# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/101 "2008-09-24T20:37:15Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > If so that’s a mistake. That remains to be seen. I respectfully disagree. MSNBC’s cursory knee-jerk internet poll suggests that, overwhelmingly, [many feel that the campaigning and debates should go on as scheduled.](http://james-eng.newsvine.com/_question/2008/09/24/1906168-agree-or-disagree-fridays-presidential-debate-should-be-postponed-so-the-candidates-can-focus-on-the-economy-instead-of-campaigning) YMMV **Shodan** , do you have a cite? I could just wait a few minutes for Obama to speak, but I’m impatient. 🙂 ---
**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, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/102 "2008-09-24T20:39:28Z")
I just heard the White House said that they didn’t want the candidates coming back and “injecting politics into the negotiations” or somesuch. That was from MSNBC. ---
**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, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/103 "2008-09-24T20:39:34Z")
[QUOTE=Lantern] Reid’s statement is quite shrewd and deflates McCain’s balloon considerably IMO. [/QUOTE] (Democratic Majority Leader) Harry Reid you mean? Actually, I saw it exactly the opposite, but concede that MMV depending on perspective. Frankly it seemed to say that neither McCain nor Obama was important to the process…but coming from a Democrat I’d think this would be seen as a partisan dig at McCain…and a low opinion of Obama. Or simple partisan politics. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/104 "2008-09-24T20:39:35Z")
I think MSNBC just referenced someone in Congress saying they want to keep both candidates out of there to avoid injecting presidential politics into the bailout negotiations. ---
**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, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/105 "2008-09-24T20:40:38Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Obama calls McCain without fanfare to work together on a joint declaration of their support for a plan. > > McCain announces his desire to suspend campaigning to the press, then challenges Obama to follow his lead. Not true. If you read the article I cited earlier, McCain called Obama before the announcement and told him what he planned to do. Evidently, Obama passed, so McCain made the announcement. ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/106 "2008-09-24T20:41:17Z")
but it has to be the …why cant you multi task response… would you suspend iraq while you work on iran… etc etc ad nauseum. but he needs to say this quick ---
**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, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/107 "2008-09-24T20:42:04Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I just heard the White House said that they didn’t want the candidates coming back and “injecting politics into the negotiations” or somesuch. That was from MSNBC. Dude. Seriously. Pay. Attention. That was Harry Reid, not the friggin’ White House. Thats two times this thread already that you post wrong info from way out in left field. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/108 "2008-09-24T20:42:47Z")
This whole hoo-haa has at least inspired one of the finest Fark headlines of recent times: “Frail old man runs from African American asking for change.” ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/109 "2008-09-24T20:44:32Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Actually…that’s a good point. I hadn’t considered the psychological effects. Still…I have friends in the financial markets who are talking about survivalist retreats in Idaho, so I’m a bit freaked out atm. > > (Just kidding, but only slightly). > > -XT Is this because of a coming colapse or because when we return to a sane level of regulation of thier industry they will need a place to stand off against the FBI? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/110 "2008-09-24T20:44:38Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Interesting. If its true, I assume you and the others of this thread now think that Obama “can suck on it”? Obama isn’t the one who has something to lose in a side-by-side comparison with someone younger, fitter, and more charismatic than he is. ETA: I forgot taller. I still disagree with the idea, but it’s harder to pin ulterior motives on Obama if he’s offering to _avoid_ mopping the floor with his opponent. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/111 "2008-09-24T20:46:35Z")
Wow, multitasking _is_ possible, says Obama. Who knew? ---
**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, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/112 "2008-09-24T20:48:16Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Dude. Seriously. Pay. Attention. That was Harry Reid, not the friggin’ White House. > > Thats two times this thread already that you post wrong info from way out in left field. Yeah, but I have you to correct me!😉 Sorry. Phone, computer and TV are a dangerous mix. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/113 "2008-09-24T20:48:23Z")
I was thinking this morning that I’d like to see them do this. Reschedule the debate, though, don’t cancel it. This was a very good tactical move by McCain. This campaign stuff is overrated-- we could do with a little less of it. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/114 "2008-09-24T20:51:26Z")
Obama thinks they should multitask and debate. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/115 "2008-09-24T20:51:55Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > **Shodan** , do you have a cite? I could just wait a few minutes for Obama to speak, but I’m impatient. 🙂 Sure. [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE2JCSH5p9r2GBkQWS9TWAMzmuvQD93DA08O0](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE2JCSH5p9r2GBkQWS9TWAMzmuvQD93DA08O0) Also on the front page of FoxNews. Regards, Shodan ---
**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, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/116 "2008-09-24T20:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I was thinking this morning that I’d like to see them do this. Reschedule the debate, though, don’t cancel it. This was a very good tactical move by McCain. This campaign stuff is overrated-- we could do with a little less of it. [/QUOTE] The impression I got from McCain’s statement (well, his campaigns statement) was to postpone, not cancel. -XT ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/117 "2008-09-24T20:53:29Z")
I agree with [this comment from Josh Marshall](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/219402.php): > [@](#): > > Bringing the presidential candidates and their press entourages back to Capitol Hill won’t speed or improve the process of coming up with a good bailout deal. It will _politicize_ it. That’s so transparently obvious that it barely requires stating. And of course that is the point. > > By going public with his ‘suspension’ announcement as a breaking news statement McCain intended to make any agreement between the candidate impossible. Contrast that with Obama’s campaign, which apparently tried to get both campaigns to agree on a common set of principles privately before going public. Finally, there’s no logical reason there can’t be a presidential debate while a bailout plan is being negotiated. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/118 "2008-09-24T20:53:49Z")
Oddly enough, there are a ton of folks out there that I’ve talked to that are waiting for the debates. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/119 "2008-09-24T20:54:36Z")
Aren’t Obama and McCain the face of the Democrats and Republicans now? They should be there to get something figured out. It’s easy to talk shit on the campaign trail and avoid pissing people off by not putting your votes following your words. Debates are words, I’d rather see them using the power they already have right now, worry about words later. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040/120 "2008-09-24T20:55:31Z")
This is not purely a campaign move by McCain, though it works out that way. It’s part of a more coordinated bit of theatre by the Republicans that also includes Bush’s prime-time TV address tonight. They want to build up the idea that this is an URGENT CRISIS and we have to pass a bailout bill NOW NOW NOW NO IT HAS TO BE NOW NO DON’T READ IT THERE’S NO TIME OMGWTFBBQ!!!1!1! The more pressure they can create for the Democrats to pass _something_, the more likely they are to pass a bill that gives the store away to their Wall Street cronies with a minimum of oversight. It’s like that episode of _The Office_ where Dwight buys Andy’s X-Terra. A nice side effect is that they can then accuse the Democrats of being obstructionist when they want to take a few days to work out the best way to spend this shit-ton of money instead of being bipartisan and doing whatever they tell them to do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-suspends-campaign-asks-obama-to-do-the-same-what/465040.md?page=7)