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.
Obama better know by now that he's dealing with a snake. Obama! Hear me!! You are dealing with a snake! Don't get bitten!
Obama more concerned about himself than the country, as usual
Bail-out for Wall Street? Why? How about Bailing out the 5 Million who have lost their homes the past 3 years? Whay no talk of that? 700 BILLION, that is 700 times 1000 MILLION Dollars? This in addition to the TWO TRILLION Dollars, ie 2000 times 1000 MILLION Dollars for the Iraq Mess! Way to go...so called CONSERVATIVE Neo-Conns! If you guys have any shame Resign ASAP!
Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, and some common sense in the same room? This will be unique.
Wonder if the "plan" to fix the financial crisis is NOT resolved in the next 2-3 days?
Will McCain continue suspending his campaign until the "plan" IS resolved?
That could be days more, weeks, or maybe never!
Then what about the continuation of the campaigns?
Here is the Republican rally to try and steal this election. If Bush calls Obama out and Obama does not come to DC, the Republicans will say Barack is not showing the kind of leadership needed to run the country!
Obama did well to decide to go to DC but has still stated he would like to debate McCain – the debate should take place in Washington with the main topic of discussion being the economy. But McCain does not want to do that. He wants to portray role as a patriot in hopes of garnering votes. This will blow up in Johnny Mac's face.
McCain hasn't suspended his campaign, he has just transferred it to Washington. I am sure the last thing the economic experts needs is McCain bringing TV cameras onto their delicate negotiations and then have to teach McCain economics 101 so he can follow what they are saying.
I as an american citizen request that we not be left behind in this election. Get to the debates please.
Gayle said, "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."
I'm sorry, but you've made up your mind by buying into a political maneuver intended to manipulate voters. So who is the one acting?
If I was senator Obama, I wouldn't touch the refreshments...
From the earlier news today...
Obama called McCain @ 8:00 am
McCain returns calls @ 2:30pm
McCain made public statement of suspending his campaign @ 2:45 pm
Everybody was shocked including Obama that JM could turn around and want to steal the show.
McCain is a fraud
I just love Chris's response from Ca. and let me repeat it again!
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?
THANK YOU CHRIS!!!
where is my comment? I just tried reposting, but it said "duplicate comment detected". But my comment isn't shown?
what gives?
I think people are missing the point. We are so busy trying to find the malice that we are in danger of being blindsided by the reality of the situation we are in.
If Bush is calling in both candidates and leaders from the legislative branch that means he believes that the action or lack of will have implications that reach far into the next presidancy. While it absolutely sucks that our grandchildern are going to ultimately pay the price the consequences of inaction are so dire that there will be a bill.
The sad thing is this SHOULD have been prevented. For those of you who scream foul at the suggestion of government regulation of the banking industry ask yourself are you ready to face the consequences when the industry fails to requlate itself.
Yeah – all we need is McCain's input on the economy – what NOT to do... Didn't he manage his campaign so well it nearly went bankrupt? (Didn't his VP choice leave her little town in debt to the tune of 2 mil?) In the meantime, Obama's campaign has remained fiscally sound from day 1. Perhaps the future president can impart some wisdom on those two GOP disasters then get back to work WINNING THE PRESIDENCY! Obama/Biden all the Way!
Obama is a follower. He is not the leader America needs in this difficult times. Everything he said is read , that means, written by someone else. He is just the messenger.
McCain has once again showed his love for this country. He deserves to be the president.
Without question this is pure political pandering by both McSame and bush.
McSame called up little bush and said help me out and call Obama and ask him to come to the White House to help me with a photo op.
Maybe Palin can come for a photo op also. What a joke both McSame and little bush are. The entire World is laughing at us.
McCain is on the ropes and just pandering for time. Dubya..well. what can I say about Dubya....he is day long and a dollar short with his new found likeness for bipartisanship. Where was that spirit when he led American into an ill-advised war?! Perhaps Obama can teach these two clowns something tomorrow, and then fly back to Mississippi for the debates which he should attend regardless if McSame shows up or not.
Hi , My name is Billy Booe and I live in Salina, KS. Concerning the big "bailout" of the financial institutions I offer this comment, "being an old country boy, I have on occasion had to borrow from our local lenders, however, Each transaction required me to repay the principal with interest interest. Why don't we demand that all the "bailout monies" be repaid to tax payers with a predetermined amount of "interest". This procedure has allowed our financial institutions to prosper just as the tax payers should prosper from "bailing out these villons who generated this debacle!!
So now Obambi is going. Boy that will take away a day from preping for the debate. I mean really he has been through 20 of them already, you think think he can do this in his sleep already.
GOP=jerks who broke our proud nation.
McCain is in bed with the lot of them.
This week his dirty tricks have takena new low.
Just another Republican smoke screen.
Barack don't fall for any tactic that would cause you to miss the Ole Miss debate. I smell a dead fish in the air. Stay the course and move forward with your schedule. Capitol Hill, Congress, that 2.5 page solution, and the $700B will be there come Saturday morning.
Obama and McCain were both elected to the Senate to serve the citizens of this nation and in this situation both should particpate in the negotiation to find a bipartisan solution. Let the people see who works best with the opposing party.
I can't understand the people who think a week's delay in the debates will destroy the election process. And, if they're Obama supporters, what are they so afraid will happen in that week other than he will look like the empty suit he is when real decisions and leadership are required. He did nothing in Illinois for eight years and nothing in the US Senate for a year and he will do nothing now except make speeches.
McCain is scared to death to debate Obama and is using the financial crisis as an excuse to get out of it. And since we are running out of time before the election, scheduling conflicts can now be used as an excuse to cancel the vice presidential debates, especially if they decide to hold three prez debates after all. I was really looking forward to the Friday debates! Couldn't they all get together in Washington on Saturday instead?