NewsBusters reports Schieffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Save Bailout (follow link for video).
Here was Schieffer speaking with the Early Show’s Maggie Rodriguez at 7:05 AM EDT today:
BOB SCHIEFFER: I am told, Maggie, that the way McCain got involved in this in the first place, the Treasury Secretary was briefing Republicans in the House yesterday, the Republican conference, asked how many were ready to support the bailout plan. Only four of them held up their hands. Paulson then called, according to my sources, Senator Lindsey Graham, who is very close to John McCain, and told him: you’ve got to get the people in the McCain campaign, you’ve got to convince John McCain to give these Republicans some political cover. If you don’t do that, this whole bailout plan is going to fail. So that’s how, McCain, apparently, became involved.
Continued Schieffer . . .
SCHIEFFER: He has gotten what he wants, he’s going to have this meeting, kind of a summit today with the president and Barack Obama. I’m told that the leaders of both parties are getting close to having some kind of a bill. The question, though, is whether rank-and-file Republicans, especially, are going to vote for this.
…And that’s where McCain comes in.
This certainly contradicts the spin that Senator McCain was motivated by politics. The fact remains that no one really knows how this will all play out. No one knows how much of the current events in Washington are influenced by politics. What is known is that there is an economic crisis that needs to be addressed, and the role Senator McCain is playing is significant.
No one told McCain to make a press conference or suspend his campaign (which he said he did but didn’t) or rush to Washington.
McCain could have telephone those party members and talk to them.
McCain did this big grand of display of so-called “leadership” and now it’s backfiring in his face.
Also you need to watch the news it’s not looking good for your man.
By: j on September 25, 2008
at 6:20 pm
[...] Scheiffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Return to Washington [...]
By: Scheiffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Return to Washington « Blogs for McCain on September 25, 2008
at 6:26 pm
[...] Scheiffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Return to Washington [...]
By: Blogs For John McCain’s Victory » Scheiffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Return to Washington on September 25, 2008
at 6:29 pm
[...] Scheiffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Return to Washington [...]
By: Scheiffer: Paulson Pleaded for McCain to Return to Washington | Grizzly Groundswell on September 25, 2008
at 6:31 pm
J.
A phone call, really?
By: BA on September 25, 2008
at 8:36 pm
The sad thing is………..Yes it really is that simple.
I am not sure if you’ve been watching or reading the news. McCain went to Washington and guess what…………………………………….NOTHING HAPPENED!
Some of the Republicans that are not with this bailout (which I am not saying is a good one) still are against it and John McCain’s influence means nothing to them.
Actually something did happen McCain mad it actually worse than it was before.
So maybe just making a CALL could have been a better sign of leadership.
By: Heavenly on September 25, 2008
at 9:00 pm
Oh yea this is me J.
By: Heavenly on September 25, 2008
at 9:01 pm
McCain is well respected and he is truly a “COUNTRY FIRST” type of guy!!! Americans donot want to hear a debate on foreign policy tomorow night when our financial future is hanging in the balance! Mc cain wanted 10 town hall debates with obama and obama wouldn’t agree to it- so why is obama so nuts to do it Friday???
I wish McCain would call for Dodd, Franks, Raines and Johnson (Obama’s economic advisors) to be questioned under oath by the FBI for millions they have received from Fannie and Freddie!!! Obama is a crook!!! along with his associates!
By: arlan on September 25, 2008
at 9:35 pm
Did you see what kind of stunt he pulled today?
Please go and watch or read the news that is out and come back to tell me you still think McCain is “COUNTRY FIRST type of guy”.
Also look at different type of news sources not just conservative sources.
I personally visit different news sources Conservative, Liberal, and Independent. I don’t like to get one sided news.
By: Heavenly on September 25, 2008
at 10:05 pm
Let me see now were 1 trillion dollars behind the eight ball and Obama says he can handle this with his cell phone? Anyone that doesn’t see what a nutjob Obama is by now never will.
By: grannie on September 25, 2008
at 10:38 pm
The only thing Obama knows how to do with money is spend it. His convention is witness to that. Everyone should send Obama more money so he can spend it for you on lavish conventions and trips overseas to pretend he is the ONE. While you stand in the soup line.
By: grannie on September 25, 2008
at 10:40 pm
McCain has become a joke and Palin is even funnier.
McCain by his own admission doesn’t know anything about economics, last week thought everything was OK, isn’t on any financial committees, and hasn’t been involved in the non-stop discussions about the bailout that have taken place the last week. Now as a political stunt he heads back to Washington and sits on his hands at the end of a meeting. If he had any effect, it was negative.
Palin answering questions to Katey C. was the most embarrassing pathetic display I have ever seen by a VP or President canidate, and I have voted since Nixon. I really believe I could have done a better job.
McConfused is not a Country First type of guy. Maybe he used to be, but he’s sold his soul to the devil to get elected, and it seems that everything has begun to impale. I think I’ll go with intelligence and common sense: Obama.
By: meb on September 25, 2008
at 10:45 pm
you rethugs need to face the facts. McBush & his sidekick Miss Moosenuggets are unfit for the presidency. Quit making excuses for these incompetent bitches.
By: Pastor Muthee on September 25, 2008
at 11:46 pm
McCain’s energy plan is superior to Obama’s in that he want’s to increase the supply of fossil fuels.
Remember that the chemical industry depends on oil and natural gas for useful and important chemicals for inks,coatings.lubricants,sealants,solvents., & polystyrene plastics. A loaf of bread has freight costs associated with it,packaging ink costs and energy use costs.
Obama wants to tax the oil companies and give tax breaks to help offset high energy costs.
He mentions nothing about the inflationary costs of necessary petrochemicals ( derived from oil) used in our economy.
Some chemicals can be derived from coal.
So one can deduce that McCain’s plan will help the economy more than Obama’s and Pelosi’s.
By: Paul on September 26, 2008
at 12:20 am
You Obama supporters have the most hilarious way of supporting your candidate. I guess the only option you have is to make up weak slurs when you have a dweeb candidate who hasn’t done one thing for his constituents, EVER. By now you’ve had enough time to look for the shreds of something to use as an accomplishment. Since all that is ever posted is the same old drivel about age, or sex or race or some conspiracy you simply can’t find a thing to bolster your candidate.
Well, in case you haven’t noticed, negative put downs without a single accomplishment for your guy is helping the opposition.
I think it’s a little too soon to tell if McCain has done his job for his country on this one. I hope the Repub house members have extracted the ACORN payments and the Durbin deal for redistributing the monies for each recalculated loan because there will NOT be agreement until that and all the other lard is gone. If you want to pay billions of dollars in taxes for your special interests that’s up to you but I don’t think the other side of the aisle is going to go along. Americans are disgusted with the Congress and their games and it’s an opportunity turn the tide. McCain is a doer and Obama is a talker (he has his phone).
By: eyes wide open on September 26, 2008
at 12:23 am
How many media outlets will report this? The Dems are currently trying to blame Senator McCain for the failure of a proposal that had not and was not going to be accepted by the Republicans.
By: kgdn54 on September 26, 2008
at 12:48 am
[...] and Paulson had asked McCain to come to DC to help. Paulson then called, according to my sources, Senator Lindsey Graham, who is very close to John McCain, and told him: you’ve got to get the people in the McCain campaign, you’ve got to convince John McCain to give these Republicans some political cover. If you don’t do that, this whole bailout plan is going to fail. So that’s how, McCain, apparently, became involved. [...]
By: McCain’s gamble « Not Your Sweetie on September 26, 2008
at 4:42 am