Obama-McCain, a symbolic meeting

PRESIDENT-elect Barack Obama and longtime Republican challenger Sen. John McCain meet Monday in Chicago, their first face-to-face encounter since the election. The gathering holds promise for the American people.

Obama pledged in his Election Night speech to be a president for everyone, including voters who supported his opponent. By meeting with McCain, he extends an olive branch to Republican voters who see two grown-up candidates sharing ideas. That was a long, bruising campaign and now the healing must begin.

"It is well known that they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality," said Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.

So even if it is merely a step toward better working relations between Obama and a key Republican senator, the meeting is positive.

The economic problems our country faces cry out for ideas and cooperation from every quarter. For example, it appears the $700 billion bailout supported by McCain and Obama is not working as intended. Banks are hoarding the money and not loosening lending sufficiently.

The new president and Congress will have to fine-tune the package by working across party lines.

The meeting between Obama and McCain is happening in part because friends of the two agreed early on to get them together: Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is a pal of McCain, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel is the Illinois Democrat whom Obama tapped as chief of staff.

The meeting is a good idea for its symbolism of rapprochement and for any nitty-gritty ideas that can be shared to help our nation's gasping economy.