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At washington national cathedral the keepers of american power all sang or hummed along to "america the beautiful," a salute to mccain who, maybe more than anyone, his country loved. two eulogies spoke to mccain's and america's aspiration for something higher, a moral clarity carried in the naval aviator's old scars. mccain should be judged for whom he abhorred and those whose causes he carried. >> john detested the abuse of power. he could not abide bigots and swaggering despots. there was something that made him stand up for the little guy, forever tempted to forget who we are and to grow we...

Borders and cannot be erased by dictators. perhaps above all, john detested the abuse of power, could not abide bigots and swaggering despots. >> so much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking and bombast and insult and phony controversies and manufactured outrage. it's a politics that pretends to be brave and tough but in fact, is born of fear. >> america does not boast because she has no need to. the america of john mccain has no need to be made great again because america was always great.

He loved freedom with a passion of a man who knew its absence. he respected the dignity inherent in every life, a dignity that does not stop at borders and cannot be erased by dictators. perhaps above all, john detested the abuse of power. he could not abide bigots and swaggering despots. >> joining us now, david axelrod and jeff zeleny. jeff, of course, is our senior white house correspondent. david was the chief strategist for president obama's presidential campaigns and his senior adviser in the white house. jeff, before we get into the politics of everything, that was said today, i want to...

Dictators. perhaps above all, john detested the abuse of power. could not abide bigots and swaggering despots. there was something inside him that made him stand up for the little guy, to speak for forgotten people and forgotten places. >> so much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse, can seem small and mean and petty. trafficking in bombast and insult and phony controversies and manufactured outrage. it's a politics that pretends to be brave and tough but, in fact, is born of fear. john called on us to be bigger than that. he called on us to be better

>> john was above all a man with a code. he lived bye a set of public virtues that brought strength and purpose to his life and to his country. he was courageous, with a courage that frightened his captors and inspired his countrymen. he was honest, no matter whom it offended. presidents were not spared. he was honorable, always recognizing that his opponents were still patriots and human beings. he loved freedom, with the passion of a man who knew its absence. he respected the dignity inherent in every life, a dignity that does not stop at borders and cannot be erased by dictators. perhaps ab...