WORLD> America
|
WORLD> America
|
|
Dems, some in GOP question McCain's intervention
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-26 11:01 President Bush's biggest worry is House Republicans, many of whom are balking at his plan. Several said it was essential that both McCain and Sen. Obama back some legislative package together. "If McCain and Obama would stand together and take this off the table" as a sharply partisan issue, then wary House Republicans might get on board, said Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.
In truth, McCain has faced a no-win situation for days. To support the bailout or a similar plan could put him at odds with millions of voters and many House Republicans at a time his campaign is sliding in the polls. Also, McCain has struggled to distance himself from the unpopular Bush, and embracing the administration's plan clearly would not help. Obama has an easier path. No one will accuse him of being a Bush clone even if he ends up siding with the administration. And Democrats in general are more receptive to government regulation of powerful institutions. McCain's other option was worse. Opposing some version of a financial rescue plan would open him to fierce accusations of walking away from a national crisis. And if a congressional impasse triggers more Wall Street catastrophes, as the administration says it would, the criticism would be still worse. McCain's only real option was to say, "I'm the leader, I'm going to put country first," said Republican consultant John Feehery. McCain tried to do that Wednesday. Going before TV cameras shortly before Obama did, he signaled his likely support for some version of the costly plan and urged Bush to convene a meeting including Obama. Bush did so, giving McCain and his backers a chance to claim some leadership credit. "It seemed like this deal yesterday was very close to dead," McCain adviser Mike DuHaime told Fox News on Thursday. "I think you've seen tremendous progress since he made that announcement." He noted that Reid earlier had called on McCain to take a stand on the bailout issue, only to rebuke him when he took a larger role. Democrats were scornful. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the chief House Democrat on the bill, said late Wednesday, "all of a sudden, now that we are on the verge of making a deal, John McCain airdrops himself to help us make the deal." McCain met separately with House and Senate Republicans in the Capitol Thursday, before the White House session. He did not attend meetings where the bailout legislation was being hashed out. Even if McCain fully embraces a bailout package, many Republican candidates elsewhere on ballots will not go along. Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican who is retiring, said he probably will vote for whatever plan emerges. But the Republican running to replace him, LaHood said, "is running against it. Everyone's running against it."
|
