As a follow up to this mornings article about how Obama has failed the leadership test yet again… yeah, 3 times now, we find out today that John McCain steps up to the leadership plate once again.
From CNN,
Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced Wednesday that he is suspending his campaign to return to Washington and focus on the “historic” crisis facing the U.S. economy….
He also urged organizers of Friday’s presidential debate at the University of Mississippi to postpone the event….
“I am calling on the president to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself,” McCain told reporters in New York. “It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.”
So once again, John McCain is putting off parts of his campaign that are traditionally essential to winning the race to the White House.
The first was when McCain decided to cut short the Republican National Convention in the face of Hurricane Gustav and was even prepared to go down to the gulf coast, skipping the convention all together and giving his acceptance speech by satellite. (Here)
And now, he is calling for the delay of the debate that was scheduled this Friday, a debate whose topic was to surround Foreign Policy (McCain’s strong suit and the debate where he was expected to shine), so that he can return to Washington, DC and lead the debate on the Bailout legislation.
Contrast this with Barack Obama’s statement yesterday…
Although Barack Obama argues that the financial meltdown is an “emergency situation”, he said today that he may remain on the campaign trail, rather than returning to the Capitol, to vote on the $700 billion plan.
And let’s looks at how he characterizes the rationalization
“Look if we get a consensus and everybody is popping champagne – then I will probably be going back to campaign with folks who are having a tough time in places like Ohio, and Michigan and Pennsylvania,” Obama said adding, “If this ends up being a close vote or a vote where the outcome is an open question then obviously this is a top priority.”
Popping Champagne? Really? While the country is going bankrupt, when Obama thinks about legislation getting passed, he thinks of people “popping champagne?”
Is the champagne served with a side of arugula maybe?
Like I said yesterday,
We don’t need someone to hold our hands. We don’t need you in our high school gym telling us that our lives suck and we all need some sort of ambiguous “change” that apparently only you can bring.
We need someone to LEAD US, to DO SOMETHING, to STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT.
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Well, apparently John McCain heard me… and yet again, as Hillary Clinton put it, John McCain proved that he has passed the leadership threshold, while Barack has not.
John McCain FTW.
Barack Obama Teh Fail.
That is all.
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BTW – I am testing out a Blogger blog… please go vist and let me know what you think. HERE
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UPDATE: Obama responds to McCain… nothing new.
From CNN
But he disagreed with McCain’s call for postponing Friday’s first presidential debate in Oxford, Mississippi.
“It’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person will be the next president,” Obama said. “It is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once. It’s more important than ever to present ourselves to the American people.”
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This is an interesting spin on the situation, so let’s talk about the reality. This is political positioning.
Barack Obama has pulled ahead a bit in the polls for one reason and one reason only… the economy.
The economy is THE most important issue to voters, getting like 40% polling as the number one issue, as opposed to things like foreign policy and the war on terror, which only gets about 10%.
So when John McCain makes a move like calling off a debate and suspending his campaign to deal with the bailout, he is trying to change the narrative… trying to show leadership on the economy.
Obama must prevent this from happening.
If Obama agreed with McCain and went back to Washington, that opens up the possible perception that Obama is following McCain’s lead, and that it is McCain and not Obama that is really leading on the economy, that McCain is the real leader. It also allows McCain to have some economic problem solving spotlight, which could potentially help John McCain.
So what does Obama do? He moves to prevent McCain from being able to move into that economic problem solver mode by attempting to force him to keep the scheduled debate, a debate whose topic is Foreign Policy, keeping McCain out of Washington and forcing him off the subject of the economy.
This is not about Obama not thinking that he is not needed… it is about keeping McCain from gaining points, and possibly at the expense of the American people.
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We need leadership, Mr. Obama. Not political positioning.
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UPDATE #2
President Bush called Barack Obama and gave him the good old “Dude…WTF? Get back here and take some damned responsibility!”
Obama is now on his way to Washington.
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Way to be a leader Barry…
Man… you suck. Seriously.
