So the John McCain is suspending campaign activities for the moment so he can do his job as United States Senator and work on the current financial crisis and bailout vote.  I saw this on Drudge and didn’t really believe it… then I saw it at Michelle Malkin’s site and the AP, and it kind of sunk in.  McCain is also asking the debate commission to postpone Friday’s debate so they can focus on the bailout bill and have a “leadership” meeting (including President Bush and Barack Obama) to try and work out the details and a path forward.

I can hear the liberals now, claiming McCain is scared or not ready, or throwing a Hail Mary to save his Presidential hopes.

Sorry, I don’t buy it.  Disagree with Senator McCain as I often to, I don’t think this bold action is a political calculation.  Its got a 50/50 shot of killing any chance he has in the election, especially with a hugely biased media framing the story.  But unlike some politicians, I believe John McCain sees his duty as Senator as a solemn promise to work on behalf of the country and not his own self interests.  Just as he would rather lose an election than a war, I believe he would rather lose an election than fail the American people at this trying time.

If you paid attention to the talking heads, it was a foregone conclusion that neither McCain nor Obama would show up for the “bailout vote” as its better to leave the political hot potato alone that get in the middle.  But John McCain is not only going to vote, he’s asking for the ball.  When the game is on the line and you are down by one, you give the ball to the team leader who wants it and isn’t afraid to take the last shot.  John McCain wants to take the shot.

Its a stark contrast from someone who votes present 130 times or has a tendency to skip contentious votes.  But now Obama can’t sit idly by.  Will he take the opportunity to lead as well or will he look for someway to pass the ball?

Time will tell, and the election is likely on the line.  But at least John McCain is putting Country First.

>>John McCain’s Statement

UPDATE: Video

UPDATE: Harry Reid can’t help but play politics and continue being an embarassment. After yesterday trying to get McCain to support the bailout and take leadership in the issue:

“We need, now, the Republicans to start producing some votes for us. We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do.”

Reid is now telling John McCain to stay away.

But yesterday, Reid demanded that the White House made sure the legislation had John McCain’s backing, and Reid floated this bogus piece of news clearly intended to force McCain’s hand: “I got some good news in the last hour or so … it appears that Sen. McCain is going to come out for this.” McCain flatly denied that he had endorsed the plan.

So Harry Reid says that it’s essential that John McCain backs legislation designed to avert the greatest economic meltdown since the Great Depression. And when McCain says the highly problematic legislation, in its current form, is not good enough, Reid tells McCain to stay away from Capitol Hill. Who’s playing politics with economic crisis?