[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.
Great. The President should have done this awhile back.
..and that will do what????
Obama will show them the leadship we need, McCain will learn ...
The candidates are quite possibly the most polarizing figures in politics at the moment, and their positions are well known to everyone who has seen five minutes of news this week. Whether they are in Washington DC or Washington State makes no difference right now.
More political grandstanding. Grow up, and get everyone back to the Hill when it's time to actually vote on the proposed solution.
Hmmm... let me guess... maybe Friday night? Round about the time the debate's scheduled? You can't reject the president's invitation, can you? And we can always cancel Sarah Palin's performance 😉
Way to throw a life preserver to McCain there Bush. It is ridiculous to think the debate should not go on and this is without a doubt a ploy by the Republicans to try and save what little McCain has left.I work for a very large company and our President can take care of anything from anywhere in these dyas of technology.Obama and McCain can carry on and let the ones that are working on this problem.The candidates can keep up in real time on the road.The country needs to hear the next possible President in a debate .This would be the most important debate in recent history and getting Bush to throw McCain a bone is a complete scam from a fraudulent campaign.Where have McCain and Bush been the past seven years ????
Well I guess the meeting will last through Friday and into Saturday, dont you think? I guess the Republicans will cancel that debate. Also, its obvious to me why McCain wants to delay the debate..........he wants to push back the Vice Presidential debate next week, so Sarah Palin can study more! He knows, and has even suggested, that the first Presidential debate can take up the slot of the Vice Presidential debate next week. Sarah Palin needs more knowlege and McCain knows it! P.S........its about knowledge, not experience. Knowledge. Im very confident Barack has the knowledge, judgement and temperment to be one of our greatest Presidents. Also, to all the faith filled people.............he has a heart of gold and cares.
Another GOP curve ball to delay debate. What a SHAME
Bush and McCain are colluding to turn the economic crisis into a political football just as it seems the appropriate parties are beginning to come together. This meeting is beyond surreal, it serves no purpose but to promote McCain as a leader in a crisis he helped create. Rogue Rovian politics is still at work.....we deserve infinitely better than these monsters are handing out.
the republicans will do anything to drag obama to washington...mccain must really be scared outta his mind..why wont he debate as scheduled ..now all of a sudden a 2hr debate on friday could be a problem for the economy..thats just crap...
The American people have a job to do in 50 days and we will do it, intelligently. THE DEBATE MUST MOVE FORWARD.
McCain with the help of Bush is trying to bolster his position. We won't fall for it!!!!
McCain whined to Bush to persuade Obama. McCain is a poor excuse for a presedential candidate. Why should Obama listen to Bush or McCain? They are the same! They got us into this mess!
STOP THE GAMES BUSH, THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A TIME WHEN WE PUT POLITICS ASIDE, THROW THESE BUMS OUT!!!!!!!
MCCAIN HAD TO KNOW SILVER BANK WAS FAILING, HIS SON WAS CEO AND QUIT 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT WENT UNDER. WASN'T IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF "SENATOR" MCCAIN TO ADVISE INVESTORS AND DID HE HAVE INVESTMENTS THAT HE TOOK OUT PRIOR. IF SO, ISN'T THIS THE SAME THING MARTHA STEWART WENT TO PRISON FOR?
WHY All OF A SUDDEN DO THEY HAVE TO MEET WITH BUSH FOR CHRIST SAKE???!! MARK MY WORDS! JUST ANOTHER PLOY BY THE REPUBLICANS TO POSTPONE THE MUCH NEEDED DEBATES!!! MACCAIN'S NOT READY AND NEITHER IS SARAH PALIN!! MCCAIN, YOU DON'T RUN THE COUNTRY YET. THE DEBATES ARE NOT AT YOUR WHIM!! YOU NEED TO GET YOUR BUTT DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI AND DEBATE BARACK OBAMA. IF NOT, THEN BO SHOULD HOLD USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LAY OUT HIS ECONOMIC AGENDA.
IF YOU ARE NOT OUTRAGED YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!!
The REPUBLICAN President is in on the scam to disrupt the debates.
So now Mr. Clueless himself has joined in on this, if Obama declines, this opens the door to many more ridiculous lies and insults that McCain-Palin camp can use against him.
I have to give it to them the GOP, despite being manipulative and sleazy, they are smart politically. They should be ashamed, but that's how the Republicans roll and I'm not at all surprised. Let's show them that we aren't all stupid!
BOJO 08
FOR THE REAL CHANGE WE NEED
LOL I bet Obama thought he wouldnt have to see Bush again until after the election...especially after all the bashing (quite rightly) that he's been doing! haha
John McSain is sick. He has lost his freaking mind. He wants to postpone not only his debate, but Governor Palin's as well. I am with Barack, a president should be able to handle differennt situations at the same time. He can't handle anything at one time because he's too old and Palin is too dumb to know anything about being VP. The American people need to here this important debate to know what both candidates will bring to the table. John McSain is just too scared and more of a wimp! He thought Hillary supporters would run to his aid with Palin NOT! Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States! We need a smart, caring, devoted, loving, for people president and that is Barack Obama!!
What a crock! Bush calls Barack and McCain in to meet, therefore bolstering the need to delay the debate (and quite possibly the VP debate if it's rescheduled for Oct, 2nd, as proposed).
PLEASE – DO NOT GET DUPED BY DUBYA AND MCCAIN'S TYPICAL REPUBLICAN ANTICS!
McCain never cared one bit about the economy and now all of a sudden he's the great bastion of economics?!
Well McCain talks and Bush listens. Keep sitting on your hands Obama, McCain will get the job done. McCain doesn't benefit one bit by suspending his campaign but he will save our country from this financial crisis. I'm a stockbroker I see everyday how this economy is affecting the markets without this legislation don't plan on being able to retire in the next 5 years. Say bye bye to your 401k and hello to higher taxes.
The McCain campaign is about to crash and burn, so since we have nothing to lose, let's do a 180 on the economy and try to hide our desperation!.
Last week, the American economy was "fundamentally sound" and today, if there is not a fix the American economy will be in a depression by Monday!
I am getting whiplash from the number of flip flops from the McCrypt camp!
Good, let's have a nice discussion, and then get on with it.
Like Bush even knows what going on!
What's the problem W, your horse throw a shoe cowboy! After the deaths of 4500 soldiers, you decide to ask for a little advise. When it comes to money, you want advise? Haven't you stole enough from us?I pray that justice catches up to this administration, Americans should be in the streets of Washington to protest .