McCain and Obama Issue Joint Statement on Economy; Obama Pushes Debate

Joint Statement of Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama

“The American people are facing a moment of economic crisis. No matter how this began, we all have a responsibility to work through it and restore confidence in our economy. The jobs, savings, and prosperity of the American people are at stake.

“Now is a time to come together – Democrats and Republicans – in a spirit of cooperation for the sake of the American people. The plan that has been submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration is flawed, but the effort to protect the American economy must not fail.

“This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.” 

Watch the President’s speech at 9 Wednesday night and CHAT LIVE.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama says that amid the current financial crisis, it’s more important than ever for he and John McCain to sit down and hold a presidential debate.
   
Republican McCain proposed earlier Wednesday that Friday’s debate be postponed while the two candidates work to deal with the nation’s financial troubles. Obama said he and McCain are working on a joint statement setting out their ideas on how to solve the financial crisis. But Obama also said he believes it’s important to go ahead and have the debate.
   
Obama said, “It’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess.“

This story was released earlier Wednesday:
McCain seeks to delay debate to focus on economy
NEW YORK (AP) - John McCain says he wants to delay Friday’s foreign policy debate with Barack Obama and temporarily put aside their presidential campaign to focus on solving the nation’s
financial problems.
   
The Republican candidate says he wants President Bush to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama. Saying it’s “become clear that no consensus has developed”
to support the administration’s 700 billion-dollar rescue package, McCain says partisanship needs to be put aside to resolve the crisis.
   
McCain says time is “running out,“ and that if Congress and the administration fail to act, “every corner of the country”
will be affected.
   
The Obama campaign did not immediately say whether he supports a delay of the debate or would also stop campaigning. It did say that Obama and McCain had two private phone conversations about the matter today. It says Obama made the first call to propose a joint a statement in support of a rescue package.

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