From John McCain:
America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.
Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns.
This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward.I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.
It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration' proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time. Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative.
I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me. I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved.
I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.
I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people.
All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.
5 comments:
All I'll say is that, when you're President, you can't pick and choose which situations you'll deal with. The President has to deal with multiple challenges all at once and can't call for a "time out."
THIS was a speech.
IT is not policy.
OBAMA can multitask.
OTHERS can't.
That said, I'll hold out final judgement on this until I see something tangible come out of this.
So, if you can't "pick and choose" and if you have to be able to "multitask" (and BTW these are the Dem talking points of the day)then why has Obama been spending all his time in Florida at "debate camp," intensely prepping for Friday's debate?
A President doesn't get to go to "crisis camp" to prep for a "crisis" or "extemp camp" to learn to speak without a teleprompter. He's got to be ready without any warning.
Face it: Obama was caught off guard today. He was in Fla. trying to get sufficiently "rested and ready" for the Big Show on Friday when events caught up with him.
Now, he may actually have to stop yapping (and primping or admiring himself in the miror) and really DO something.
Gosh, he might even have to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans. OMG!
I thought it was Obama that called McCain at 8:30am....am I mistaken?
I initially thought this was a great PR move by McCain, until Ed Rendell said something about the phone call from Obama. Until then, it looked as if McCain had made a smart move.
But once you realize that it was Obama who called first, WITHOUT the press release, you get a slightly different picture.
And where has McCain been the last two days?
And what about the people of the town that were counting on the debate for revenue?
What about commiment?
And, as I see that he's getting under your skin - as some of your comments show - it's going to be a GREAT show on Friday. Hurray for TV, and the American need for asthetically pleasing leaders. Here comes the hurt.
Huh, Dan? Obama's been giving speeches and press conferences daily in Floria while he's been prepping for the debate. That's multitasking.
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