Debate commission says McCain-Obama faceoff still on

Never mind all of today's hoopla -- Friday's first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama is full-steam ahead.

Per the just-released statement by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which organizes the meetings between nominees:

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is moving forward with its plan for the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. this Friday, September 26.  The plans for this forum have been underway for more than a year and a half.  The CPD's mission is to provide a forum in which the American public has an opportunity to hear the leading candidates for the president of the United States debate the critical issues facing the nation.  We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled.

Earlier today, McCain announced that he is halting his campaign because of the nation's economic turmoil and the fragility of the proposed financial firm bailout proposal, and called for the debate to be postponed. Obama called for it to go on. Then politicians in both camps weighed in, with -- surprise, surprise -- Newt Gingrich and Arnold Schwarzenegger backing McCain's plan, and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid supporting Obama's position. Who says politics isn't predictable?

-- Seema Mehta

Comments

[Straight Talk]

Waiting to hear about John's sick grammy, or how the dog ate his notes. Can we position John so the sun wont be in his eyes and he is not throwing into the wind. Everybody already accepts that whatever the outcome, those involved in the debate were biased against him.

Excuses for why John McCain is unable to measure up should be sent directly to the RNC.

[btimsah]

I hereby vote that RON PAUL take McCain's place in the debate while McCain can go play daddy socialist. Pathetic.

[thelma ritter]

McCain hasn't cast a vote in DC for 5 months; Obama for 2. These guys should continue to campaign and not expect to inject themselves in bailout negotiations at the last minute. A Friday debate in Mississippi is fortuitous timing if Americans get a chance to hear how their prospective leaders plan to react to challenges seen and unseen. Virtually any foreign policy question can be related to America's economic standing and policies.

[We take no prisoners and eat the wounded]

Pelosi and Reid just dont cut it against Newt and Arnold.
Imposters Obama and Biden just want to carry on with
their rancid dog and pony show while McCain wants to put the people and their economic concerns first. America, take a deep breath and cut the cancerous duo
that threatens our most sacred values....managers of
shocking vice and spreaders of spiritual pestilence a la
Joseph Stalin.

[Kelly Jones]

McCain opted out of the presidential debate, as his key campaign aide was found to be collecting money as a lobbyist for Freddie Mac through last month, contrary to the statement of Sen. McCain on Sunday. McCain is reported to be acquiring an alzheimer's facility as a 12 home to undergo terminal treatment and is retiring from the Presidential campaign.

[Omidal]

The debate must go on. This is not the time to cut and run. We are tired of this political ploy.

[Keith newman]

If McCain is not prepared to handle more than one item on his plate at a time, then he is not prepared to be President.

[TimL]

And quickly the partisan comments will start.

First off:

McCain and Obama are each 1 out of over 500 congressmen.

They are only 1 of 2 "true" presidential picks.

What is more important? The debates which will have an affect over the next 4 to 8 years in our determination of who is the better choice.

Or

McCain running off with a knee-jerk reaction to try to score political points (With who anyway)?

This issue will still be a major problem for who ever is president. The housing market has not even hit the middle of its failure yet. We are looking at 50 billion in foreclosures monthly (this month will appear lower due to a new cali law being passed then back to normal rates).

This whole tactic by McCain is a sham. Get on with the debates. I am still able to be swayed... and this decision is a strike against McCain

[Ijuba Ekero]

McCain should have learnt from his Republican colleague Giulliani when he suspended he opted out of Florida primary that spelt doom for him and this could just be McCain's Waterloo despite his VP stonewalling on a lot of answered questions.

[Democrats 08]

They HIDE Palin, they HIDE McCain now because they are too cowardly and ashamed of themselves to answer to the mess the Republicans have made of our country! because they KNOW Obama and Biden will chew them up and spit them out!!

[Susanne Reeves]

Same old Republican "The Sky is Falling!" and we have to act this minute or we will all die. It is VERY serious but it has been going on for years. How could anyone not know this crash was inevitable? CEO's getting millions of dollars each year for unethical business decisions if not illegal. Hedge funds given free rein with anything goes. And the perpetrators and their friends became billionaires. This while we all shopped.

