CNN confirms: McCain, Obama to meet with Bush about bailout
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/24/art.bushwave0924.ap.jpg caption="Pres. Bush has summoned Sens. McCain and Obama and congressional leadership to the White House to discuss his plan to bailout the nation's fianancial markets."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Bush has asked both Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama to join him for a meeting at the White House Thursday afternoon to discuss the economic bailout plan, a White House officials said.
"The President called Sen. Obama tonight around 7:30 pm," said Dana Perino, White House press secretary. "The president has invited the bicameral and bipartisan leadership, and the two senators running for president, to the White House tomorrow to work on driving to a bipartisan and timely solution."
Obama's campaign said in a statement that he has accepted the invitation.
"A few moments ago, President Bush called Senator Obama and asked him to attend a meeting in Washington tomorrow, which he agreed to do," the statement said.
"He has said that he will continue to work in a bipartisan spirit and do whatever is necessary to come up with a final solution."
A McCain adviser said McCain also plans to attend.
- CNN's Elaine Quijano and Dana Bash contributed to this report.
This is one of the smartest decisions made since this mess began a couple of weeks ago.
McCain should know all about this financial crisis we are facing since his fingerprints were also all over this nation's last economic crisis with the Savings and Loan crisis in the late 80s. McCain was directly involved in the Keating 5 scandal and was able to wiggle himself out of a federal indictment through some powerful lawyers.
McCain is a fraud and is very dangerous if is allowed to lead this country.
Mr. Obama, and Mr. MCcain should do as the president ask but with caution. The Republicans has tricks. I pray Mr. Obama will let his wisdom guide him in this mess. Also the debate should go on. All the republicans want to know is How Mr. Obama would solve the issues.
I hope Obama is making the right choice..McCain is sabatoging the Friday night debate because he knows he is the weaker candidate. If their is a vote to cast fine but otherwise stay away Mccain. McCain NOT the great "I am" and has no business messing up delicate negotiations. If McCain wants to cancel the debate fine..let Biden take on Palin..McCain is trying to buy time for Simple Sarah to learn her P's and Q's.. transparent and unseemly behaviour for a presidential campaign. McCain show your "bravery" and go to the debate.. going into hiding will not bring up your polls.
Johnny McCain on the spot was already headed for Washington and canceled his campaigning to attend this important matter such as the economy... and Obama said he wasn't canceling his campaign, until Bush calls him and then.."Obama the Big Change Believer"... Changes his mind and now sees it as important enough to cancel his campaigning... The President actually had to tell him? He had to be asked??? ...He thinks he can lead??? I think Johnny on the spot knows his priorities..Country First, a Change We Can Believe In.... GO MCCAIN!
Barack Obama flat out lied to the american public today, saying in his televised statement that he had talked to John McCain about putting together a bipartisan agreement of items to have in this financial bill. He NEVER talked to McCain but simply left a message that he wanted McCain to give him a call back. Yet he went on t.v. and described this long conversation with McCain – BARACK OBAMA IS A LIAR!!!
BUSH JR. ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE IN A SURPLUS … NOW LOOK AT US 8 YEARS LATER … HOW ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THE MONEY WE SPEND OVER IN IRAQ (10 BILLION / MONTH) AND INVEST IN THIS COUNTRY FOR A CHANGE…
BARACK, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BUSH HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN PERSON GOES THROUGH … HE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH …
ALL HE KNOWS IS THAT HIS FAMILY WILL BE WELL OFF AFTER HE'S OUT OF OFFICE …
It's messed up that Bush is using his political pull to force Obama to meet with him just to save McCain's arse. Obama can't turn down such an invitation or it would appear he's disrespecting the position of president. It's like McCain went to the principal at school and asked him to make Obama come to the table because McCain needs this distraction. Obama and McCain will make absolutely no difference in this decision. Let them campaign!
And after said meeting McCain will still wanna postpone Friday's debate ... since he hates to work on weekends.
What a shame that Obama did not make the decision to be a part of solving this problem instead of "cramming" for his political debate.
He had to be summoned to Washington.
If I were Obama I would NOT go to this stupid meeting. He should let McCain go have playdate with his Rethug buddy and keep his eye on the prize.
....bush and mcBush think americans are stupid.........are we???
This President is the epitome of irresponsibility, falty decision making, reckless management of the economy, reckless spending, jumping to action without cause or plan ie Iraq War, putting his Nation in danger needlessly, Dictatoral and arbitray leadership – and now after eight years of total mismanagement THE DECIDER has NOW decided he needs other opinions to get the Nation out of the dark hole he buried it in! If I was Obama, I'd tell him and his Republican Gurus to go pound sand! What a Nerve! He is a real piece of work! One unprecedented and hopefully never repeated!
FEAR mongering. Bush is an idiot. Chicken Little.
By all means, both McCain and Obama need to go to this meeting although what either one of them is going to do to change anything is beyond me. Looks to me like this is just a game to try and keep Republicans in power regardless the cost to taxpayers.
Also, I see where Lindsey Graham is saying the VP debate ought to be postponed indefinitely. This is the ONLY chance the electorate will get to see Gov. Palin actually speak without a script. If she is as ready as the McCain campaign claims she is, they need to let this debate go on as scheduled regardless.
Why didn't this meeting happen last week? Oh yeah, cause McShame was winning. Repubs are desperate
If Obama could do two things at once he would have convened the Subcommittee on European Affairs to examine NATO’s current role and position in Afghanistan. He admitted to being too busy running for President to do so…
Pulling out allll the stops, aren't we?
while niether is president yet both of them are leaders within the senate and their respective parties. Besides i would rather my dollars that are paying them be because they are doing their job in the senate and instead of working for their future goals.
"Final Solution" –Was that really the infelicitous phrase used by the President of his White House spokespersons? unfortunately I think it is all to apt. This enormous transfer of wealth from workers to the the elite will indeed be the holocaust of hope for the ordinary people of our country.
This is PROOF that McCane and Bush are one in the same. JRT you are sooo right and I am sure millions of Americans see the same ploy. Not buying it. Obama, here comes more money.
BTW-–How are my future tax dollars going to be used?
There are 98 other Senators to deal with the financial crisis.
And all of Congress, and the president.
There are only two major-party candidates for president.
And the election is less than two months away.
Why are we being asked to postpone DEMOCRACY?
What kind of egomaniac think he's THAT indispensible?
Also, how did they come up with the $700 billion?
McCain is fidgeting. He should honor his debate date. McCain can burn the midnight oil all weekend is he cares so much about our economy. Two hours on a Friday night won't magically fix all the problems our country faces.
Republicans truly are showing indecisiveness and I admire Obama even more more today for being a true leader even without that Mystical 'Executive Experience'
As a Taxpayer who is paying for these CEO Bailouts I say 'Get On That Podium for 2 hours Senator McCain!'
Obama/Biden in 08!
Obama looks heroic returning to the washington as the pleading of Bush, McCain looks like the coward trying to run
Even Bush knows Obama will waste McPhony in these debates. This is such a scam. Bush hasnt asked for anyones opinion in 8 years he is going to start now 40 days from his exit. well hopefully he will listen he will finally have a brilliant person in obama in the same room