McCain in Essence Interview: "I will go to the NAACP Convention"

• The following are excerpts from an Essence interview with John McCain released May 20, 2008 in which he declared that he will attend the NAACP Convention after declining last year's invitation.

"ESSENCE: Republican Newt Gingrich said the Republicans should not ignore the African-American and Latino community, but this election year Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani didn’t bother to address the Black community. As the Republican nominee, how will you reach out to the Black community, not only in this election, but afterward?

"McCain: Go to places and venues that would allow me to continue a dialogue with the African-American community. I will go to the NAACP convention.

ESSENCE: You will?

McCain: 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.

ESSENCE: I talked to Condoleezza Rice last year. She said she definitely would not run for president.

McCain: [Laughs] I am happy about that.

ESSENCE: Some in your party believe she would be a great vice-president for you. Is that a consideration?

McCain: I think Condi Rice should be a consideration for any job, including president of the United States, because she is a true American in every respect.

Click here for the full Essence article.