Schumer: McCain is 'not helping'

Posted: Friday, September 26, 2008 10:30 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Mike Viqueira

From NBC's Ken Strickland and Mike Viqueira
During a speech on the Senate floor this morning, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) urged President Bush to "respectfully tell Sen. McCain to get out of town. He's not helping."

Schumer also requested that Bush get the his House Republicans in line. "We need President Bush to take leadership. We need President Bush, first and foremost, to get the Republican House members to support his plan or modify it in some way to bring them on board," he said.

He added, "When you inject presidential politics into some of the most difficult negotiations under normal circumstances, it is fraught with difficulty. Before McCain made his announcement, we were making great progress. Now after his announcement, we are behind the 8 ball. We have to put things back together again."

"So this is a plea to President Bush, for the sake of America, please get your party in line. Get the House Republicans to be more constructive; get Sen. McCain to leave town and not throw fire on these flames. And maybe we can get something done."

Meanwhile, per a GOP congressional source, McCain has told House Republicans leaders this morning that it was time to get someone to the negotiating table and work towards a deal.

House Minority Leader Boehner has now designated the whip, Roy Blunt, to be that person.

*** UPDATE *** RNC spokesman Danny Diaz issues this statement responding to Schumer: “Chuck Schumer is now attacking the person working to solve the mess he helped create. While Schumer was against reform in the housing industry, Sen. McCain was calling for it. And now that we have reached an economic crisis, Sen. McCain is focused on finding a solution and Schumer is focused on leveling political attacks.”

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Comments

Thank you Schumer! What exactly is McCain doing? a week and a half later he still has no opinion on the matter but we're to believe that he's the hero in all this if all goes well? If it doesn't can we blame him too? Sen. McCain is looking more desperate to me. He saw the polls or maybe saw his veep pick do interviews and was sent into a tailspin!

He does not put country first. He just wants to win any way he can. He needs to let those who know what they're talking about make a decision and he can then read it over and vote on it. Hopefully it's not more than 3 pages long as it takes him days to read that...

Jo (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 11:07 AM)

McCain missed his calling in the military - he should have been a saboteur.

Knute, St. Charles, IL (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 11:08 AM)

TRUE. Quit avoiding the debate and man up McCain! It's pretty pathetic, neither him or Obama are going to make THAT much of a difference with the bill anyways. They both can do the debate.

Ronnie (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 11:09 AM)

Republicans...all ovr the map, dazed and confused, running from their party...just like their "leader" McCain.

JAB (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 11:09 AM)

We have just witnessed the biggest "put up job" and conspiracy in the history of American Presidential Politics...

John McCain has NEVER had any dog in the Bailout Plan Fight...he does not sit on any committee involved in the negotiations...He has never exhibited the type of Financial Leadership that should convince ANYONE that he was sincere in "wanting to bring the parties together"....In fact he arrived in Washington and promptly broke-up what had been a negotiation series that was showing progress and had reached an "agreement in principal" from the real negotiators.

John McCain has now threatened our nation with financial calamity, while holding the debate previously scheduled for tonight "hostage" to the progressive negotiations HE has derailed by bolstering the fringe Republicans in the house, and their paranoid arguments against compromise.

This entire mess reeks of conspiracy and collusion from the White House all the way down to the GOP Rank and File...

ROVIAN POLITICS AT THEIR BEST!! MORE MY WAY OR NO WAY FROM THE GOP!!!

GA GUY (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 11:10 AM)

You people are crazy to listen to the liberals on this issue. The Dems are the ones who got us into this mess! Now they want American taxpayers to bail them out FAST before the Republicans have a chance to make sure the bail-out isn't another ACORN rip-off! No one is telling the Americans that the Republicans are the ones QUESTIONING whether the BAIL-OUT is the only OPTION! The American people have spoken loud and clear. NO BAIL-OUT - at least not without careful consideration of other options.
McCain Palin 2008

Bunny Keene (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 1:33 PM)

It's easy to spin if you havent' even read the three page proposal.

Laura (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 1:35 PM)

This election is pitiful. With the country in such bad shape, who is really going to help us? Just pray for the world, because the HIGHER POWER(JESUS CHRIST) is our only !

Harris,Wilmington,NC (Sent Friday, September 26, 2008 1:36 PM)

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