Obama, McCain call for bipartisanship

Posted: Monday, November 17, 2008 4:16 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Former rivals Obama and McCain put out a joint statement following their meeting in Chicago:

"At this defining moment in history, we believe that Americans of all parties want and need their leaders to come together and change the bad habits of Washington so that we can solve the common and urgent challenges of our time. It is in this spirit that we had a productive conversation today about the need to launch a new era of reform where we take on government waste and bitter partisanship in Washington in order to restore trust in government, and bring back prosperity and opportunity for every hardworking American family. We hope to work together in the days and months ahead on critical challenges like solving our financial crisis, creating a new energy economy, and protecting our nation's security."

Following the meeting, NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports, McCain was back in Washington, as he returned to his Senate office. Perhaps the final event of his presidential campaign happens tonight, as McCain hosts a party in Virginia to thank the campaign staff.

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Comments

If partisanship is bad then why is bi-partisanship better? Shouldn't the goal be non-partisanship?

nuanced (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:27 PM)

Since it became apparent that Obama was going to be president, the stock market has dropped like a rock. Did we expect anything else based on what he said he was going to do? Why are people finding this so disturbing? It sounded good when he said it to all those who voted for him, but how does the reality of not having a job look now? People acted hastily and the good old days Obama referred to seem like the last 8 years to some on the streets now. We're feeling like a rock tossed down an elevator shaft.

Morgan M., Atlanta (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:28 PM)

>>>Perhaps the final event of his presidential campaign happens tonight, as McCain hosts a party in Virginia to thank the campaign staff.
==========
Maybe Joe the Plumber can hire himself out as a bartender.

64 Days Until Inauguration Day!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:30 PM)

Sounds good. Let see what happens after January 20, 2009. McCain did say he and Governor Palin were going to reform Washington, lets see if he was really serious in helping to do this, and let see if he really knows how to capture Bin Laden, or if it was just a campaign speech.

Diana Owens, Tacoma, Washington (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:33 PM)

Morgan...the stock market was tanking regardless. Your GOP led us down the de-regulation road to disaster. Hope you can live with yourself. Trying to scapegoat Obama won't help you now...

Joe, Nacogdoches, Tx (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:39 PM)

Morgan,

It still hurts huh? You have to blame Obama for the stock market? I guess Paulson coming out and saying he has no idea what he's doing didn't have anything to do with it..I wonder what the market would be like if Obama had not been elected. Every Economist I've heard and read say we'd be way worse than we are now..I diodn't know you were such the Economist..

Time will heal all your hurt..

Brad, Portland,OR (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:41 PM)

Morgan M., Atlanta Give me a break. The Market has been tanking since Sept. Already Limbaugh or Hannity has declared this Obama Recession. He is not even President yet. He will inherit a Government and economy in ruins. You are so transparent in your Bias, that you will out party before country.

This is an American problem that will take years to unravel. Be part of the solution and stop your premptive slander against President- ELECT Obama.

Stratos (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:42 PM)

It is nice that they could issue a joint statement, but I would be more impressed if they would have given a joint statement. A picture of the two standing next to each other and calling for cooperation from both sides of the aisle would have been even more effective than the standard pr routines.

Independent in MO (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:44 PM)

Morgan Atlanta- What are you thinking, Wasnt it Pres Bush that just got 700 Billion dollars from the taxpayer, telling us all we were in trouble. Where have you been, I know youve been listening to Rush. I
know I cant attack you but really where does this come from, you cant be that uneducated. You cant in your wildest dreams think Obama has anything to do with our current situation, Bush has spent and borrowed every penny he could get his hands on, look at our debt, look at our deficit, please explain how you get your information, I know, I know, Rush. Hey
go back to school.

marty

marty,columbia,s.c. (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:45 PM)

Yep, it's Obama getting elected that caused the market troubles. It couldn't possibly be the 30 years of shipping jobs over seas and funneling money up to the ultrarich. Yep it's got to be Obama's fault even though he hasn't served a day as President yet.

Chris, Minneapolis (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:52 PM)

"Since it became apparent that Obama was going to be president, the stock market has dropped like a rock. Did we expect anything else based on what he said he was going to do? Why are people finding this so disturbing? It sounded good when he said it to all those who voted for him, but how does the reality of not having a job look now? People acted hastily and the good old days Obama referred to seem like the last 8 years to some on the streets now. We're feeling like a rock tossed down an elevator shaft."

You really need to lay off the Sean Hannity talking points.

George, Memphis, TN (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:54 PM)

Although McCain ran a devisive campaign, Obama is looking in the other direction, even though he could have been even dirtier than McCain after the election. That shows the character of this man. I would hope that Obama would tap McCain as SEC/Homeland Security. He has the military experience, so it would be wise to use him there.

Kevin ST Pete FL (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:55 PM)

It's strange to me that the anti-Obama crowd is trying to blame him for the problems with the economy. He's not even in office yet!
Look at 8 years of no-see, no-hear, no-speak government under George Bush. Look at a war that was put on a credit card. That's where the blame should be going.
But perhaps you all should just get a life. We need to work TOGETHER, a possibility that's been anathema to Karl Rove and Talk Radio. It is necessary to work together--and do it now.

Mary McCarthy, Taylors SC (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:57 PM)

To Morgan M. from Atlanta -

Your analysis is one of the most irrational things I have ever heard. You obviously don't invest in the market because your stated assertion is patently false and your analysis is at best obviously based on bias (partisanship, bigotry, etc) and at worst intellect. But please stop talking about the economy and for your sake stay out of the market and away from all things complicated.

PS- I hope Obama really focuses on education. We are now 23rd in the world in math and science and it shows.

Stacey (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 4:58 PM)

Morgan M.
Can you really say with a straight face that the drop in the stock market is due to President-Elect Obama? How about the mounting job losses, the major companies on the brink of bankruptcy, the lack of confidence in the current President, the failure to unstop the credit blockage - I could go on and on - how about a complete failure of economic and regulatory policies for the last 8 yrs.

jberry999 (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 5:07 PM)

Morgan M,

Please give it a rest. He is NOT the President yet. His policies have not been implemented. Please wait about 9-12 months before making any comments. I'm sure you voted for Bush twice. Please don't be discouraged. The democrats are back once again to restore fiscal responsibility.

Born in America (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 5:13 PM)

Get over it Morgan...

C (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 5:17 PM)

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