Reid To McCain: Stay Away From Washington, Please
An aide to Harry Reid tells me that John McCain called Reid this afternoon, only to be told by Reid that it wouldn't be helpful if McCain came to Washington.
The aide adds that Reid read aloud to McCain the statement he just issued, in which Reid said...
"It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation's economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now."
Oh, to have been on that call.
Late Update: Ben Smith makes the fair point that Reid's declaration to McCain is a bit of a shift from the message coming from the Senate leadership yesterday, which is that McCain's support would be helpful in getting a bailout passed.
It seems clear, though, that Reid was telling McCain that his return to Washington would be unhelpful specifically in the current context of his unilateral call for a suspension of the campaign, which actually risks politicizing the process more, not less.
Damn, this is good! For once, the Dems are taking care of business like Republicans!!
September 24, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Evolution took a big step forward today when Senator Harry Reid crawled out of the ocean, developed a backbone and learned to walk upright.
September 24, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reid: Wow. This standing tall shit feels pretty good. You know what, I'd like to issue another statement. Fuck you, Joe Lieberman. You're out.
September 24, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe that could be a conference call, so we could all hear it.
September 24, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
The absence of trolls (as of this post) tells me this was a monumentally stupid decision by McCain.
September 24, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you read Reid's bio, you'd know he's a boxer. He's been waiting for an opening to start hitting the repugs. He's found the opening and he's gonna put his heart into it.
September 24, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remember...old harry said.."I don't like McCain"....OUCH!!!
September 24, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't help but think that this move to suspend his campaign will end up being as pathetic and empty as McCain's call for townhalls all over the USA.
McCain will say a thousand times that he was trying to be post-partisan, but voters won't care.
September 24, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Technically, McCain has thrown in the proverbial towel. The race is just about over.
September 24, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
This brings up another question even before Friday night. Does John McCain crash the Hill even after the Senate Majority Leader has asked him not to disrupt and politicize the work being done there?
September 24, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
"How Harry Got His Groove Back"
September 24, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, that is good!!!
September 24, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oooh, Senator McCain is gonna be ANG-wee! And look rather ridiculous Friday evening trying to do the exam he didn't prep for that went on as scheduled even though he pulled the first fire alarm he could find.
September 24, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
One thing is clear: McCain did not think this one through.
September 24, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can we make that the official theme of his campaign/administration?
September 24, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
This unexpected and dumb stunt of his had nothing more than an unsurprising and hard hitting finale!
September 24, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I always thought they would overstep in terms of fear (like the 3am ad), which I suppose they still might do, but this is definitely an overstep in the drama dept.
September 24, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
His typical MO.
September 24, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reid To McCain: Stay Away From Washington, Please
Especially on Jan. 20!
September 24, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do ya think Reid may have the Capital Police ready to arrest McCain if he tries to enter the Capital?
September 24, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Orin Hatch is on MSNBC spinning the narrative hard.
John McCain is showing leadership. This is typical John McCain (I assume he means that as a compliment). He is aggressive, some people don't like it, but he's going to go kick everyone's ass in Washington and fix this thing!!!
September 24, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh yeah, and he's willing to "risk his election" for the sake of the American people.
I at least agree with the "risk his election" part.
September 24, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
How's the spin going over, would you say?
Martin at Politico reports that Congressional Republicans are lining up behind McCain.
Surprise!
September 24, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck Todd just reported that it is the congressional Republicans that are holding things up.
Ok McCain, let's see your "leadership".
September 24, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone got a link for the Debate Commission saying the debate was going to take place?
September 24, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a link to MSNBC's post reporting the statement of U of Miss., which references the Debate Commission's position.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/24/1442165.aspx
September 24, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/Ole_Miss_says_debate_is_going_forward.html
September 24, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
From ABC:
"For now, Mullins, says the university is proceeding like they're still having the debate until the commission makes a decision. The university was instructed by the commission on Wednesday to move forward as though the debate is still going to happen, Mullins said."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/
September 24, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is from Jonathan Martin at Politico:
Full speed ahead!
September 24, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
This probably wasn't the best move on the same week as a controversy over restricted press access to Palin.
