It was a ploy.
The Minnesota Independent reports getting hold of the GOP Memo: ‘McCain-Palin TIME OUT’ sent to the wrong list.
….talking points accidentally sent out by a GOP spokesperson on how to discuss the suspension of McCain’s campaign. The memo, titled “TALKING POINTS: SUSPENDING THE CAMPAIGN,” was sent out in error to the entire Colorado media list by McCain represenative Tom Kise. It includes his warning: “Please do not proactively reach out to the media on this.”
According to PolitickerCO’s Jeremy Pelzer, Kise wasn’t pleased when he discovered that the list, meant only for volunteers, was so widely distributed. “F*ck, tell me I didn’t send it to the wrong list,” he reportedly said. The eight-point memo begins:
~ To address our nation’s financial crisis, John McCain will suspend his campaign and return to Washington. He has spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of his decision and asked Senator Obama to join him. The campaign is suspending its advertising and fundraising.
Obama, in a press conference Wednesday, agreed that “there are times for politics and there are times to rise above politics and do what’s right,” but says the debate must go on: “This is exactly the time when people need to hear from the candidates.”
The Obama campaign contests the McCain camp’s assertion that the Republican candidate had “asked Senator Obama to join him,” — as the talking points state — saying it was Obama who initiated the communication about joint action on the economic crisis.
[.]
(highlights added)
Sounds a bit more than a simple postponement of the debate. Why suspend advertising and fundraising?
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) told BloombergTV last night, “a deal is 98% done and Bush is trying to help out McCain by parachuting him into to the middle of negotiation which will slow things down”
I may add, slowing down negotiations will give McCain his rationale for postponing the debates.
McCain stated his ultimatum. “No bailout deal by Friday, no debate. As Obama pointed out, We both have jets to fly in for the debates and back to DC.
The University of Mississippi, host of the debate on Friday, is reported as stating the debate will be held. Obama has said he’ll be at his podium.
The VP debate is scheduled for October 2. Senator Lindsey Graham told CNN that too is to be postponed.
As for the McCain’s ploy of “postponing the debates” Bloomberg reported on historians noting “that the Civil War, the Great Depression and World War II didn’t prompt suspensions of presidential campaigns.
This is the real McCain. Reckless. A cowardly hero who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.
