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.
Why is this 10 day crisis a McCain Emerency today? What happened today that was a 911 call for McCain? that's all I want to know.
Bush has undermined Obama's decision not to go to Washington favoring McCain's decision to suspend operations. Even members of Congress feel both candidates should stay away top keep presidential politics out of this bailout package. If the republicans can't vote intelligently on their own without McCain's input, no wonder we're in trouble. This is like going to the grocery store, loading your cart, running through the checkout and leaving everything in the store. We pay the salaries of these people in DC and the republicans can't make a decision on their own. Give me a break.
eh Georges !
it,s your work dude !
old Johny Boy and Barry are just senators and should be waiting for your plan ... on the senate floor, not figuring out with you what to do.
Take your responsability Mr President ! lolll
what you were doing for last 8, mr Presi...
The Republicans are worried because the Democrats are united on how to respond to the bailout. It's the MAJORITY of Republicans who don't even believe in Bush's gift to Wall St. of $700 billion of the taxpayer dollars. Now McCain (always truly following in Bush's footsteps) who is lamely trying to look like a leader.
So have a Congressional meeting then fly to the debate. As Obama said, he and the Dems are in agreement over what THEY want to do. Can't McCain corral his foot-dragging, obstructionist fellow Conservatives and do more than one thing at a time???
ALL POLITICAl! This economy is in the tank because of BUSH and MCBUSH..and they are trying to pull OBAMA into the mess that they have created!
This is terrible! I am sick and tired of the Republicans playing games with our country, dogging the media, whining and complaing and causing a lot of distractions.
I can not wait to vote them OUT on NOV. 4th!
GO OBAMA!
Maybe George and John can learn a thing or two from Barack.
Oh, dear. McCain was looking for an excuse to postpone the Friday debate...but now, if he and Obama both meet with Bush tomorrow, they'll still have time to get to Mississippi for the debate on Friday after all. What excuse can McCain come up with now? Maybe he should be honest and just admit that at his age, he needs his naptime and can't cope with a meeting Thursday and a debate on Friday, especially if he has to come up with coherent, unscripted responses as opposed to reading a teleprompter.
Give both Bush and McCain credit for saving Obama's neck. Whoever heard of a government servant turning his back on a chance to help his country and its people to go to Mississippi to hear himself talk. There's plenty time for that, but time is of the essence in solving this financial crises. This McCain/Obama incident sure shows which one is presidential and it's not the big O who sure didn't exercise good judgment in this instance..
President Bush should be meeting with his cabinet, financial advisers, and economic experts to deal with this problem. Obama and McCain should stick to the business of debating and running for the office. We're paying Bush to lead. Do so!
How "convenient." They can't meet on Saturday? The following Monday? Via video-conference?
Less than 2 months till the election and Bush is suddenly trying to be "presidential." Crazy!
Does anybody seriously believe that McCain suspended his campaign for any other reason than being behind by 10 points in the latest ABC poll?
You need Obama because McCain has noting to add.
Obama and McCains presence there will accomplish nothing but a photo op. I would much rather see them debate than take pictures with Bush.
Yawn, seems like another ploy hatched up by republicans. They can meet if they want, so long as they get their butts to the debates in time Friday.
Can some one tell King Bush that this, bipartisan initiative, should have been at the beginning of his presidency. He did what every Cheney desired, and took the entire country nose dive. Now to win another election republicans are trying to cover there act by this bipartisan crap.
What a shame.
Abby, here in Florida they will lock folks up in the mental health ward for Drug overdoses. What is your location again?
McCain showed true leadership today. Obama, on the other hand, seemed like an actor saying "the show must go on." I've made up my mind. I don't want someone for president who playacts the role. McCain and the Republican party got my first donation today but not my last.
McCain at it again!
Every thing is politic as usual.
This man will do anything to become president.
Debate must go on! It has nothing to do with the Capitol Hill rancour>
Period
BUSH IS ON TRYING TO RAILROAD THE DEBATES
IT's A PARTY THING!
WE MUST HAVE THE DEBATES ON FRIDAY!!!
To Abby-
Typical response from you righters.... If it was SO incredibly important for John McCain to be there to get this deal done, then why is he taking time to speak at the Clinton Global initiative in the morning? Why didn't he tell your lame duck president that he couldn't attend this meeting because negotiations were under way? Why wasn't JM on a plane immediately after he made his 'Leadership speech'? This is nothing more than yet another political stunt from the McCain camp and them trying to run from the issues. Nice try!
yes we're in a financial crisis...perhaps we wouldn't be if bush had acted YEARS ago. i'm glad to see he's getting proactive. a little late, but hey, better late than never.
also, there had better be a debate on friday. i almost hope that mccain DOESN"T show up, and its obama for two hours answering questions.
I would like to know which idiot is going to go and vote for a McCain/Republican party now after seeing and hearing all of this!!!!
Once again, McCain puts country first.
He suspended his presidential campaign in order to go back to Washington and work on securing our financial markets and the economy. He did not have to be asked by the President to do this, he went seeking what is good for the American people.
You have my vote McCain.
Obama would rather make a speech somewhere far from his place of work that actually work for the money we are paying him.
This is no time for debating and politicking. This is THE time for action. Action is leadership.
Obama is just to scared to sign his name. Not ready? Not even started.