by John McCormick, updated
After fiercely competing against each other for five months, President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain are scheduled to have their first post-election meeting Monday at the transition headquarters in Chicago.
"It's well known that they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality," transition spokesperson Stephanie Cutter said in a statement.
The president-elect and the Arizona Republican will be joined by Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and close McCain friend, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Democrat who will serve as Obama's White House chief of staff.
In August, when asked what role McCain might play in a then only hypothetical Obama administration, the Democratic nominee had seemed to suggest not much of one and that McCain could best serve in the Senate.
"Senator McCain, I would have him serve in the role of loyal opposition," he said. "In the minority."
But Obama also made the point that he values having opponents around him.
"It's important to have an opposition that is keeping you on your toes and giving you a hard time and calling you out if you're not doing what you say you're going to do," he said on Aug. 2, in Titusville, Fla.
Comments
Well. . .This is certainly good news. I am heartened to learn that Senator
McCain retains his good citizen persona and that President-Elect Obama retains his willingness to listen and work with the loyal opposition.
What could be better than that?
Posted by: Barbara | November 14, 2008 9:53 AM
This is a very good sign for Obama; now all he has to do is distance himself from Nancy Pelosi and Henry Reid and he may have a chance for bringing about change.
Posted by: David G | November 14, 2008 10:17 AM
This will drive the dittoheads nuts.
Posted by: RomanB | November 14, 2008 10:50 AM
I smell something very fishy here. McCain gave up his run so easily and now he's going to meet with The One? McCain only pretended to run for president; now what is he going to get in return for giving the election to B.O.? Watch and see.
Posted by: Sheila | November 14, 2008 11:27 AM
Wouldn't it be something if President O appointed Senator M as Secretary of Defense. Wow would that be a statement of unity!
Posted by: duhVictory | November 14, 2008 11:38 AM
If McCain is offered a high seat in the Administration that would show that both Obama and McCain are Mavericks of reform...
Posted by: Maximillion | November 14, 2008 12:43 PM
Amen! David, No. 2--but I wouldn't hold my breath on any of it! Obama has apologized to Nancy Reagan since his election and now Emmanuel is apologizing to the Arab community for something his father supposedly said---looks like at this point is all they can do is stick their "foot in their mouth". Most don't apologize unless they get caught!!!
Posted by: Skully | November 14, 2008 1:08 PM
True to his word.
All Americans united.
It's a good thing
Posted by: Mike | November 14, 2008 1:30 PM
McCain at 72 with four bouts of cancer, one foot in the grave, what the public witnessed during his campaign, his selection of Palin the nit wit know nothing and insisting that she has all the experience needed, is out of touch. Additionally Lindsey Graham tagging along and these conservative republicans adhering to their perverse ideology of inequality, rights only of their kind will be an impediment to any real change and progress.
Both Graham and McCain voted 90% of the time with Bush and his megalomania BS.
On top of it the US Senate is about the most dysfunctional, inefficient, unproductive and unrepresentative body.
Posted by: winemaster2 | November 14, 2008 2:36 PM
A very smart move.
One of the things they can talk about is fixing immigration, since Graham and McCain almost passed the reform bill in July 07.
If Barack wants to keep that 66% of the Hispanic vote, he'll fix some things in the Nationality Act which have screwed up some family member of every Hispanic voter. Here's a quick start. Don't even have to read the instruction book:
Reinstate 212(c) and 245(i).
Just as simple as that.
Leave a massive re-write for later.
When the Repugs got rid of those 2 provisions, in 96 and 2000 respectively, they created so much hardship for the Hispanics that 66% voted for Obama.
Now, they expect Obama to afford some relief and reinstating these provisions, retroactive to their repeal, would provide instant relief to many and repay a debt to the Hispanic vote.
Posted by: ornery | November 15, 2008 12:00 PM