The old John McCain was back Sunday, writing a gallant tribute to President Obama – and delivering a veiled rebuke to former running mate Sarah Palin.

The Arizona senator who ran against Obama and was clearly deeply embittered by his loss, praised the President�s call in Arizona for greater civility as a �terrific speech.�

Obama, he said, �comforted and inspired the country.�

�We should be mindful as we argue about our differences that so much more unites than divides us,� McCain wrote in The Washington Post.

�Our political discourse should be more civil than it currently is, and we all, myself included, bear some responsibility for it not being so.�

Taking on those heated voices from the Tea Party fringes who call Obama a Nazi, a usurper, or an outright agent of evil, McCain wrote:
�I disagree with many of the President�s policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country�s cause.

�I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals,� he wrote.

That stands in stark contrast to Palin, who has called Obama�s policies �un-American� and just last week accused him of being �hellbent on weakening America.�

McCain offered some support to Palin, whose gun-happy political rhetoric was blamed by some for the Tucson massacre by a lone nut with no clear political agenda.

�Imagine how it must feel to have watched one week ago the incomprehensible massacre of innocents�and to have heard in the coverage of that tragedy voices accusing you of complicity in it,� he wrote.

But then McCain appeared to chide Palin�s defensive response, in which she rejected calls to tone down the political vitriol as attempts to �muzzle dissent.�

McCain wrote: �It is not beyond us to do better; to behave more modestly and courteously and respectfully toward one another.�

Influential Washington Post columnist Dan Balz said the column should be the beginning of a thaw between McCain and Obama, who have been wary adversaries since 2008.

�Not since his gracious concession speech on the night of the election has McCain spoken so generously of his rival,� Balz wrote. �Obama should not let the opportunity pass to reach out to McCain in return.�

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(Source: NY Daily News)