[ROGER CONARY]

THE REPUBLICANS ARE VERY MUCH AWARE THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE ANY CHANCE IS TO KEEP BUY VOTES AND RELY ON THE VOTING MACHINES TO FIX
THE REST .
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERY SILVER SPOON BABY IN GOVERNMENT AND THOSE THAT OWN THEM JUST WANT TO MAKE DAMN SURE THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE NO WAY OF STOPPING THEM FROM TOTAL DOMINATION , FOR THE GOOD OF THE FEW ....

[Susanne Reeves]

Same old Republican "The Sky is Falling!" and we have to act this minute or we will all die. It is VERY serious but it has been going on for years. How could anyone not know this crash was inevitable? CEO's getting millions of dollars each year for unethical business decisions if not illegal. Hedge funds given free rein with anything goes. And the perpetrators and their friends became billionaires. This while we all shopped.

[Dale]

Oh come on McCain. You can't do both? Poor old thing is getting flustered. Boo hoo hoo. Here's a tissue now get out of the way.

[peterboy]

Schwarzenegger: another post-partisan and unpredictable maverick, just like Palin and her big daddy--Mcsame.

[HillaryMomforMcCain]

Maybe Barack Obama and Joe Biden can debate each other? They seem to need to take some time to get aligned. To ensure that they can each speak their mind, the debate should be extended by a couple of hours.

[Inkfingers]

If John McCain thinks he can solve this crisis in a few days, he is out of his tree.

[mavisdarling]

Wow, we didn't have the option of suspending the presidency of George Bush and his cronies who led us into this mess, did we?

Sorry, but we need the debate to go forward. This is what we've all been waiting for. I want to hear if Obama is going to say anything about his economic mentor Warren Buffett.

Come to think of it, McCain probably would rather not talk about Warren Buffett right now. After all, Buffett has been predicting the meltdown of Wall Street for some time now. If it weren't for Buffett's $ 5 billion bailout of Goldman-Sachs, there would have been another BIG bankruptcy brewing yesterday. And as we all know, Buffett endorsed Obama months ago.

So today, after the news about Buffett, McCain has to RUSH back to Washington all of a sudden? Rather fishy timing there, John.

[Me]

McCain is scared! Scared to debate!!!

[Inkfingers]

If John McCain thinks he can solve this crisis in a few days, he is out of his tree.

[Mary Porter]

I assure you, the American people aren't going to find this debate a needless distraction from the task at hand. It IS the task at hand.

McCain can take the podium and explain the principles of his his non-partisan economic leadership from there. If Obama disagrees with any, he should put forth his own position. This is called a debate, and McCain can best serve the nation by taking it on.

Both men speak also for the parties they lead, as well as the administration that will take over the responsibility in 40 days. We have a right to hear from them, on schedule, and not at McCain's political convenience.

[Ryan T.]

With all due respect to both candidates - if the current economic situation is as in immediate dire straits as we are being told by those who know the most about it, what would it matter if the debates were postponed until next week? Being and Independent, a week is not going to do me injustice, rather the justice we all gain by the support of both of these candidates in a crucial time, fully outweighs.

[tdub]

Let's call this what it is. A smart, yet shrewd move, but also with the nagging suspicion of this being another cynical P.R. “photo-op” that has characterized the McCain campaign ever since McCain’s long time staffers were usurped by the Bush and Rove operatives now running the high levels of the McCain campaign.

McCain’s poll numbers have been plummeting in lockstep to the economy, so to many in a worried nation, McCain’s action seems suspiciously a “hail Mary” move to attempt to shore up his popularity with a gesture of “care and compassion” toward working Americans, curiously after years of preaching the opposite with regard to regulation and federal oversight.

McCain may be better advised that, if he wants to show what a true leader does, he could be capable of multitasking between a two hour debate and still deal with the debacle and difficulties in Washington.

But off he rides to DC on a freshly painted white horse. Given the gaffes of late, hopefully none of the 100-strong pack of financial lobbyists on the McCain campaign staff will be within 100 miles of McCain during his visit, unless they care to explain and account for the $2500 every man, woman and child in this country potentially owes to those responsible for looting the American financial system.

