# McCain suspends campaign, asks Obama to do the same. What?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 24, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040 "2008-09-24T19:04:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Rachm\_Qoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Rachm\_Qoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachm_Qoch)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/361 "2008-09-25T18:54:24Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > See, to me, this smells of McCain, all the way. He wants to be the guy in the white cowboy hat, riding in at the last hour to save the day. Thing is, the people involved can save the day without him and his riding into town doesn’t help anything or anyone. I think this is more of his “Maverick” schtick. I also think he’s thinking like a soldier–action of any kind. This is ridiculous. He’s not “riding in” anywhere. You’ve got it all wrong, and have completely mischaracterized the man. McCain’s not a soldier, he’s a Navy Man. > [@John S. McCain](#): > > I’m an old Navy pilot, and I know when a crisis calls for all hands on deck. That’s the situation in Washington at this very hour, when the whole future of the American economy is in danger. I cannot carry on a campaign as though this dangerous situation had not occurred, or as though a solution were at hand, which it clearly is not. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/362 "2008-09-25T19:32:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’m also reminded of 1996, when a despairing Bob Dole took the **opposite** tack and resigned as Senate Majority Leader to devote full time to his presidential campaign. SNL had so much fun with that: Dole (Norm MacDonald) was being interviewed and was interrupted by the news that Clinton had one-upped him by resigning from the presidency and divorcing his wife, to devote full time, etc. Dole started groping and then said he was undergoing surgery to become a “half-man, half-woman kind of thing . . .” [Found transcript!](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/95/95tnightline.phtml)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/363 "2008-09-25T19:41:30Z")
It turns out that bailing on a debate when things aren’t going his way is a familiar tactic for McCain: [McCain Backs Out of Debate In California](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/02/28/MN62687.DTL&hw=mccain+opinsky&sn=001&sc=1000) [QUOTE=San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Feb 2000] With new polls showing his campaign dead in the water among California Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain has pulled out of a long-scheduled debate with Texas Gov. George Bush, set for Thursday in Los Angeles. McCain campaign officials tried desperately yesterday to put the best face on their withdrawal, even as a new Field Poll showed Bush far ahead among likely Republican voters in the winner-take-all race for the state’s 162 GOP delegates… [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/364 "2008-09-25T20:01:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, [it appears I was too pessimistic.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=484987)🙂 And yet, according to the NPR report I listened to about an hour ago, McCain STILL says he’s not showing up at the debate. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/365 "2008-09-25T20:08:46Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > And yet, according to the NPR report I listened to about an hour ago, McCain STILL says he’s not showing up at the debate. WTF? Did you miss this a few posts up? Obama will turn the Friday debate into a combination Lehrer Interview/Town Hall Meeting if McCain doesn’t showup. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0)…\_n\_129250.html If McCain doesn’t appear, he’ll try to spin it as country first bullshit. Do you think it’ll work? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/366 "2008-09-25T20:09:05Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > It turns out that bailing on a debate when things aren’t going his way is a familiar tactic for McCain: Huh. I don’t remember that at all. The brain! It does nothing! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/367 "2008-09-25T21:07:56Z")
Can someone please help me out with the time line? 9/24 Early morning:Obama calls McCain’s office with an offer to release a joint statement. Afternoon: McCain releases to the press his ‘offer’ of suspending his campaign, dropping the debate and heading on down to Washington to clear this Wall St mess up. Late Afternoon: Cancels Letterman to save nation. Late Afternoon: Goes on Katie’s show to. . . save nation? Evening: Meeting with socialite and fundraiser-- in NY. 9/25 Morning: Bush calls for Obama and McCain to join him in meeting. Afternoon: Obama goes to Washington. McCain. . . where is he? Afternoon: Congress hammers out bailout agreement. Where’s McCain? Early evening: McCain finally makes it to Washington just after the nick of time. McCain agrees to debate since agreement has been reached— not yet? He is showing up, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/368 "2008-09-25T21:28:34Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > He is showing up, isn’t he? Well, the dude’s got a history of cutting and running from debates: [McCain Backs Out of Debate In California Bush campaign claims senator is abandoning state](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/02/28/MN62687.DTL&hw=mccain+opinsky&sn=001&sc=1000) > [@](#): > > With new polls showing his campaign dead in the water among California Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain has pulled out of a long-scheduled debate with Texas Gov. George Bush, set for Thursday in Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/369 "2008-09-25T21:39:16Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > He is showing up, isn’t he? [He’s gone from no to noncommittal.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/candidates_financial_meltdown) > [@](#): > > McCain’s campaign has said the Republican wouldn’t participate in the debate unless there was a consensus. Obama still wants the face-off to go on, and the Democrat is slated to travel to the debate site in Mississippi on Friday. > > “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said after Republicans and Democrats agreed in principle to terms of the bailout. He said the developments did not change McCain’s plans, though he added: “We’re optimistic but we want to get this thing done.” > > Senior McCain adviser Mark Salter did not rule out attending the debate, saying: “We’ve got to see.” ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/370 "2008-09-25T22:47:05Z")
