BD

You assume I'm in favor of John McCain.

Big mistake.

Colleen,

Can't argue if the voters in Arizona don't feel he's doing the job for them. If so, they should vote him out.

On the issue of crisis communications as it relates to this. Employees are only one constituency. In crisis situations, disappointing employees by missing a meeting can be very far down on the list of major concerns. Such disappointment can easily be avoided as you said by just telling them why the meeting is postponed. Carter was right in his comments about taking care of decision-making first, communicating those decisions second. It's standard and responsible executive behavior.

In the McCain case, I've said I believe a major part of this is a political gimmick. For example, why did he need to suspend his advertising? That pretty much confirms this as a stunt to some degree. Both he and Obama are doing an awkward dance on this, trying to position themselves in the best light politically. McCain is jumping in, risking his reputation on the outcome. Obama is staying away, hoping not to get splattered with the mess if it all blows up.

These are both calculated campaign strategies, make no mistake. But as senators who are the de facto heads of their parties, they have some clout as negotiations on the bail-out have hit the rocks. Don't underestimate the good McCain and Obama can do here in expediting bill if they so choose. With Obama deciding to keep his distance, however, the only people who seem to object to McCain getting involved are those who would oppose him.

Agreed, Kent.

Unfortunately, this post shows the Ragan staff's obvious political bias and love for Barack Obama. Aren't both Obama and Ragan from the same city?

Jon, you were saying?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkKk2C1W1c

Ah, Carter, please review McCain's voting record and tell me when he has been a responsible leader representing my state. I'm serious. McCain is the poster child for the power of incumbency - elected over and over again based on name recognition of an incumbent not on his performance in representing the people who elected him.

Again, I will go back to the original premise here, if there were a crisis at my company employees would be disappointed if our CEO had to cancel a meeting with them. But if it were a true crisis, the employees would undertstand - although they would expect some message from our CEO regarding that crisis.

But, McCain isn't a CEO or the President and he's missed plenty of other important votes. So why was his presence at this one so urgent? In fact, one could argue that continuing to campaign and debate his position on the economy might have been more effective and more leader-like. Instead, it was all campaign showmanship.

C'mon, folks. The campaign trail is not a job. John McCain is a responsible leader and solid communicator, who is taking time away from campaigning to weigh in on a historic bail out package. In terms of my work with CEOs, I don't know a single CEO who would go forth to a meeting with employees, shareholders or reporters while his board is convening on an important decision. My CEO clients would represent their views with their own boards, then have something substantial to tell employees, shareholders and reporters. Consider the things that John McCain is insisting be in this bill: salary caps for CEOs. Right thing to do? You bet!

"What would your reaction be if, during a financial crunch for your company, he or she postponed meeting with employees?"

That's a bit loaded. Some would argue that his decision to help sort out the financial mess is an action to put most important employees first.

Michael:

If I were John McCain, I would paint the picture of my retreat to the Potomac in the most lurid colors I could imagine. I would say, gravely and pathetically, "My fellow Americans: As you know, I am philosophically and practically opposed to regulation by big government in all its forms. I feel an urgent, imperative duty to fight to the very last breath in my body the legislation that, it is boasted, will fix our financial system. I am needed as a voice of moderation in Washington far more than I am needed in a television station debating Senator Obama. Therefore, as I did in the dark days in Vietnam, I am putting aside all personal considerations to do my duty to my country. I will return to the campaign when the danger is over."

I think McCain's campaign manager must have come to the conclusion that unless McCain gets a couple more weeks for coaching and practice in debate, he will slip even farther behind in the polls. I think Colleen is right when she says that his move will be perceived as statesman-like by his supporters and some of those on the fence.

Just last month I was reading Mencken on the l920 and l924 presidential campaigns and lamenting that we had no rollicking national farces in our presidential races these days. Then, this month in short order: Sarah Palin, Bishop Thomas Muthee, witchcraft, attempts at book censoring, Levi Johnston, allegations of subornation of a high-ranking state official, Bristol Palin, Todd Palin, using shotguns to shoot wolves from a plane, the Bridge to Nowhere, and secession threats from heavily federally-subsidized Alaskan mountain men.

I need not have worried. It is all TOO gorgeous, a thumping, stamping, rampaging, glorious FARCE such as Mencken in his most Rabelaisian mood could not have imagined. And now McCain, off to the front, bravely facing his fate, stiff upper lip, murmuring about his "duty"! No, it's too good to be true.

As a resident of the state that McCain supposedly represents in his real job, I can tell you that he's been missing on the job for a long time. As mentioned in a previous response here, it isn't a great sense of commitment to the residents of Arizona that has propelled him back to Washington. It is simply because he thinks it will score him presidential campaign points.

In times of crisis, employees want to hear from their leaders. Canceling meetings with employees to sequester oneself with the Board of Directors wouldn't sit well with our work force. I'm not saying there aren't events where that would be necessary but as a communicator, I'm just saying I would dread having to put out the cancellation notice.

But don't kid yourselves, McCain's actions have presidential campaign strategy written all over them. "Look at me, I'm taking the high road and doing what's needed to take care of my constituents. I'm putting the greater good ahead of my personal ambition. Doesn't that make me more Presidential?"

Michael, I disagree on the semantics comment. Both Obama and McCain are sitting senators and the nation has been in the midst of a financial crisis that could send the nation into another Depression. Still, I think McCain used the situation as a political gimmick to some extent, but if his presence as a senator to help get some bipartisan support for a recovery plan, and get it done sooner, then it was time well spent. However, I don't fault Obama for not suspending his campaign.