Filed under: Barack Obama, John McCain | Tagged: Bailout, Bill, DC, Delay, Leadership, McCain, Obama, Postpone, Return, washington
Obama has a distinct lack of ability to judge the magnitude of events in the overall scheme of things. It’s like he’s led a very sheltered life. McCain, by comparison, sees things in the big picture.
Once again Obama has shown zero leadership. Why in the hell would i vote this man into office? because obama runs ads saying he has 13 cars? give me a break.
Polls today suggest that OBAMA has received a huge bounce (some showing a swing nationally from 2 points down to 9 points ahead) in the space of a few days because of the FINANCIAL CRISIS facing the nation.
Can someone explain this to me?
In a time of crisis, you turn to the candidate with absolutely no experience in finance, government or otherwise? Who can’t decide if he’s for or against the planned bailout (until he’s checked the polls, I guess) and doesn’t even plan to be in Washington (isn’t he still a Senator? or have the people of Illinois given him a term off to campaign?) to vote or debate or offer his guidance.
If the American public thinks so highly of his expertise on economic issues, shouldn’t he head to Washington immediately to provide his expertise to those seeking a solution? Instead, his attitude is, “Let them work it out and, if it’s close, I’ll come vote.”
There is a serious disconnect between the man and the apparent image he has conjured in the public consciousness. This is mass delusion. What are people thinking who answer these polls? You trust Barack Obama, of all people, more on the economy?
Based on what?
Obama cares not about anyone else but his big over inflated ego. Obama showed no leadership skills in the Illinois Senate, and none as a US Senator unless you count running for President, because that has been it…
Depp,
Democrats are perceived as being for the little guy vs Republicans being for business… so this is common, even though it’s not necessarily true and the Democrats are at the core of the problem.
Obama lies and breaks laws and the MSM refuses to call him on any of them.
I think it is time to take real action. Look thru say, the NY Times. Write down how advertises with them. Bomabard the advertisers with calls and emails demanding they stop advertising with them until the stop reporting propaganda as though it is factual news, and return to factual reporting.
As for McCain suspending his campaign:
A Cause Greater Than Self…McCain is a man of his word.
So many excellent points! I forgot about McCain offering to suspend the GOP Convention because of the hurricane. So, again he shows that his campaign comes second to the needs of every day Americans. What he said about champagne corks just blew me away. That’s how he handles a 3:00 am call? Wake me up when the champagne corks fly? Wake me up when the Depression is over? Wake me up when the nukes start to fly? Unbelievable.
This is a time when leadership is needed. It’s killing Reid and Schumer, Pelosi, and the rest of the Obamabots on the Hill that McCain is willing to work on this. I guess only Democrats are permitted to give their input, not Republicans. This is what they call “working across the aisle”?
The only ones playing politics is the Democrats on the Hill, and they don’t care who they stomp on to do it..
Apparently majority of voters believe that BO has a better grip of the economy. Since the Wall Street crisis BO has moved up in the polls. Can someone explain to me why? I sure as hell don’t think he knows anything about the economy.
If Obama’s “strength” is the economy, why doesn’t he feel an obligation to help solve this problem? Hell, according to his campaign, his “economic wisdom” should be carved on stone and revered as much as the “10 commandments.” Right!
Obama states that he won’t postpone the debate or his campaigning because a “President has to deal with multiple problems at once.” Hum….I think that means that if we suffer a terrorist attack, an earthquake, a tornado, or a stock market crash, “President Obama” will be giving speeches somehwere and popping champagne. Reminds me of another famous elitist who said.”Let them eat cake.” I believe the peasants cut off her head.
Okay – Gumby’s response is nothing we all didn’t expect. Because this guy has never been in rough times or “poor” he has no freakin’ clue what it feels like and therefore, does not realize how close to the abyss we actually are; and then try to SPIN the whole story about calling John FIRST. LOL What a freakin’ high school senior.
This is exactly why I will be voting for John McCain.
Thanks for the great article!!!
Texas – love the new site. easy on the eyes. Could you add my new site to your blogroll?
