(CNN) - The idea of a joint September 11 visit to Ground Zero by both John McCain and Barack Obama was in the works for less than a week, according to both campaigns.
Obama suggested the idea to McCain Friday afternoon when the Democratic presidential nominee called his Republican counterpart Friday, the day after the GOP convention ended, to congratulate him on his convention speech.
"[Obama] called after the convention speech, and over the course of the
discussion they mutually agreed to meet jointly in New York," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
The two men went to Ground Zero Thursday, entering the site together. Both candidates exchanged brief remarks and spoke with some of those on hand for the commemoration.
From CNN Politics
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Can we all agree, well said. Let's all agree to discuss politics and not lipstick.
Let's remember that both parties need one another.
You know what, 9/11 should be this way for every presidential election. I think both candidates should NOT campaign on this day, and just come together.
When the attack happened the enemy didn't care whether we were Republicans or Democrats, or even American. This reminds everyone in the heat of the election that we are all Americans, and citizens of the world.
Kudos to Barack and John.
America 08
I mean I know this is supposed to be a day of reflection...but does McCain look like he will make it to November.
good Choice to go there together. I pray for all Familys of the Victims. God bless America.
But People, please dont forget the Movie Fahrenheit 9/11. Please dont forget what happens really.
Probably we would not have had 911 if Bush had not used poor judgement and given the Afghan govt 43 million dollars in may 2001 to fight drugs...which they instead used to supply the taliban army and attack us. Talk about a complete lack of judgement and McCain the Insane voted with him. I cannot believe how easily brain washed and silly anyoine would be to even vote for McInsane.
This should be a call to both parties to stop the juvenille behavior both sides have been engaged in recently.
However we all know that that is simply a pipe-dream.
I applaud both gentlemen on putting political differences aside, if only for 1 day.
In the end, We are all in fact Americans!
Obama/Biden 2008-2016
My heart goes out to many who lost love ones on this date. It remains a difficult day for me.
God Bless America and all its people.
On this day when you reflect on 911 – may I ask you people – what did you feel and do that day – were you not all scared, did you not all run for cover, were you not all crying (not knowing when the next attack or from whom it was coming), were you not all fearful; then please, and I do mean please, think what the Iraqi people (who had nothing to do with 911) have been feeling for over 2000 days (not one day), 2000 days and they are still scared, still crying, still fearful, and still afraid of the next attack. Remember this when you want to continue with a Government of war pushers ( Bush & Company, McCain and Palin). For heavens sake people choose correctly – the rest of the World is counting on you.
I am very very afraid because what happens in the U.S.A. has major ramifications throughout the World.
Concerned Citizen.
Obama supporters:
The best thing you can do right now to help Obama with the election is to go to his website and find out what you can do to help get people registered to vote.
You can also sign up to help get out the vote on November 4th.
Rather than arguing with right-wing bloggers posing as independents, we should be spending our time focused on what matters: November 4th.
Don't be distracted.
Obama/Biden '08!
Glad to see they came together for this. I am hopeful they (and the rest of the country) can reach across party lines in the future.
Does no one find it just a little bit of a coincidence that Palin's son is 1- going to Iraq now, when they are supposed to start withdrawing troops slowly ( as per Barack Obama) and 2- leaving on 911. As a man or woman to use her son as a photo op is despicable.
As a 44 year old white soccer mom of 3, I find Sarah Palin disgusting.
If only this kind of mutual admiration and respect for the people of America was followed the other 364 days of the year.
I'm sure Republicans will disagree with this, but suggesting this idea to McCain was a very "Presidential" thing to do considering that both camps are saying it is about change and reaching across the aisle.
... and a moment of mutual respect ruined by the childish rants of Elizabeth in Texas and Dee jay thanls to their juvenile attacks on a day when even McCain and Obama managed to put politics aside.
It's good that they take a rest for a day before McCain goes on to win the election
I meant hello, not hell. sorry. Oh, and by across the street, I mean literally across the street. In the office that says "Armed Forces" over top of it.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: UNITY. . .
OBAMA, YOUR THE GREATEST!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08-'12
Obama is exactly kind of leadership that we need, A unifier!
How do these people do it? I've got to hand it to Obama. He's taken so many low-blows and suffered so many outrageous lies hurled by the McCain campaign. Yet, he manages civil discourse with his attacker. Obama's a much better person than I and I hope he will be our next President.
Enough !!!
One of the planes went down in PA... so it makes sense he might go there...
Of course Obama reached out initially, he not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. He is a uniter. I do have a question though, if palin isn't ready to campaign by herself, how is she ready to be vice pres?
That fossil looks ancient next to Obama.
Let's see if Obama gets ANY credit from the media for this bipartisan meeting. I heard CNN mention earlier that it was a "nice" idea, and wondered who thought of it. In fact, thinking maybe Bloomberg was the Orchestrator.
This shows that Obama can reach out, and I don't think he did it for political reasons. I think this is where his heart really is..
I think Obama is a great man, and WILL BE our next president.
Come on people. These guys are POLITICIANS. Do you really think they hate each other as much as they try to lead us to believe? Get serious.
This just shows Obama's patriotism and willingness to set aside differences. We need his leadership so badly.