[TTmich]

(The Politico) Does Harry Reid want it both ways when it comes to John McCain showing up for Senate votes?

This afternoon, Reid dismissed McCain's sudden move to parachute in on Washington and help solve the economic crisis.

Let's compare today's statement ...

"It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."

... With Reid's statement from July, when Obama showed up for a vote but not McCain (quoted in The Washington Post):

"I should mention how glad my fellow Democrats and I were to have our nominee for president here to vote on these important bills. Senator Obama has come to work and taken tough stands. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Senator McCain," Reid said. "Perhaps taking tough stands on important issues is not part of Senator McCain's campaign strategy. Perhaps he's just too busy on the campaign trail to do his day job."

[David]

McCain is not "halting" his campaign. He is Politicizing a process that might determine the fate of the American economy so that he can take center stage 40 days before the election. Why did he invoke 9/11 in his statement to the press? 9/11 has nothing to do with this. There is nothing this man won't do and nothing he won't say to become president. I pray that the American people are not as gullible McCain thinks they are and are not as unprincipled as he has become.

[sloppyjoeblow]

If McCain doesn't have the stamina to both work on the financial crisis issue and do a 90 minute debate, then maybe he doesn't have the stamina to be president.

[jefflz]

Kudos to the debate Commision for not buying into this latest McCain stunt. Are we to believe that the candidates themselves are needed for the direct negotiations between Congress and the administration? Hardly. Is McCain trying to tell us he can't walk and chew gum at the same time? Or is he just plain chicken?

[dressypink]

This McCain's new ploy will not work this time. McCain has been running a very disgraceful, dishonorable, dispicable, deceptive and disgusting campaign, no sane person should fall for these gimmicks. Whenever McCain is down in polls he resorts to diversions, phony campaign and lies. I am glad Obama had the sense to resist him this tiime.

[germanguy]

Check-mate Macl!

[esmeralda dangerfield]

Let Sarah Palin stand in for McCain.

That's what a VP is supposed to do.

[plain jane]

Thank goodness. Logic reigns supreme. The McCain antics are exhausting.

[Rasputing]

Senators Obama and McCain gave their word to debate in Mississippi on Friday night. Great men keep their word.

[Bellingman]

@We take no prisoners

Excellent satire of a childishly ranting brainless ditto-head. You're obviously a secret Obama supporter.

Keep up the good work!

[Jordan]

"Obama and Biden just want to carry on ... while McCain wants to put the people and their economic concerns first." Then why is it that McCain hasn't cast a vote in over 5 months, whereas Obama was voting until 2 months ago? This is purely a gimmick by McCain. He is 1 man of 535 in congress and will make little difference there. (Especially as he is not on the appropriate committees nor is he an economic expert.) He is however one of two people poised to become the next president. The public would be better served by him going out and telling us about himself so we can make the correct decision come November.

[JoAnn Pratte]

John McCain has not had a good two weeks--due to his own gaffes, lack of judgement and having lobbyists (getting paid by Freddie Mac until last month). It seems when his numbers go down, he tries another gimmick. He picked Sarah Palin without vetting her fully, focused on nonsense like pigs and lipstick and now this gimmick--postponing the debate. He hasn't shown any leadership in this economic crisis but now wants to use it to try to make himself look presidential. A president needs to be able to handle more than one thing at a time. He can deal with the bailout and still show up and perform at a debate. If he can't do this then I don't see how he could possinbly serve effectively as a president.

[SN]

Isn't a presidential candidate suppose to be able to multi-task. So that would mean go vote on the economy and also attend the scheduled debate. If he can't handle those 2 things and has to suspend his campaign that doesn't fair well if say there are 3 things going on in the world and he has to attend to them. Congress is probably better off anyway if he votes remotely through modern day technology since he has all the secret service and election stuff around that could be distracting. Oh wait does he know how to use modern day technology.

[Eddie Zalez]

The presidential debate should go on and be turned into a debate about the bailout. The Wall Street criminals that looted our economy should be punished. The members of Congress that allowed this major embarrassment to happen to our nation should be identified and asked to resign their committee positions. Now we know why seniority in Congress does not work well and there should be term limits.

