just the RIGHT move. Unlike Obama, McCain does understand that he is still a U S Senator and there was a crisis in Washington that needed his attention.
Obama has NEVER done anything but run for office. This , as Obama described as "an economic crisis close to the Great Depression" , is not going to change that! Yes, Isn't Obama the "Change We Need?"
To hell with AMERICA! I WANT TO DEBATE!

[J Dilluvio]

Not a stunt at all. Are you kidding me?????!! We are in a major financial crisis. If Mr. Obama becomes president, is this what he will do when another crisis happens. I really do not care how great a debater he thinks he is, stop everything, and show some concern for the country. The country can wait a week or so , to hear both men debate, really its not necessary to do it at this delicate time in this great country's life.

[Maggie Knowles]

John McCain has nothing to do regarding this $700B bailout that Paulson is asking for. He's not on the Senate Banking Committee, so all he can do is vote on the legislation that the committee produces, maybe an hour's work if that.

President Bush invited McCain and Obama to the Whitehouse for a meeting on the subject which will provide McCain with a photo opportunity the McCain campaigners think they need to hopefully make it look like McCain is on the job, fixing the economy. Just like Bush and the Hurricane Katrina disaster, where he made an appearance, rolled up the sleeves for the cameras and make it look like he was working when he wasn't (meaning, actually doing the work of solving problems through to solutions).

McCain suspending his presidential campaign? What a farce, Obama and Biden are both senators too, you won't hear anything so ridiculous coming from them.

I hope Obama is our next president, at least he's a guy that can do more than one thing at a time with a calm demeanor. And he's not afraid of work, real work, as demonstrated by his community organizing accomplishments and work as an Illinois State Senator. We are in desperate need of real leadership.

There's still time to call the members of the Senate Banking Committee. Here is a call list for anyone that has time and desire to let them know how you feel and what you think should be done:

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs
202-224-7391

Members:

Senator Christopher J. 'Chris' Dodd (D-CT)
202-224-2823

Senator Jon Tester - (D-MT)
202-224-2644

Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-AL)
202-224-5744

Senator Charles E. 'Chuck' Schumer (D-NY)
202-224-6542

Senator John Francis 'Jack' Reed (D-RI)
202-224-4642

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
202-224-4744

Senator Melquiades Rafael 'Mel' Martinez (R-FL)
202-224-3041

Senator Tim P. Johnson (D-SD)
202-224-8279

Senator Charles T. 'Chuck' Hagel (R-NE)
202-224-4224

Senator Michael B. 'Mike' Enzi (R-WY)
202-224-3453

Senator Elizabeth H. Dole (R-NC)
202-224-6342

Senator Michael D. 'Mike' Crapo (R-ID)
202-224-6142

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)
202-224-3344

Senator Robert P. 'Bob' Casey Jr. (D-PA)
202-224-6324

Senator Thomas Richard 'Tom' Carper (D-DE)
202-224-2441

Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY)
202-224-4343

Senator Sherrod C. Brown (D-OH)
202-224-2315

Senator Robert F. 'Bob' Bennett (R-UT)
202-224-5444

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
202-224-5623

Senator Wayne A. Allard (R-CO)
202-224-5941

Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka Sr. (D-HI)
202-224-6361

[Montanan4Obama]

Looks like a financial bailout agreement is close at hand. Wow, I'm so glad John McCain "suspended" his campaign, whatever that means, to save us. John McCain is still planning to cancel his appearance at the debate. I can only imagine what the right-wing would say about Obama if he chickened out on the debate. He'd be crucified. If McCain and Palin cannot multi-task and address the American public then they are clearly unfit for the job.

[Idaho]

McCain just lost my vote. 40+ years ago he was a brave hero, but yesterday he became a COWARD with and even weaker running mate.
I don't want a president who gets stuck like a deer in headlights in a crisis.
Suspend the campaign!? End the debates!? Quit your crying and GROW A PAIR!

