John McCain Talks to Essence.com

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain continues his (public) quest to run a different type of Republican general election campaign. After appearing in Memphis at the King memorial, in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, and, in Selma, the Arizona Republican now speaks to Essence.com, the website for the well-known magazine geared toward black women. The senator also tells editor Tatsha Roberston he "will go to the NAACP convention."

Oh, yeah. I don’t know any reason why not. I went to Selma and stood at the Edmund Pettus Bridge and talked about the need to include “forgotten Americans.” I will never as long as I live forget the beautiful women of Gees Bend, Alabama, with the quilts. They were singing spirituals. On the first occasion I could find in the White House I would have them sing again. It was so moving. There was a woman there who was 91 years old. Can you imagine the environment she lived in when she was 21? And yet, this woman was full of hope, compassion and forgiveness. But does that mean in my campaign I am going to get a majority of the African-American vote? Probably not. But what it does mean, what I’ve committed to, is assuring and promising all Americans whether they vote for me or not, I am going to be their president. Americans are sick and tired of partisanship and divisions along party lines that cause gridlock and frustration and lack of addressing the issues that confront America.

McCain also reiterates his promise to hold the campaign to a higher standard. Emphasis mine.

Well, I condemned the spot done connecting him to Rev. Wright, but I have not yet seen anything racist.I think the American people want what they are going to get from me and Senator Obama: a spirited, respectful and tough difference of views and principles and philosophies. I have never been involved in any campaign in which I’ve done or said things that I have viewed as dishonorable or inappropriate. I have not always run a perfect campaign, don’t get me wrong, but I know Senator Obama well enough to know that we are going to get it from his campaign. And by the way, it’s going to be tough. We aren’t going to toast marshmallows. But it is going to be fair with clear lines drawn between us. It’s not going to be personal attacks. We are not going to be impugning anyone’s character or patriotism.

During the height of the primary season, McCain and most of the Republican presidential candidates avoided debates in front of predominately black audiences.

In recent years, the Republican brand has never scored very high in the black community, and, is certainly valued much less post Hurricane Katrina and the Bush Administration. There are also no black Republican candidates running for the House or state offices. McCain is carefully recalibrating himself to differentiate from the Bush-Cheney Administration's legacy on civil rights and Katrina. The Arizona Republican might not get many black votes, especially since Obama is likely to become the nominee, but it's important to moderates that he is seen as reaching out.

John McCain: A Man Apart [Essence]
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Comments

[Ryan]

this is just pandering at its worst

McCain is making superficial attempts at trying to "broaden" his political platform to seem more inclusive to ALL, when he and the GOP are closed to MOST...

Does he think black women, no, black people are going to flock to him in droves this November?

sheesh...

[ATL Kid]

I think it's just insurance, Ryan. McCain knows the Republicans will launch their attack machine against Obama and he wants to say that he has nothing to do with it.

[Tony]

*Sits in the devil's advocate seat*

Obama, like Dean, relies upon a 50-state strategy. (Try to) leave no voting block behind. McCain's campaign is just a mirror reflection of Obama's. They both have huge gaps in support and so they have to "pander" to certain groups that show little interest in a particular candidate. McCain with black voters, Obama with middle-class white voters that go for Hillary but say they won't vote for Obama in the fall.

All I'm saying is, if you discredit McCain for trying to make inroads with voters that show little to no interest in him and call it "pandering," just be aware both groups have to do it intensely in the general election. It'll most likely decide the next President.

[Tony]

(But I also think to some extent it's insurance, as the second commenter says.)

[ATL Kid]

Tony, umm, Howard Dean "had" a 50 state strategy in 2006. It's now very clear that Dean, Pelosi, Obama et al have a "48 state" strategy. Or maybe fewer, seeing that many pundits and bloggers say Democrats "don't need" certain states and voting groups in November.

[Rod Mc]

LUTHER: You make some great points. I'm totally opposed to McCain and am against many of his positions, but, will give credit where credit is due. He makes an effort.

OTOH, I don't think he means it, lol, but he's trying to position himself as the anti-Bush.

And please feel free to comment in any threads. Didn't mean to sound too harsh in that other post.

ATL KID: You may be onto something. It seems like McCain is trying to blunt the "McBush/McSame" argument (which probably won't be too effective) and also trying to be his own man.

ATL KID/TONY: The Democrats "used" to stand for counting every vote and "used" to a 50 state strategy. Not sure what they plan to do in the fall with their mess in MI/FL.