Obama, McCain: Suspend Campaigning, Fix Ailing Economy!

Lehman Brothers emits death rattles as it huddles under the cover of Federal bankruptcy protection. AIG swerves to avoid a fatality, shaking out $85 billion in Federal bailout loans to guide it back to health. Contagion creeps up on Wachovia, Washington Mutual, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, their ability to recover still uncertain despite optimistic gains recorded late Thursday afternoon. Not only are the United States stock market and banking system at risk, the world economy is shuddering with each new threat to its survival.

According to AP, President George W. Bush, in what is probably the most astute act of his presidency, canceled an out of town trip Thursday and instead closeted himself with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in the hopes of devising an economy-reviving strategy.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain careened away from lipstick smears and kindergarten sex education scare tactics to focus on the Wall Street debacle that threatens the U.S. and world economies. Obama attributed the crisis to the same economic philosopy John McCain subscribes to, according to a Wall Street Journal report, while McCain blamed it on an outdated regulatory framework. Both candidates were quick to point out that they would reform the markets if elected.

AP reported Thursday that John McCain said he would fire Christopher Cox, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, if he were the President right now.

Instead of finding fault and promising reform, both candidates should suspend campaigning, roll up their sleeves, and get to work with the rest of Congress to forestall Great Depression quality disaster. Senators Obama and McCain are elected public officials who are needed to do the job they have already been elected to do before things get worse. If they won't do their current jobs effectively, why should Americans trust either one of them to become President?