[whydontyougetit]

I'm rarely surprised anymore at how many people allow others to make up their minds for them. I guess it's just mental laziness. But if you're going to make a case against McCain for suspending his campaign you should really try to use reason instead of passion. Had Obama suspended his campaign would you applaud him for taking responsibility and putting country first? As a poster previously pointed out the headlines and news sources indicated that McCain was trying to postpone the debate but failed to say anything about pushing this bailout. It's not like he winked or some camera angle caught him crossing his fingers when he made the announcement. So how could you reason this was a stunt?
I would suggest you let things unfold first then make your criticism. If McCain makes a legitimate contribution to this legislation you will all end up looking like buffoons. Again. Although you will continue to believe this was a stunt and blame McCain's success on some McBush conspiracy. Obama was smart to simply express his confusion and criticize McCain for not being able to do both. Besides, the only way this is bad for Obama is if McCain succeeds. Why get so upset?
I also doubt that McCain and those on his campaign staff didn't see this "stunt" characterization as a likely outcome of the decision.
If you don't break the cycle you could remain a stupid person your whole life.
Could this be a stunt? Yes.
Could this be legitimate? Yes.
Let's see what happens, then decide which is most likely.

[Mary Ellen]

Remember that John McCain is the one who wanted the debates in the first place. He had to convince Obama to do them. Obama had to take 2 days off to prepare. If McCain was afraid he wouldn't have suggested the debates in the first place. I think that it is honorable what he is doing and he is showing himself to be bipartisan as opposed to other people who are just thinking about themselves. I think McCain is showing more by his actions yesterday and today then any debate will tell you. It shows he is truly concerned about his country so lay off him and start admiring him.

[republican4obama-biden]

I was for McCain before the primaries. If McCain has the power to make a call and fly into Washington and fix all of this in a day, then why has he waited until now to do so. Please see this for what it is, a stunt. It is insulting that McCain would actually think we as Americans would buy this move as anything else. He is NOT part of the Banking Commitee. He can do nothing more than wait for others to do the work. Plain and simple. He has NO reason not to debate. On an aside, If McCain does not show up for the debate he should personally apologize to the numerous businesses, as well as the University of Mississippi, that invested roughly three MILLION dollars into the debate. Oxford, Mississippi and the surrounding counties are not exactly rolling in money.

P.S. I'm a Republican

[John Quimby]

Anybody wanna answer Katie Couric's question?

Anyone?

Meantime President Bush and John McCain put a fatal bullet into Milton Freidman's "free market" everywhere and for all time by urging a panicky vote for a socialist takeover of private business.

Don't worry about Chicago politics, it's Chicago economics that finally got you.

[James T. Ellis]

I am a lifelong Republican - but I decided yesterday to vote for Obama. McCain needs to just stay out of the way and let the experts work out what to do. He has totally disgusted me ever since he got involved in the race. He has shown himself to be vendictive and unfair, underhanded and just plain "snarky." I have lost all respect for him. In contrast, Obama has conducted himself in a thoughtful, respectful manner - even yesterday when explaining the sequence of events that led to McCain's solo statement wherein he tried to grab all the glory - even then, Obama simply told what happened without malice or vendictiveness. I have come to respect him very much and I can see him as my president. I would be very proud to have him represent me and my country to the rest of the world. I just hope this country does not opt out for mediocrity AGAIN. It is becomming harder and harder to remain a Republican.

[Freedom Eagle]

"I'm rarely surprised anymore at how many people allow others to make up their minds for them. I guess it's just mental laziness. But if you're going to make a case against McCain for suspending his campaign you should really try to use reason instead of passion."

If he still runs ads, does interviews with the press and has his surrogates doing interviews, how exactly can you make the case that McCain has suspended his campaign?

Just because he says it, doesn't make it truth.

Repeating a lie doesn't make it truth.

Doesn't make "Palin never took an earmark" true.
Doesn't make "Suspending my campaign" true.
Doesn't make "I'm for regulation of business" true.
Doesn't make "I didn't fire anyone" true.

Who's being mentally lazy?

GOP: The party of lies and hypocrisy.

[andyt]

Our American Hero John McCain LIED TO US!! I AM NOW BEGINNING TO SEE WHY PEOPLE KEEP CALLING HIM A LIAR. When he so selflessly announced that he was suspending his campaign, it was impressive....but he lied...i jsut found out today,that the john mccain campaign is still going on...http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/25/mccain-campaign-still-act_n_129327.html

it was all political posturing afterall.

[Russell4America]

McCain attempted debate delay is nothing more than a stunt (no matter how his campaign frames it). A stunt is a stunt and if Obama had tried the same thing, republicans would have crucified him. McCain is nothing more than a coward running from a conflict.