September 24, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect we will soon be hearing about poor ol' John McCain all alone in the corner of his room in depends in the fetal position sucking his thumb crying "Mommy".
September 24, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
translation: Grandpa, stay away, this is your f***ing mess we are cleaning up, just stay away please.
September 24, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain: Ready to play politics with 700,000,000,000 US Taxpayers dollars on day one.
September 24, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, thats a lot of zeros McCain will be tinkering with in his workshop.
It seems that McCain cares more about the $13 billion in earmarks, than the $700 billion bailout.
September 24, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think McCain had to do something to cut of the rising talk about his campaign manager Rick Davis. This move to put his campaign on hold will surly stop that talk for a while.
September 24, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo. I said this on another thread.
He's using the financial crisis to change the subject.
But I don't think the Rick Davis question will go away.
-- ARG
September 24, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's fooked about this whole deal is the Repubs will spin it like Hatch, that this is "leadership", and the network media will repeat the lie vis a vis their moonification techniques and it'll be common wisdom by Friday morning. Just like the "maverick" thing, there's not a hint of a warrant for the claim, just good old repetition of lies.
September 24, 2008 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not as pessimistic as you are about that happening. WEre this three weeks ago, I'd say that could definitely happen.
However, we've had the major media outlets pointing out that McCain lies for several weeks now as well as all the attention to the zero access to Palin policy. I don't think the media is in the same place that it was four weeks ago. At least I hope so.
But the fact of the matter is that the McCain campaign chose to do this on a day when everyone was probably talking about the bad polls. So even if it weren't politically motivated, this stunt would still look like it was.
September 24, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think the media's going to look kindly on postponing a 100 million viewer event for suspicious reasons.
This is not playing well for McChicken, and the longer it sits under the microscope, the slimier it appears.
September 24, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think McCain's prank is a "Look Over Here!" (as Jonathan Martin puts it) to move attention off Rick Davis.
September 24, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did mcShame make this decision himself? Did he blindside his own campaign?
September 24, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did mcShame make this decision himself? Did he blindside his own campaign?
September 24, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simmer. Simmer. Simmer. BOIL!!!
September 24, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
McAngus not so far and usually that is a instant reaction and push from the MSM. Mccain shot fast and didnt realize the target is moving
September 24, 2008 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The suspending the campaign thing could probably be justified by the fact that it is the Republicans holding things up. But that of course raises the question of what Obama is supposed to do given the Democrats are trying to get something passed.
The debate thing though, that was just a dumb move. Some surrogate was just on Hardball saying that if Obama is going and the debate is on, then obviously McCain has to go.
So McCain will go into the first debate looking like a whipped dog with his tail between his legs and 100M people watching.
September 24, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin should just hire Brad Hanson as her campaign adviser.
September 24, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll be very curious to see what Chuck Hagel does here. Even though he's been fairly quiet, he *knows* Obama is more qualified to hold the office, and he's been critical of Palin.
More and more, McCain's move is starting to look like a rash decision.
September 24, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well it seems pretty clear to me - Harry Reid just bitch-slapped McLame.
Where's his excuse for cancelling, now?
September 24, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, gee, why would John McCain give up the chance to appear before the American people to debate and present his economic vision, when the senate majority leader has asked him to stay away? It can't be because he's chicken, he's a war veteran! Could it be that there's a 'wilding' going on in DC at the expense of the American taxpayer, and McCain doesn't want to lose the chance to serve his masters - the lobbyists? I mean, if McCain is on retainer with these guys, he certainly doesn't want to miss out on the chance to add the arcane details to the legislation that won't mean a thing to the total cost of the bailout, but mean big bucks to his masters. Isn't this the meme Obama wants to hit? That McCain is returning to DC because he hears the call of the lobbyists?
September 24, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
So... what exactly is scheduled to happen in Washington DC on Friday evening, during the time set for the debate?
Generally, Congress isn't doing business then, anyway.
McCain shouldn't be needed in DC that evening, thus there's no reason he needs to miss the debate.
September 25, 2008 1:03 AM | Reply | Permalink