Remember, though, Obama used his position as a senator as the basis for his recent international trip to meet with foreign leaders. So both may be guilty of mixing politics with presumed senatorial duties.

On the issue of 'if it were your CEO.' I've been there. We told employees what was going on and why plans were changed and promised to regroup with them when the crisis passed. They understood, promises were kept, and all was good. Same with shareholders.

"Its clear he wants nothing to do with being Obama. He'll get chewed."

BD - yeah. If I was McCain, I'd be really scared of this man...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxxxGUeZtno

He better pray there's a teleprompter at every debate. What the hell is an "inhalator"???????

Political tacking.

McCain attempts to own the high road by this "right thing to do for the country" claim. Flub from the #1 most absent senator.

He wants to take credit for "bringing people together" when the economy goes to debate.

Key word= when.

The less time he has to stand next to Obama, the better. The less time he has to fumble in front of cameras with his hackneyed understanding of the economy ("it was a Ponzi scheme"), the better.

Stall, delay, change the subject, Sarah Palin!, misdirection, parlor tricks, whatever he has to do to distract attention from his ineptitude.

Its clear he wants nothing to do with being Obama. He'll get chewed.

Kent. Hustler magazine? Deadlines be damned!

I don't believe that the circumstances or question are framed correctly. Perhaps the following scenario would be a better comparison. A) Two members of the Board of Directors want to be CEO and must go to the share holders to be elected to the position of CEO. B) The company is experiencing financial problems as the candidates take to the campaign trail. C) Just prior to a town hall meeting with the employees, the CEO asks all Board members to return to headquarters to come up with a recovery plan prior to Mondays opening of Wall Street. D) One Board member complies with the CEO’s request and one does not.

Question; Which board member is acting more responsibly; the one who returns to Corporate HQ or the one who ignores the request and continues campaigning for shareholders votes?

Please.

Is it only obvious to me that this "break" from campaigning is, in fact, continued campaigning??? Am I the only one that recognizes this a ploy to convince voters that he can "fix" the economy? (as if one man actually can improve an economy)

Obama would be doing the exact same thing right now if only he had thought of it first. It's a classic politician move to try to show that he's more concerned about the country and Americans than he is about his own political advancement.

Seriously. This didn't cross anyone else's mind? Am I that cynical and distrustful of politicians that it's screwed up my perception to the point that I don't see that McCain is actually leaving some sort of "job" and that his actions have some kind of comparable negative impact as that on a company with employees that rely on his day-to-day decisions for their very livelihoods?

No offense, but come on.

Tendentious nonsense. Making speeches and kissing babies is not a job. No one is paying them to do that. And the money they raise is for the expensive show, not compensation for the candidates. One would think that point would not require clarification.
The fact that they have both neglected their jobs while they seek a new one changes nothing.
Whether the present circumstances require they take a break from baby-kissing and return to their job for a few days is a matter of judgment.
Rather like whether your deadline is important enough for you to put down your copy of Hustler for an hour or so.

There are certainly times to take a break, hunker down with experts and try to assure employees and shareholder (or voters and constituents) that all is well. What McCain has shown in this "crisis," of course, is that he is tone deaf, tempermental and is prone to very poor timing. This "time out" comes a week after it could do any good. Recently, he's said the fundamentals of the economy are sound, blasted a SEC head Chris Cox (beloved by the supply-sider base in the GOP), and tried to blame Wall Street's failures on Obama. At best, it now looks like he wants more time to cram for a test (the debates). At worst, it shows that he's ignorant of how to handle domestic policy and a coward for failing to show up to the fight that he picked.

If a CEO suspended an important meeting with all employees at a crucial time for a company, I think that would be a very bad move. That's precisely the time when employees need to hear from their leadership. They are a primary constituent as are shareholders and customers. Silence at such a time sends a message that says either I have no clue what to say to you or you are not important. And that is exactly what McCain is saying to voters. I think this is yet another idiotic ploy on the part of the McCain campaign, which interestingly several of us said yesterday was probably going to rollover into a reason to cancel the VP debate. Lo and behold, that's what's being proposed today. The voters deserve better. Obama had it right, this is the time when we need to hear from them and we need to see them demonstrate that they can handle more than one thing at a time.

Kent,

Semantics.

The personal marketing campaign has become his job over the last year or more, same for Obama. They might collect a paycheck for being a member of the Senate, but both men pull in exponentially more cash as presidential candidates.

Both candidates are among the top three most absent senators in the 110th Congress. McCain has missed 64% of votes (he hasn't voted in Congress since April); Obama has missed 46% of the votes (he last voted in June). Wedged between the two candidates is Tim Johnson, a Democrat from South Dakota, who suffered a life-threatening brain hemorrhage.

Speaking of life threatening brain maladies--and for some more perspective--Sen. Ted Kennedy has voted in the Senate more often than either McCain or Obama.

Check those facts here.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/

So the guise that either candidate is putting his senatorial duties above campaigning is propesterous. It's a ruse.

McCain's actual job is US Senator. Presidential candidate is not a job, it's a personal marketing campaign in pursuit of a better job.
What McCain did was suspend his personal marketing campaign for a few days to do his actual job, the one we are paying him for. Sorta like you dropping your hobby for a few days to meet your deadlines.