Take Back the Flag

In response to Senator McCain’s desperate call to delay the first presidential debate while “suspending his campaign,” Obama explained his commitment to share his thoughts with the American people:

“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.” (CNN)

This suspended campaign is an insult to the intelligence of everyone in America; at no time within forty days of a presidential election is a move, statement, or motive not politically calculated.  One can barely “suspend” two years before the election to tend to other issues while the parties and candidates jockey for position in the primaries.

Admittedly, McCain is in a tough spot.  With his party in power and America facing a financial crisis considered the worst in decades, he needs to carefully consider every move as he combats Obama’s campaign theme of change.  And purely politically, this might be a good move; it show’s some type of leadership and dedication to the job he was elected to.  But don’t insult us by saying this particular crisis is bad enough to “leave” the campaign trail, and everything from this point forward is only for “the good of the country.”

Why is this particular crisis worthy of this attention?  No one will argue that the financial situation is dire, but Americans suffer from unfair taxes, lack of health insurance, unacceptable education, and flawed national security policies everyday.  McCain’s intentional spotlight on the financial crisis is supposed to make him appear as a strong and confident leader for the American people.  We’re supposed to think something like “Wow.  McCain is so noble, so strong, so confident, so effective, so country first that he chose to give up campaigning to attend to this national crisis.”  But really, McCain finally decided to do the job he’s getting paid for (with your tax dollars) right now.  So I say:  about time.

To be fair, Obama too has missed a number of votes and committee work while campaigning.  But he doesn’t demean us like McCain.  Obama knows he’s working for an important cause, a limited time offer, in his run for the presidency.  He knows, and we know, that the missed time in the Senate is worthwhile.  As usual, Obama said it best:  “I think that it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.”