I suspect the republicans are going to stonewall just long enough to make it look like McCain’s presence had any impact: > [@](#): > > The fact that House Republicans are still not coming on board poses a major obstacle for any kind of deal. Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders have repeatedly said that this is Bush’s bill and that he and other GOP leaders need to get Republicans to support it. > **['Contentious' White House meeting ends with no deal - CNN.com](https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/25/campaign.wrap/index.html)** > > Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama left a White House meeting, described as at times "contentious," with no apparent financial bailout deal worked out. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/371 "2008-09-25T22:57:44Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > I suspect the republicans are going to stonewall just long enough to make it look like McCain’s presence had any impact: > > ['Contentious' White House meeting ends with no deal - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/25/campaign.wrap/index.html) See, this makes sense to me. Republicans do not like the government giving any money to anybody-- it smacks of socialism. What McCain could do is convince them that this is a good idea. The problem is the rockribs _hate_ McCain. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/372 "2008-09-26T00:57:53Z")
> [@Rachm\_Qoch](#): > > This is ridiculous. He’s not “riding in” anywhere. You’ve got it all wrong, and have completely mischaracterized the man. > > McCain’s not a soldier, he’s a Navy Man. :smack: Dammit! Wrong metaphor. Should have gone with a coast guard one. I am loving this way more than I should. Now that congress actually got its shit together and got something to show the Treasurer etc tomorrow, it looks like McPalin is left with nothing to do tomorrow. Oh, wait! There’s a debate going on that he could just make… ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/373 "2008-09-26T01:09:20Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I am loving this way more than I should. Me too. This is better than Ringling Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/374 "2008-09-26T01:10:41Z")
The thing is, no matter what you think of the McCain stunt, could it actually WORK? I mean, all it would take is some kind of deal, and even ONE prominent senator to say that the presence of a Presidential candidate motivated (for their and their candidate’s own good, mind!) them to work something out. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/375 "2008-09-26T01:15:48Z")
Thing is that the deal that would have gone through is now being held up because of his interference for the purposes of his political posturing … He’d rather lose an economy than lose an election. This is sad. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/376 "2008-09-26T01:22:31Z")
I hate what McCain did, but it’s true that many of our Senators and Representatives are being inundated by emails from people who are dead set against the bailout. And these legislators are shittin’ themselves. They (mostly Republicans?) see the need for the bailout, but wonder if they’ll lose their seats if they vote for it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/377 "2008-09-26T01:35:01Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > He’d rather lose an economy than lose an election. Or as Stephen Colbert said, he would rather lose an election than win an election. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/378 "2008-09-26T01:41:24Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > I hate what McCain did, but it’s true that many of our Senators and Representatives are being inundated by emails from people who are dead set against the bailout. > > And these legislators are shittin’ themselves. > > They (mostly Republicans?) see the need for the bailout, but wonder if they’ll lose their seats if they vote for it. I was wrong - Dems and Pubs are getting swampled with irate emails. Check this article from the NY Times: [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/business/25voices.html?scp=1&sq=Lawmakers'%20constituents%20make%20their&st=cse](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/business/25voices.html?scp=1&sq=Lawmakers%27%20constituents%20make%20their&st=cse) ---
**Author:** ![Rachm\_Qoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Rachm\_Qoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachm_Qoch)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/379 "2008-09-26T02:31:53Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > The thing is, no matter what you think of the McCain stunt, could it actually WORK? I mean, all it would take is some kind of deal, and even ONE prominent senator to say that the presence of a Presidential candidate motivated (for their and their candidate’s own good, mind!) them to work something out. I think that’s the plan. Given the fact that McCain’s buddy Lindsey Graham had a large part in scuttling what looked like a done deal, I fully expect the Republican counterproposal now tabled to be entitled the “McCain-Lieberman Act of 2008.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/380 "2008-09-26T02:51:36Z")
And so the _Republicans_, hearing the voice of the people, rise up against the dastardly plot by George Bush and the Democrats to offer aid and comfort to the running dog jackals of Wall Street. No matter how weird you are, you can’t keep up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040.md?page=20)