Obama’s Response To Immaturity
by tristero
Apparently, John McCain thinks that the overwhelmingly important task of campaigning and electing a president is some kind of vacation that can be suspended when something he thinks is more important comes along. Apparently, John McCain can’t deal with multiple critical situations at the same time. Apparently, John McCain, behind in the polls, is afraid to be seen together with Obama discussing another set of serious crises facing this country: the foreign policy disasters he aided and abetted George W. Bush in creating.
Once again Bush’s administration, which John McCain has supported 90% of the time, has failed to address a serious problem in a serious fashion – Secretary Paulson’s initial, thoroughly dictatorial, proposal was so absurd that hardly any real experts on the economy supported it. And we, the American people, are expected to pick up the pieces. Well, we shall. But there is no reason to panic, as McCain clearly has. And there is no reason to drop everything in order for either presidential candidate to contribute effectively to appropriate legislation. As Obama mentioned, he is in constant contact with all the major players in the financial crisis legislation. According to Charles Schumer, that has not been the case with McCain. [UPDATE: Chris Dodd, too]
The McCain campaign’s behavior is worse than a cheap stunt; it’s seriously panicky behavior, the last thing this country needs from its leaders.
Obama was exactly right not to suspend his campaign, and not only because it is a calm, reasoned response to a crisis. It is as vitally important to this country’s future to choose a president who will genuinely change the failed policies of the Bush/McCain era as it is to work on a practical proposal to address the fiscal crisis caused by so many personal friends of the Bush administration, and of John McCain. McCain, apparently, has as much ability to use a phone as he does email. Someone should tell McCain that with modern technology, both he and Obama can help shape this legislation without overreacting or suspending the campaign for presidency.
A president must be a leader who can juggle many balls in the air at the same time. John McCain believes one is too much and so he panicked. A person so limited in his capacity to face multiple emergencies as McCain has shown himself to be clearly is not qualified to be president.
In regards to the debate, I am glad that Obama felt it important to say we should hold to the schedule. (And it is only fair to Oxford, Miss. which would take a $5.5 million loss if McCain chickens out.) This is a vital discussion and the country must have the chance to hear the candidates. As others have mentioned, the debate should be expanded to include both foreign policy and the economy.
One final point. Apparently, the McCain campaign is in a money crunch, the only rational reason for suspending campaign ads to take advantage of free publicity from the stunt. Obama, therefore, should swamp the airwaves with ads.