9/11, McCain, Obama truce: 24 hours

by Mark Silva

On the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks this week, the presidential campaign promises a respite from the thunderous back-and-forth of campaign warnings that someone is "dangerously unprepared'' to lead the nation and that someone doesn't get "the lessons of 9/11,'' and someone promising that he knows the world and won't let the nation get "hit again.''

Instead, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama have promised a joint appearance at Ground Zero to deliver a common statement about the nation's commitment to security.

MyGoodDeed.org had urged the candidates to declare a moratorium in campaigning on 9/11. And it's asking the national parties to stand down as well.

"It is a wonderful show of unity and support for 9/11 as a day of service that Sens. McCain and Obama have agreed to appear together at Ground Zero on 9/11," said David Paine, president and co-founder of MyGoodDeed.org, in a statement issued.

"American politics can at times be a contact sport and for both candidates to work together to put aside their differences for the day is remarkable, refreshing and welcome,'' he said. "We hope both parties and other candidates for public office will follow the terrific example being set by their standard-bearers.

"We hope that all candidates will not utilize 9/11 for political purposes, but encourage all people regardless of party or candidate preference to come together in the spirit of unity for the benefit of the families who lost loved ones and for the good of the nation overall."

Well, we'll see how long any truce lasts.

It's likely that, after the seventh anniversary of 9/11, we'll hear more about someone being "dangerously unprepared'' to lead and someone else promising not to let the nation get hit again.