From Obama to Bush: Top quotes from John McCain’s funeral that shine a light on his towering legacy

Obama, who beat McCain in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, hailed the one-time prisoner of war for his commitment to truth and core democratic values, qualities that some critics see lacking in Trump, a former reality television star and New York City real estate mogul.

"President Bush and I are among the fortunate few who competed against John at the highest levels of politics. He made us better presidents just as he made the Senate better, just as he makes this country better," Obama said.

"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," Obama said. "It's a politics that pretends to be brave and tough, but in fact is born in fear. John called on us to be bigger than that. He called on us to be better than that."

Source: Reuters

"We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served," she said, speaking forcefully and, at times, through tears.

Taking aim at Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again," she said McCain's America was always great."Love defined my father. ... I miss him so badly. "My father is gone. My father is gone and my sorrow is immense, but I know his life, and I know it was great because it was good."

Source: Reuters

Bush, in his eulogy, described McCain as a man with a code.
"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," Bush said. "Perhaps above all, John detested the abuse of power. He could not abide bigots and swaggering despots."

Source: Reuters 

"He was honest, fair, and civilized. In all the times we were together, I never heard him say a bigoted word about anyone," Lieberman recalled.

"Personally, I can tell you that was a real friend in accommodating what were to him my unusual practices as a religiously observant Jew.Right now I think he is probably deriving some pleasure from the fact it turned out his funeral was held on a Saturday and I had to walk to get here. I'm sure if he were here now, he would tell me that was divine justice."

Source: Reuters

"John returned to America divided over its presidency, divided over the war. Amidst all of the turmoil and civic unrest, divided over the best way to protect our country and over whether it should be respected for its power or its ideals." He added: "None of us will ever forget how even in his parting John has bestowed on us a much needed moment of unity and renewed faith in the possibilities of America. Henceforth, the country's honor is ours to sustain."

Source: Reuters