Senate Democrats' Final Comments On McCain's "Help"

You got a huge sense of irritation from many people on Capitol Hill last week when Republican presidential nominee John McCain pulled his stunt of "suspending" his campaign and going back to Washington to "work on" the nation's economic crisis -- much like the resignation felt by a parent who takes twice as long to do a household chore because their toddler "helped."

Here's some final comments from key Senate Democrats on just how helpful McCain was:

Dick Durbin (D-IL)

"I am glad John McCain is back on the Presidential trail. His visit to Washington didn't help a bit. It hurt. It riled up and roiled up all the political forces in this town because he summoned the Presidential campaign to Capitol Hill. That didn't help one bit. He needs to get back running for President."

Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

"Senator McCain's desire, even though he had not been involved in this legislation at all, to fly in put another fly in the ointment and created more trouble. I have not heard Senator McCain offer one constructive remark. We don't know what he supports. Does he support the House plan? Does he support the President's plan? Does he have his own plan?

"By all reports, he hardly spoke at the [White House] meeting, which was his opportunity to try and do something. He spoke at the end and didn't say what his views were as to whether he supported each plan… We need the President to respectfully tell Senator McCain to get out of town. He is not helping. He is harming."

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

"The Republican Presidential nominee parachuted in, ran back and forth on both sides of the Capitol and huffed and puffed. Huffing and puffing will not do it. We have had too much huff, we have had too much puff, and there is now a need for Presidential leadership. I am glad the Republican nominee decided to go to Mississippi and debate."