• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Obama Says Crisis Shows Need for Debate

Posted on: Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 18:00 CDT

The U.S. financial crisis makes it imperative for the scheduled presidential debate to go on, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Wednesday.

Obama, in Florida, was responding to Republican John McCain's decision to suspend his campaign and return to the nation's capital to work on financial bailout package. McCain also called on Obama to join him in Washington and delay Friday's debate.

A debate is "exactly the time when the American public" needs to know where the next president stands, Obama said. "There's no reason why we can't be constructive in helping to solve this problem and tell the American people where we stand."

The Illinois senator said he told the Democratic leadership, "if I can be helpful I'm prepared to be anywhere at any time."

Obama said his campaign and McCain's campaign were working to develop a joint statement about what principles the two candidate think should be included in the $700 billion financial markets bailout plan. The principles Obama said he wants to be part of any plan include an independent board for oversight and accountability, taxpayers footing the bill "should be treated like investors" and be repaid once the economy recovers, no huge golden parachutes for executives of companies seeking federal funds and assistance to help homeowners stay in their homes.

The financial crisis "transcends politics," Obama said, pointing to the fact that the standard-bearers of two major parties "agree we need to focus on this problem."

Source: United Press International

More News in this Category