Interview Cont.

ESSENCE: The media outlets are talking about the interview you had with a Sky News reporter who said that at one point you said we have to deal with Hamas leaders. How is that different from what Obama said?

McCain: It’s well established that was a total false allegation. In our statement I said that Hamas’ behavior will determine our relations. I made it very clear that they have to renounce their intentions to destroy the state of Israel.

ESSENCE: The issue of race has been creeping into the election, especially between the Democratic candidates. And some believe Republicans will use race against Obama. How will you relay to your party that this election should be issue-driven, or do you think race should be part of the discussion?

McCain: First I would like to say I respect Senator Obama enormously, and the effect he has had on Americans, including young Americans and the level of enthusiasm he inspires. The differences we have are simply differences in political philosophy. Already I have strongly objected to and condemned some messages that have been put out against Senator Obama’s character or have any overtones that are not appropriate for the United States of America.

ESSENCE: You mean racial overtones?

McCain: 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.

ESSENCE: Whenever I’m interviewing someone, I ask regular people if there is one thing they would like to ask the person I’m questioning?

McCain: Good!

ESSENCE: So I asked my neighbor Julio Rosa, who is African-American and Latino. I thought he was going to say something about Black men or Latino men, but he said “Ask McCain how can he help us with the gas prices?” He said it’s almost 4 dollars. How do we go to work? That was really a concern for him.

McCain: Energy independence. We have to become independent of foreign oil. We have to marshal the innovation and talents of America to take on one of the greatest challenges of our time. We got to become independent of the Saudis. That means we are going to have to come up with these clean, cold technologies: nuclear, wind, solar, hybrid cars.

ESSENCE: But what about tomorrow or next week?

McCain: Look, the only thing I wanted to do—and I was criticized heavily for it—is give a break from gas tax: 18.5 cents out of every gallon that Julio buys is in the form of tax. I just wanted to give him a little relief for the summer.

ESSENCE: But many people said that wasn’t going to work, especially Senator Obama and many economists.

McCain: Look, there is a woman I know who works in maintenance. She drives 40 or 50 miles to work, and she drives an older car. The rich people live in Georgetown; they can walk to work. Gas taxes are regressive on lower-income people. Why not give them a little relief? Some economists were saying, “Oh no, this is the end of Western civilization!” But my thinking was, Maybe they can buy some school supplies for their children