Many mahalos,
Diamond
OBAMA KEEPS SAYING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CALL HIM SCARY. HE IS SCARY OUR COUNTRIE IS CLOSE TO A DEPRESSION. IF THIS IS NOT SOLVED THE RIGHT WAY ALL THE ANERICAN PEOPLE WILL SUFFER FINANCIALLY, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS A CAMPAIGN. THIS MUST BE SOLVED ASAP OR THERE WILL BE NO COUNTRY TO BE PRESIDENT OF. McCAIN HAS ALWAYS PUT COUNTRY 1ST AND PARTY 2ND WHERE OBAMA ALWAYS PUTS OBAMA 1ST AND NOTHING 2ND. IN THESE HARD TIMES WE NEED SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY CARES AND THAT IS SIMPLY NOT OBAMA. WE ALSO NEED SOMEONE WHO WILL WORK WITH BOTH PARTIES AND THAT IS SIMPLY NOT OBAMA. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS AND GOOD SENSE OF WHICH OBAMA HAS NONE OF. McCAIN / PALIN CARE YOU SHOULD TOO.
“Look if we get a consensus and everybody is popping champagne ….”
HUH!?!?
what planet is precious on… please tell me cuz i’d like to rocket there, oh but i can’t because MY PORTFOLIO HAS DISINTEGRATED to cosmic dust in the wind….
PLEASE SAVE US MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is the media talking about this? Talking honestly about this?
Or are they still stroking Obama’s massive ego?
I am another life-long Democrat voting Republican for
president this year. McCain is an adult with an understand-
ing of what’s important while Obama has been pampered
and catered to all his life and still thinks like an adolescent.
Obama cannot grow up enough or learn enough to be
president in January.
Please save us Mac!!!
It seems McCain’s decision to stay in Washington is keeping with his campaign slogan of “Country First”. It demonstrates how McCain is willing to make bold decisions where he is a leader of actions rather than just words.
Obama’s response does not help him because it paints Obama as a leader who is more concerned about his campaign than the crisis. What worries me is Obama’s lack of concern or desire of wanting to know what Congress is doing with the bail out. Will he become a president who is detached from issues like Bush. Bush’s problem was his lack of curiosity. Obama’s seems to be more focus on winning than leading which always troubled me since he is my state’s Senator. I always wondered if Obama would really like the day-to-day responsibilities of being president or if he liked the idea of being president. The job consist of long 18 hour days of running cabinet meeting, negotiating legislation with Congress, formulating policies, managing a bureaucracy and attend state functions. Without the crowds and adulation, what will keep Obama interested in the position as Commander in Chief? If there is a choice of campaigning or fulfilling the responsibilities of the position, we know Obama’s choice.
I heard on Chris Matthews or somewhere that Obama’s campaign had asked to change the topic of the debate to foreign policy on the first debate in Oxford. The campaign did not want domestic issues to be debated in Miss. where race has had some historical flashpoints. If Obama wanted to make the debate relevant to the issues with the bailout, maybe his campaign should offer that the subject shift to the economy. Unless the topic favors Obama, I doubt they will do it.
Well I think the situation perfectly sums up the candidates. John McCain is a doer. Barack Obama is a talker. John McCain appears to instinctively do what is right. Barack Obama may do what is right (I don’t know, sometimes, maybe?) but only after a focus group tells him what “right” is.
The MSM will spin this in Obama’s favor, but anyone with a brain or not already on Kool-Aid will be able to figure out what’s going on. I hope.
Obama once again FAILED the 3AM call test, big time.
“OBAMA IS FOR OBAMA” and NOT for the American people. All Obama wants is your vote anyway he can get it to win this election. Obama wants power and control and will have it in the White House if he wins this election. Obama MUST be defeated. Obama
is a loser!!!
McCAIN HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP AND IS READY
TO BE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
Did you guys here what the Democrats are doing to poor Joe Lieberman? They say they are throwing him out in Jan.! So that’s bipartisanship?! Al Gore’s former running mate endorses McCain and now he can’t be in the Party! They are such fascists these days! I hope McCain wins and give Lieberman and Hillary powerful spots in his administration giving them more power than those idiots running the Senate!