[Young but not naive]

HELLO EVERYONE!
i'd like to propose a vote in this comments section...
this for everyone regardless of political orientation...

Who is for...?

A. Switching the VP debate to take the presidential debates place on Friday

B. Letting Palin stand in for McCain on friday

C. Re-schedule

D. None of the above (submit another idea..)

[Thom Lager]

This is like trying to cancel the sopronos during peak season. Oh John, ya just don't get it.

[Larry Clifton]

Obama is hoping for defeat for America, just like Democrats always do, whether the topic is war, economics, civil rights or elections. bad news for America is good news to Democrats.
Mccain is right - country first!
Nobama
http://www.examiner.com/x-852-Atlanta-Civics-Examiner

[PerfectSolution]

If John McCain is not available to debate, he should send his VP, Sarah Palin, to debate for him. To keep things fair, Obama can send Joe Biden.

[troublemaker]

Don't worry. John will be there. This is to heighten the excitement. Then, maybe John will punch Barack in the face. Even if Barack kicks his butt, we will laugh with glee!

[Rodney Lamprey]

Wait, wait, let's suspend any more elections until Bush repairs the economy and finds Osama bin Laden's grandchildren.

McCain just wants to be in Washington so his lobbyists are well represented to get a slice of the $700B of taxpayers money.

[MasterYodaFreak]

There was a McCain supporter on MSNBC tonight who stated that even though John McCain does not sit on any comities in charge of rectifying our economical situation he is the one person the republicans need to hear from to get this bill passed. If John McCain is so instrumental leader persuading the direction of the Republican Party into decision making then why did the government not do something in 2005 when McCain (Supposedly) brought this to light the first time? Why did the republican do nothing then?

[The Psychologist]

To "We take no prisoners and eat the wounded" - Your moniker says it all - hostility and killing. Then your statement speaks to hypocrisy. You should be McCain's running mate so you can stand behind the placards that read "Reform, Prosperity and Peace". Do you know that "reform" is another word for "change"? McCain can't even come up with his own campaign foundation!

[sandieggan]

Will anyone really notice? The most ardent republicans that show up for his speeches are only there to see Palin.
They really don't care if he takes the rest of the campaign off entirely... Just give them Sarah, but don't ask her any questions!

[Ira in LA]

What are the implications of Friday's debate going forward with the V.P. candidates instead? They need to be able to step in in case of disability or other unavailability. Joe Biden might complain, but Gov. Palin can show 'em what she's got. If McCain's busy, what are we going to do, cancel the elections?

[To Jordan From we take no prisoners.and.eat the wounded]

McCain does not vote present...he takes a stand and stays with it and adjusts as circumstances dictate...hey
Obame votes present and then says all the others showed bad judgement in taking a stand...the Chicago
bum has been getting away with murder worshipping a
racist and hate monger pseudo preacher for TWENTY
years.....HELLO? His stands for criminals like Rezko and
Ayers...downplayed by the liberal media rate among the
the most flagrant abuses of our collective conscience. A
nation that can no longer distinguish between good and
evil is condemned to the type of decripitude and decadence that have plagued Grecian and Roman empires.Obama/Biden? Osama/Satan...evil twins

[S. M. Cook]

John McCain can be expected to manage his campaign as he will; he will continue to do so, and we will watch his actions filtered through various media, and cast a vote that is slightly more informed than the agerage voter.
Barack Obama will perform likewise; some millions of persons will cast a vote on election day, perhaps in record numbers.

Or so we are told.

Meanwhile, a bill has been presented as due and payable; an interesting fact of our times? Most thought having our grandchildren fund our couch-on-wheels pie in the sky greed extravaganza, rather than us living responsibly within our means, right and just.

Most were wrong.

We live in interesting times.

[Ted Suzukawa]

We managed to hold presidential debates during the Civil War. The Bailout vote is hardly worthy of comparision. Especially considering how little interparty bickering there was before John McCain came back.

Then again maybe this mess does at least tell us something about the canidates. Obama seems to be willing to delegate to others. McCain seems to want to handle everything himself.