[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/25/art.mccain.global.gi.jpg caption="John McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign and pulling TV ads."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Senators Barack Obama and John McCain are in Washington to meet with President Bush and other lawmakers... After the president summoned them there to help hash out a bipartisan resolution to the big 700 billion dollar financial bailout plan. It's another grand but empty political gesture. But you can't let a good photo-op go to waste.
Hours earlier, Congressional leaders reached an agreement on a bipartisan counter-proposal to the Bush plan... Without the help of either candidate or the president. The lawmakers are hopeful they'll have a vote within days and a bill on the president's desk soon after.
Yesterday John McCain, in a grand gesture, announced he was suspending his campaign and rushing to Washington to save the day. A lot of people saw that as the naked political stunt that it was. House Financial Service Committee Chairman Barney Frank, one of the architects of the bailout plan, said, "We're trying to rescue the economy, not the McCain campaign." McCain's plane had barely touched down when lawmakers announced their deal.
Now presumably he won't have an excuse for not showing up to debate Barack Obama in Mississippi tomorrow night.
Here’s my question to you: Is John McCain playing politics with the nation's deepening financial crisis?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Marva from Oklahoma writes:
Without a doubt. He is slipping in the polls. His selection of Palin as a running mate has turned sour. He can't run from his record of deregulation. And, he certainly cannot justify continuing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthier 2%, many of whom are the very jokers that middle-class taxpayers are now bailing out!
Judith writes:
Jack, of course he is, but my worry is that people will refuse to see him for what he is. George Will is right: this man does not have the temperament necessary for a President of the United States.
Richard from Toronto writes:
Jack, this "crisis" did not happen in the middle of the night last Thursday. It has developed over several years. Both houses had a closed-door presentation on it in April. How did it become a "crisis" that had to be solved in a week? And just as McCain's campaign was flagging? Of course McCain is milking it for political advantage. The question is, will those casting votes see through that?
Teresa writes:
I feel John McCain is showing true leadership by giving this priority. I am tired of all the media and spin from the Obama campaign that this is a stunt.
J.L. writes:
Of course he is. He's so lame. What type of President-wannabe can't multi-task? What's he gonna do when the Russia wants to talk to him, there's a gas shortage in the South, all on Cindy's birthday?
Sandra writes:
Yes, McFraid is scared and will do anything not to participate in the debate. He shares the responsibility for the crisis because of his long avowed love of deregulation. He's knows questions will be asked.
Mariachi writes:
Not Politics. Desperation. After lying to Letterman about being in Washington and getting caught with Katie Couric. What else is there? McCain needs to hire Don Meredith to sing "Turn out the lights, the party's over."