George W. Bush and other republicans generally refuse the NAACP's invitation to speak at the annual conference, but in this particular election year, John McCain knows whats good for him. He followed Barack Obama onto the NAACP podium this morning and spoke in front of a crowd he's not completely used to about issues he's not particularly interested in. That's politics.

While Mr. McCain referred to the economic downturn that is linked to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, saying “our country is passing through a very tough time,” his focus was on another subject in which African-Americans are eager to make up ground: education. He spoke at length about expanding scholarship opportunities, offering families more choice, strengthening and expanding charter schools and giving teachers and principals more autonomy.

My guess is that more than a few people in the audience were thinking, "yeah, right." Wisely, considering the crowd, McCain also took pains to grudgingly praise Barack Obama.

“Don’t tell him I said this, but he is an impressive fellow in many ways,” Mr. McCain said of Mr. Obama. “He has inspired a great many Americans, some of whom had wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. His success should make Americans, all Americans, proud. Of course, I would prefer his success not continue quite as long as he hopes. But it makes me proud to know the country I’ve loved and served all my life is still a work in progress, and always improving.

[NYT]