Whether you think the bailout is the right thing or not, I have to question Barack [redacted] Obama’s decision to not delay the debate. While it is true that the President has to do more than one thing at a time, adressing an issue like this takes more than the time that the debate and preparations would leave them. Both men were sent to Washington to do take care of issues like this, and failing to do so is hardly respecting your duty to you constituents or your country. 

On the other hand, I suppose his “present” vote would hardly be different than being absent.