McCain Should Debate
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Debates, McCainI don’t mind that John McCain has suspended his campaign so he can fulfill his role as senator and help hammer out a bailout agreement. He is, in fact, one of the most accomplished senators in creating bi-partisan legislation. We could use his skills right now.
I am, however, appalled that McCain wants to delay Friday’s debate. This is exactly the moment we need to have the two candidates facing off in a debate. One of these guys is going to be elected President of the United States in just a few weeks. We’re in the midst of a financial crisis unlike any we have seen before. I want to hear everything these guys have to say on the matter and the sooner I hear it, the better.
I appreciate that McCain is not abandoning his duty as a senator. But it’s even more important that the American people elect the right man this November. The earlier we see the two candidates debate, the better we’ll be able to make the proper judgment.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Debates, McCain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Somewhere in the Rovian depths of McCain’s campaign, some machiavellian mastermind decided that suspending the campaign for president in a time of “crisis” would make McCain look presidential
Look, he’s putting politics aside! Ohhh, this is more important than politics! Ohhh.
I will admit, on first blush, the actual idea sounds smart. That’s the problem. On first blush. McCain’s braintrust didn’t look at it beyond the first reaction.
Anyone who took a high school civics class knows that a senator’s significance in this “crisis” is pretty inconsequential. Yes, on a gut level, we know that McCain is now the titular head of the Republican Party, and if he crams in enough TV time standing next to Paulson and Bernanke, maybe it will look like he’s doing more, but a) McCain has repeatedly said he knows squat about the economy and b) so what the heck is he really going to offer?
We are now less than two months away from the election. A year ago, people were only partially paying attention. Then, it would have seemed like putting “politics” aside. Now we are in the home stretch and the country wants to decide who will be the next president. Who will remain calm. Who will stare adversity in the face and not blink.
A year ago, this would have been a smart move. Now, though, it seems like we are suspending democracy.
Obama and his people are already screaming this to anyone with a notepad or a microphone. The Letterman’s and Leno’s on tv are making fun of McCain.
McCain blinked.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Delaying the debate is a ridiculous idea. Focus the debate ON the economy, and let the people hear how each candidate plans to solve it (now and during their Presidency).