# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/41 "2008-09-24T19:39:54Z")
This just proves what a pussy McCain is. Running scared and afraid to come out and fight like a man. This is presidential material? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![IdahoMauleMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71c47a/32.png) [@IdahoMauleMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IdahoMauleMan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/42 "2008-09-24T19:40:01Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I’d like Obama’s team to say that Obama is perfectly able to handle more than one important task in a single work week. Or does McCain expect to be allowed to suspend and delay issues that pop up out of nowhere when he’s president? That’s not bad, and it could work well. It could also backfire enormously if something else pops up that we haven’t thought of, that REALLY requires them to be in Washington. And then Obama looks bad. A roll of the dice. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/43 "2008-09-24T19:40:17Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > This is the perfect opportunity for Obama to send Biden to “work on the economy”… and suggest McCain do the same with Palin. > > Because when the Pres is busy, the VP has to fill in. That’s the job. > > And the Pres candidates are busy on that day, with a debate. So… Alternatively, Obama could just suggest they swap the Presidential and VP debates. Let’s go ahead and hear the VP candidates on Friday and Obama & McCain can wait until 10/2. Really, I just think Obama should say, “Great idea. We’ll postpone until Monday night, 8 pm.” ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/44 "2008-09-24T19:40:26Z")
What a scuzzy trick. Anyone who thinks he did this because he really, _really_ cares, is delusional. It was a political ploy, pure and simple. The problem is, he has constantly underestimated Obama, and I have no doubt this will backfire in his face. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/45 "2008-09-24T19:40:35Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > This is the perfect opportunity for Obama to send Biden to “work on the economy”… and suggest McCain do the same with Palin. > > Because when the Pres is busy, the VP has to fill in. That’s the job. > > And the Pres candidates are busy on that day, with a debate. So… No no no. Obama and McCain go to Washington to work on the Bill, and Biden and Palin fill in at the Debates. That’s what VP’s are for - to take over when the Pres cannot be there. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/46 "2008-09-24T19:40:38Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] What? Seriously? We’ve got an election in just over a month from now, and you think it’s a good idea for the candidates to stop what they’re doing to work on the economy? What do you expect them to be able to DO? [/QUOTE] Well, you know, I would expect them to do their jobs. Are you saying that the house and senate have no effect during a crisis in this country? If so…what the fuck do we pay those people for? And if so…why would we want either of these useless idiots to run the country, if Senators are so worthless? > [@](#): > > Again, what do you expect them to do that they can’t do while running for the office? Well, they have to decide on whether to take the current bailout plan…and if not, what the viable alternatives are. Do you figure this is something that will just magically happen? How do you think this kind of things is accomplished? Let me put it a different way…if neither of these fine Senators is needed in Washington during this crisis then why are they EVER needed? Sure, I get that there is an election on. And yeah, I agree that this is probably just political theater on McCain’s part. But there really IS a major crisis going on, and in theory at least these two really ARE part of the group who will decide what the fuck we are going to do. It’s their JOB to do this stuff…unless that’s all just bullshit. > [@](#): > > And you respect him for this blatantly transparent trick? On several levels. First off, I think he’s right…it IS their duty to be engaged in this. On another level it IS a brilliant political maneuver. Hell, look at the heat being generated in this thread…the Obama faithfuls collective heads are exploding here (sort of like when Palin was first announced). So yeah…my respect for him has gone up a notch. > [@](#): > > Obama and Biden aren’t the ones calling for a “time out” right before the debates. More the fool them then…IMHO. Obama should have been the one to think of this…it would have been a GREAT idea coming from him and would have made him seem incredibly statesman like. Hell, if he had done this I think I would have decided to vote for him on the spot. Not only would it have been a brilliant political move but I think this crisis is extremely important…it’s scaring the hell out of me frankly. YMMV, and maybe the only important thing to your mind is that Obama wins in the end. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/47 "2008-09-24T19:41:03Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe I’m the only one who thinks that this is a very serious thing that’s going on…seems that way sometimes. And that at this moment the most important thing for the government (Dems AND 'Pubs) to be doing is figuring out what the fuck needs to be done and doing it fast before the whole things goes tits up. Have you ever tried to get something done when suddenly some dumbass who knows nothing about the subject matter elbows his way in to “take charge”? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/48 "2008-09-24T19:41:49Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > If they were the only ones who could do something about this, I wouldn’t think it’s a scam either. But they’re 2 out of 100 Senators. What exactly is it they can do the other Senators can’t? It’s a PR ploy, if a damned clever one. I was skeptical,:dubious: but McCain is also "The campaign also announced that McCain was canceling today’s planned appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/24/mccain\_suspending\_campaign\_ask.html](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/24/mccain_suspending_campaign_ask.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/49 "2008-09-24T19:43:57Z")
MSNBC just said Obama called McCain this morning at 8am suggesting the suspension. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/50 "2008-09-24T19:45:24Z")
Oh, well then. Losing Letterman will certainly cost him the election, so it’s definitely not a ploy. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/51 "2008-09-24T19:45:47Z")
