| | Obama, McCain see 'need to launch a new era of reform'
 Barack Obama and John McCain sat down Monday afternoon for the virtually unprecedented meeting of former presidential rivals.
After the meeting, the two released a joint statement through the president-elect's transiton office.
Joint statement from President-elect Barack Obama and U.S. Senator John McCain:
“At this defining moment in history, we believe that Americans of all parties want and need their leaders to come together and change the bad habits of Washington so that we can solve the common and urgent challenges of our time. It is in this spirit that we had a productive conversation today about the need to launch a new era of reform where we take on government waste and bitter partisanship in Washington in order to restore trust in government, and bring back prosperity and opportunity for every hardworking American family. We hope to work together in the days and months ahead on critical challenges like solving our financial crisis, creating a new energy economy, and protecting our nation’s security.” Reporters were briefly allowed into the meeting for a photo-op before the two spoke in depth.
"We’re going to have a good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country, and also to offer thanks to Sen. McCain for the outstanding service he’s already rendered," Obama said, according to a pool report.
Poll reporter Ken Bazinet, of the New York Daily News noted the body language of the meeting participants, Obama, McCain, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
"It appeared the four principals had been joking as we entered the room," Bazinet wrote. "They seemed like they were loose and comfortable with each other. The President-elect and Rahm were clearly in a good place, joking and smiling with each and your pool. There were, indeed, smiles on all four faces."
Asked if he would help President-elect Obama with his administration, McCain replied "obviously." Reporters were quickly ushered out of the room, and Obama demurred when asked his opinion of a proposed bailout for the US auto industry.
Obama's transition team is expected to release more details of the meeting after it ends. McCain and Obama were expected to discuss advancing priorities where their interests overlap, such as transparency in government, climate change and immigration.
This video is from MSNBC's News Live, broadcast Nov. 17, 2008.
Download video via RawReplay.com
The full pool report, from the New York Daily News' Ken Bazinet, is reprinted below:Your pool swept into the conference room in the Presidential Transition Office on the 38th floor of the Kluczynski Federal Building in downtown Chicago at 11:15 a.m. for the top of the pow wow between President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
Asked about the goal of the meeting, Mr. Obama said, “We’re going to have a good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country, and also to offer thanks to Sen. McCain for the outstanding service he’s already rendered.”
Sen. McCain was asked whether he would help Mr. Obama with his administration, and he responded, “Obviously.”
Your pool tried to get the President-elect to answer a question on the auto industry bail out, but was shouted down by the pool sherpas. Mr. Obama finally said with a smile, “You’re incorrigible.”
Sitting around a coffee table, with three U.S. flags behind them, were: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), President-elect Barack Obama and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the chief-of-staff-designate.
Your pool was in and out in about three minutes. An addendum was sent later Monday afternoon:Couple of things: all times listed in the pool report today are central standard time, and at the request of a colleague back in Washington, a few note on the body language:
It appeared the four principals had been joking as we entered the room. They seemed like they were loose and comfortable with each other. The President-elect and Rahm were clearly in a good place, joking and smiling with each and your pool. There were, indeed, smiles on all four faces.
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