Good article, and pointed. I also suspect that McCain might have another ulterior motive in forching Obama to Washington right now. If there is a bill passed soon, and the bail out goes through, McCain might want to make DAMN SURE that Obama’s signature is on that bill along with the other senators’. If this whole thing turns out to be a disaster, McCain might want to ensure that Obama can’t wiggle out of it by claiming he didn’t support it as he wiggled out of the decision to go to war by citing a non-documented speech that may or may not have taken place in Chicago, before he had the ability to vote for or against going to war. I think McCain is smart enough, and real enough to want to hold Obama accountable and responsible.
By the way — Nobama is at it again. When this bailout thing hit the press, McCain came out with clear and strong solultions. BO said he’d just wait and see what happened. Essentially, as always, BO said, and committed to, nothing. Yesterday, in a press conference, BO was using the “As I’ve said all along…” line and repeating, word for word, pretty much what McCain stated his policies were. It was exactly like the primaries when Obama had no opinions, no facts, until AFTER he’d listened to Clinton speak through several debates, then he began to parrot word for word what she’d said. When are people going to understand that claiming “I’ve said this all along” doesn’t rewrite history??????
Eddy says “What worries me is Obama’s lack of concern or desire of wanting to know what Congress is doing with the bail out. ”
HELL yes!!!! I’d be flying to DC to debate and vote right now if they’d let me in! Why wouldn’t a person who wants to be POTUS feel the need to be in the house for a crisis that some are equating to 9/11?
Remember how long it took Bush to do a ‘fly-over’ of Katrina? Remember how he stayed in that Florida classroom for 15 minutes after he’ d heard the 2nd tower had been attacked?
Who’s offering “more of the same”? Not McCain.
Diamon Tiger says: ” …and then try to SPIN the whole story about calling John FIRST.”
Yeah, I almost forgot that part of the lie. What a petty, egotistical, adolescent thing to say. All it did was make Barky look like the small and petulant inarcissist that he is.
Great summary of “events” and did everyone else hear Harry Reid telling McCain to just keep campaigning–he didn’t want him in Washington screwing up the deal. Talk about narcASSistic.
And since the American people have wound their minds around the astronomical sum of $700B–wouldn’t this be a grand time to remind them that Obama has introduced the Foreign Poverty Act, which would cost $800 Billion. Yup. That would be billion, with a “b”.
As pissed as I am about what Freddy and Fanny have done to the economy, at least they’re OUR scoundrals. Turning over $800B to foreign scoundrels? I’m not sure that would go down real well with the average person.
Where is this Economic experience of Obama’s from???
I just want to know – how come Obama owns the “economic” side of the
debate?
where did he get all this economic knowledge over McCain???????? This
should
be questioned don’t you think? If I were McCain I would ask Obama
that
question if I got the chance. I think this needs to be highlighted
because I dont know where the hell obama got his background.
melk txs
Amy… 2 things
1. the funniest part of the Reid comment is that the day before, Reid was calling for McCain to come back and vote… now he says stay away… problems making up his mind i guess…
2. the bailout has the potential to MAKE the govt money. they are going to buy mortgage backed securities at like 10 cents on the dollar, then hold them for a few years and sell them later on, when the market has stabilized, at a profit… even if they sell them at 20 cents on the dollar and half the loans they buy go under, they break even. (right now only about 10% are delinquent)… it’s a pretty good deal.
I do hope the American people are watching the cynical b*slards who CREATED this mess trying to cover for the JUNIOR Senator from Illinois. Apparently The One doesn’t understand the role of negotiations in legislative compromise. It’s not a photo op, Barrack. This is exactly how the Constitution provides for representative government. As usual, John McCain is doing his job. John McCain has been on House-Senate Compromise Committees…I’m not sure the JUNIOR Senator even knows what a Compromise Committee is.
And the “debate”? It’s like the gotcha interviews with Sarah Palin. They’re like the Academy Awards. It’s a performance issue and has nothing whatsoever to do with reality.
And please notice that Hillary’s top staff are jumping Barrack’s ship and President Clinton loves this country enough to not play Barrack’s games.
You guys bunch of ignorant rednecks.