This should have happened by Monday. As far as I am concerned they should go farther than just suspending the campaign. The practical relevance of the philosophical and policy differences between McCain and Obama is evaporating as fast as a puddle of piss in a Phoenix parking lot in July. The world in which they formulated their views no longer exists. How about acknowledging this by _joining_ campaigns. But what do I know? I am just one of those fools still doing actual physical work and saving instead of borrowing. McCain Obama 2008 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/52 "2008-09-24T19:47:06Z")
In an interesting development, the Obama campaign is saying that Obama is the one who first called McCain this morning to ask if he’d be willing to issue a joint statement saying they would suspend their campaigns, McCain agreed, but then his campaign went out and sandbagged Obama with an individual press release to make it look like it was McCain’s idea and to gain a political advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/53 "2008-09-24T19:47:24Z")
Obama should accept. And then up the ante! He immediately suggests a sweeping, visionary piece of legislation to solve the crisis, to be supported by both parties, to be known as the “McCain-Obama Bill” (McCain’s first out of deference to his age). McCain either accepts, or he’s playing partisan games at a time of economic crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/54 "2008-09-24T19:47:47Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > MSNBC just said Obama called McCain this morning at 8am suggesting the suspension. Interesting. If its true, I assume you and the others of this thread now think that Obama “can suck on it”? ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/55 "2008-09-24T19:47:56Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > MSNBC just said Obama called McCain this morning at 8am suggesting the suspension. Obama called wanting to issue a joint statement, not suspend the campaign. McCain’s behavior is transparent opportunism in action. It will work. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/56 "2008-09-24T19:48:25Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > This should have happened by Monday. > > As far as I am concerned they should go farther than just suspending the campaign. Maybe Bush will declare Martial Law and suspend the Election. That would be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/57 "2008-09-24T19:48:49Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > MSNBC just said Obama called McCain this morning at 8am suggesting the suspension. I heard he just asked that they release a joint statement on principles. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/58 "2008-09-24T19:48:55Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > MSNBC just said Obama called McCain this morning at 8am suggesting the suspension. I’ve been watching MSNBC and heard nothing to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/59 "2008-09-24T19:49:04Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Seriously? You don’t know that things are worse today than last week? That the situation is getting worse and that the political infighting on what to do is heating up? That the proposed ‘solution’ by the treasury is not being bought by the house or senate…but that they don’t seem to know what to do either? That the very undecided nature of what the government may or may not do is causing the entire system to be completely unstable?? > > Where have you been? > > -XT Of course it’s incredibly serious. It’s so serious that it won’t be solved in three days. It \*shouldn’t \*be solved in three days. Any three day solution will, by definition, be temporary and shortsighted. I know we’re a instant gratification culture, but this really isn’t something that should be rushed into with all the information and some serious thinking-outside-the-box and lengthy discussion. I wouldn’t buy a house in three days, much less an industry. Hey, you know what else should be rushed into without all the information? Choosing a President. The debate is one of the best ways for us to get information, and we might as well do it now as two weeks from now (when the economic crisis still won’t be over, anyhow.) I’m from Illinois. I have another Senator and 19 Representatives to help sort out this economic thing. That’s one reason we have more than one congresscritter for each state - so that our state is still represented when one of them can’t make it to work. I sure if Obama (or McCain) has a surefire magic trick up his sleeve to fix things, he can fax it in to the Senate floor while he’s getting his makeup done for the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/60 "2008-09-24T19:50:04Z")
I think it’s a masterful political move. I do recognize the complete emptiness of the gesture, but that has nothing to do with the political schtick. Given the past slogans of “country before politics,” McCain has used, anything other than a halt of campaigning will let M beat that drum again. It also passes the straight-face test. Since it will either be McCain or Obama in the WH in a few months, and since the crafting of the legislation/bailouts will greatly affect the next administration, it follows that in a closed room, away from cameras, the three of them _should_ get together and work things out in a non-partisan fashion. In essence, they should act as if they are all behind the Rawlsian Veil for the greater good[sup]\*[/sup]. Now, whether there is any chance of that happening is a different story. After the past eight years of Bush, I think the notion that he is marginally willing to work with others is completely shot. I used to hold McCain in very high esteem, and was elated when he won the primaries. But that faded with his embrace of Rovian tactics and assorted decents into the mud, capping off with the cynical (thanks Ms. Noonan) pick of Palin. My intuition (!) is that by now, this is just a cheap political ploy and has nothing to do with working out a bail out. As for Obama, I have no idea. If I buy the rhetoric and image, I believe he could go into this with an open position. However, entering into the fray with GWB suggests in a very game theory way that it’s not feasible no matter what his intentions. Also, the criticism of his lack of record has some meat to it – he’s never been in such a across-the-aisle position before (or very few of them) so other than faith in his character, there is no background to learn from. But, bottom line is that I think this was a sleazy, albeit very well-played political ploy. I think McCain’s advisers recognized that the Palin bump was over, the press was turning against him for the P-bubble and the strong negatives/misleading ads he’s been placing. These are leading to a slight shift in Obama’s lead, and a “time-out” for a spell will distance the criticism and stagnate any gentle momentum there is. [sup]\*[/sup]Side question: of the six main political figures (Bush, Cheyney, McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden), which ones do you think have actually read, understood, and learned from _A Theory of Justice_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040.md?page=4)