I'm presuming that by now, everyone knows the details. But there's one detail that I really want to hit on:
What did each candidate do?
Obama was contacted by a Republican friend of his (Senator Tom Coburn) who suggested that he and McCain issue a joint statement.
Obama - to his credit - called up McCain.
McCain agrees, and says that it would be a good idea. Then McCain goes a little further, and suggests that they suspend the debate so that they can both go to Washington and solve the crisis.
Now I know I need to back up this point, because some people have argued that McCain didn't suggest this to Obama in that initial phone call.
Here is a transcript of Obama's press conference from the 24th of September. A reporter asks Obama if McCain mentioned suspending the debates in that call:
OBAMA: Well, he, you know, he mentioned that he was intending potentially, he was going to fly to Washington and that he thought that perhaps we should suspend the debates. I thought this was something that was, that he was mulling over. Apparently, this was something that, you know, he was more decisive about in his own mind.Which is true. McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign to take care of the financial crisis.
What was Obama's answer?
Obama's priority is that he wants to debate.
I can't think of anything in recent history that makes the priorities of two candidates clearer.
On one hand, you have McCain. When the other candidate reaches out to him and suggests something that is good for the country, he agrees.
Then you have Obama. When the other candidate suggests something that would be good for the country, Obama suggests that he wants to go to the debates.
What is Obama's priority here?
Himself.
His quest for the presidency.
That's what he thinks is most imporant. That people get to see him and hear him.
My dad told me a long time ago that there is a great difference between what people say and what they do, and that I should note the difference.
The difference has been noted.
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