Democrats did a bang up job of orchestrated a campaign moment for Barack Obama, giving him top billing during the White House economic bailout negotiations.
It was McCain who had urged Bush to call the White House meeting but Democrats made sure Obama had a prominent part. And much as they complained later of being blindsided, the whole event turned out to be something of an ambush on their part—aimed at McCain and House Republicans.
“Speaking professionally,” said one Republican aide, “They did a very good job.”
When Bush yielded early to Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Nev.) to speak, they yielded to Obama to speak for the assembled Democrats. And it was Obama who raised the subject of the conservative alternative and pressed Paulson on what he thought of the idea.
House Republicans felt trapped—squeezed by Treasury, House Democrats and a bipartisan coalition in the Senate.
For most of the day yesterday rumor had it that congress and the administration were on the verge of a deal. But House Republicans had not been included in the negotiations, and when they objected and offered a plan of their own Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd accused McCain of sabotage.
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Top Democrats angrily accused Republican White House contender John McCain late Thursday of sabotaging an astronomically expensive deal to bail out Wall Street and shore up the US economy.
The 700-billion-dollar package stalled at talks convened by President George W. Bush with top lawmakers and both the men vying to succeed him -- McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced a new round of late-night discussions Thursday in a bid to get the deal back on track, set to be joined by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke.
"John McCain did nothing to help, he only hurt the process," the senior Democrat said at a joint news conference with Senate banking committee chairman Christopher Dodd.
Apparently the bailout negotiation process took the path of least resistance, bypassing House Republicans who took a dim view of the package. In reality there never was a deal.
McCain said he knew going into the White House meeting called by President Bush that there was no deal, after having said Wednesday the debate should be canceled if a bailout wasn't secured.
"I knew going in, because I had been over on the House side with my House Republican colleagues, there never was a deal," McCain said. "But I do believe the meeting was important to move the process along."
So Democrats got their photo op after the White House meeting ended, giving candidate Barack Obama an opportunity to be seen as presidential, and then went on to blame McCain for scuttling a deal that never was.
The American public may not buy it. Pollster John Zogby raises the possibility of a McCain landslide.
The presidential election might be a tight race now, but one of the country’s top pollsters thinks the race will end in an electoral landslide.
John Zogby, president of Zogby International, told a group of businesspeople today that it’s up to Democratic Sen. Barack Obama to convince voters to go with him. If he’s not successful, the country will likely vote for “a comfortable old shoe”, that being Republican Sen. John McCain.
Nice show, though.
I can't for the life of me understand what your trying to say.
It was Bush who called the meeting. The only reason there was a photo op was because Bush called the meeting.
The reason Obama was at the White House was because Bush called him and asked him if he would attend a meeting at the White House.
The reason for this meeting is becoming embarrasingly transparent, as nothing got discussed there.
Without thinking things through, McCain announced he was "suspending" his campaign. He had to "rush" to Washington.
The problem is, there wasn't anything for him to attend once he got there.
That is why it took over 24 hours for him to "rush" from New York to Washington, D.C. on his private jet, a trip that only takes an hour and a half, not a full day. A meeting had to be set up so that he could attend something.
Then he says he won't leave town to go to the debate until there is a deal. There is as yet no deal, but he is now going to the debate.
He looked ridiculous -- nothing new there.
Posted by: Smithington | September 26, 2008 at 03:30 PM