September 24th, 2008
04:43 PM ET
15 years ago
Obama 'inclined' to debate
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/24/art.debate.gi.jpg caption="Obama wants to press on with the debate."](CNN) - Barack Obama is 'inclined" to go ahead with the debate Friday night, campaign sources tell CNN.
McCain said Wednesday the debate should be postponed if the economic bailout has not passed congress by that time.
Obama is expected to make a statement around 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Because the election is more important to him than his DUTY to his Senate office.
A true leader must be able to juggle multiple stresses at once.
A 90 minute debate, which all Americans are interested to see NOW to better decide on our future president, is not a long period away from the current economic mess.
I believe this is a McCain ploy, pure and simple. McCain already dictated the terms of the Biden/Palin debate.
The debate should go on. This is a perfect time to see the candidates under real time stress.
Come on Senator McCain. Rise to the occasion!.
I strongly recommend that the debates proceed as scheduled. There is no reason to suspend the campaign or delay the "debates", which are really question and answer sessions. There will be any number of plans, schemes about the economy from both sides of the political aisle. Whoever wins the election will have monumental tasks and piles of garbage to clean up by this administration. Let's see how each candidate will handle the dynamic issues.
That´s why the debate should go on, that way we´ll know their position on the situation...
It is absolutely ridiculous for McCain to attempt to postpone the debate, and even more if Obama chooses to go along with it. If ever we need a debate, it is now, when there are very real issues to discuss. Maybe we can finally get past the BS of sound bites, personality and feigned indignation about lipstick comments, and finally hear real plans and strategies from each campaign.
Have the debate in DC – its not like there are a shortage of appropriate venues or technology to broadcast it. Its not scheduled to go much more than an hour, which will leave plenty of time for McCain, Obama and Biden to get back to the Senate to work on the bailout legislation, regardless of its progress. It is time for them to debate – that is the essence of American politics.
Obama can multi-task and this election is about the people. The American people are not as stupid as McCain makes them out to be. Obama’s statement should be simple, if John McCain feels he cannot handle this crisis and must stop talking to the American people while he handles it, that’s fine. Obama will continue to campaign and is prepared to debate. He knows the McCain camp respects his decision because McCain said this is not about politics. Obama’s decision to campaign has nothing to do with McCain because McCain should have shot off about suspending his campaign unless he and Obama had agreed to it first. It’s politics to say you will suspend your campaign but only if someone else does because then that makes the person make their decision in the publics eye which is a political ploy, not bipartisanship. That’s putting John McCain first, not country first.
Obama is right to move foward with the debate. As President, they will have to multi-task, so they should be able to do so now. They cannot fix this economy over the weekend. McCain is using this as a delaying tactic, just as they are hiding Palin from the press, because they have nothing of substance to offer. "If you want the job, you have to show up for the interview!"
If Americans fall for this political trick we are dumber than anyone ever said we were.This is mindblowingly fake and wrong on McCains part.
It's not putting country first-it putting McCain first.
Why can't he debate Obama on friday?
Debates are never cancelled.The American people want to hear from both candidates.Let's be real here and call this for what it is-a political trick and McCain is trying to avoid debating Obama on the economy.
I am with you there Sen Obama...McCain just wants another superficial photo-op........................we have a ton of technology for McCain to talk to his repubs cronies...travel is not necessary...oh I forgot..he doesnt know how to use it.
WE want the DEBATE!!!!!!!!
NO BAIL-OUT
Dont let McCain "Bail-Out" of the debate
GOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo OBAMA!!!!!!!
Dont fall into the GOP sneaky trap he is trying to stop your momentum!!!!!!!
GREAT! A President should be able to go to meetings and have debates if he is knowledgeable about what is going on in America.
If you buy McCain's reasoning to suspend his campaign, I've got a bridge to nowhere and a road to nowhere in Alaska that I would be happy to sell you.
Yeah Barack!! McCain's not ready-DO NOT suspend the debate!
Of course Obama should go ahead with the debate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was what two or three weeks ago when this mess started that McSame said the basic economy was all peachy keen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After 26 years of voting against regulatory controls McSame wanta to suspend everything and sun to DC to fix the crisis that he said weeks ago that nas no crisis and his Buddy Graham said was just Winning Americans.
WAKW UP AMERICA AND SEE THAT MCSAME AND MOOSEBURGER ARE EVEN WORSE THAN THE FUEHRER AND HIS DEPUTY.
Whether or not Sen. McCain actually thinks he can help mitigate this disaster, even the most conservative observer would have to agree this is a political maneuver. He's on the ropes, plain and simple.
And I am inclined to listen to you. Thank you Senator Obama, common sense prevails.
The show must go on.................
Postponing the debate? Crisis or no crisis, the issues need to be talked about.
McCain is a chicken. What he's really trying to do is buy more time to prepare! This is a chess move. Calculating & Decieving.
Go For it Obama...we need the debate!!!
Not exactly surprising, is it? There's rhetoric and then there's meaningful action. I guess judgment is just rhetorical to Obama....
I want a president that can multitask!
Seriously folks, did FDR postpone his campaign to deal with the depression and WWII? McCain is full of it.
If John McCain is so concerned with America where has he been through the rest of this mess. You are telling me that all of the sudden, even though this mess has been going on for months, he needs to be in Washington. Sounds like a ploy to get out of a debate he knows he is going to lose. If you want to do something for America let the people see who you really are and what they are going to be getting by voting for you. Some one who has no clue and lets the Republican war machine run them. When is the last time you actually said something you really believe. Be a man and a leader, how can you live with yourself. If you lie to us now what sort of man are you really going to be in office. We have no idea where YOU really stand and you and your VP are puppets in the biggest puppet show of all. God help America!
Senator Obama should not give in to McCain and agree to continue the debate. Senator Obama should make a statement that he is ready to debate since the American people have been looking forward to the debate on Friday and that he can also work on the economic crisis during the day if that is necessary. If McCain wants to go to Washington, he can go before the debate or after the debate. I guess he cannot multi-task.
Before anyone says "McCain is putting country first". Please realize the country will still exist after this crisis (for better or worse). The debate is an opportunity for the candidates to speak to the American people about moving forward without the ridiculous spin of the attack ads.
Also FYI – Obama contacted McCain first to say they should release a joint statement (politics aside), McCain agreed and then went back on his word and made this VERY POLITICAL move. McCain has not voted since April (Obama – July), if the issue comes down to a single deciding vote, sure go. But McCain is simply trying to capitalize politically on a very real issue. Don't be fooled.
Well of course he is. Anyone with half a brain or more can see that he only looks out for himself (or his friends in Fannie and Freddie, or Chicago clum lords).
Sure, you libs will say McCain's running scarred, but it just goes to show your ignorance.
Although I'm sure if Barrack cries and tantrums hard enough to keep the debate on that McCain will still beat him soundly.
But hey, that'll give the weekend for the left, the news media, and all you whacked out Obamaholic koolaid drinkers to try to spin it your way.