My brother Tony, who died ten years ago, and I were on opposite sides of the political spectrum. He was a conservative on fiscal matters and a libertarian on social issues. He had no use for Christian evangelicals bent on banning abortions and preventing same-sex marriages. We rarely talked politics because things got too heated. One time after a robust discussion, we cooled down enough to agree that there was one politician whom we could both support: John McCain.

That discussion occurred, incidentally, before McCain’s disastrous decision to name Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008. We later learned that McCain had wanted to pick Joe Lieberman, but that his campaign aides convinced him to choose Palin, reasoning that she would add excitement to the ticket. That was a big mistake for the campaign and, in truth, for America. Palin, in retrospect, paved the way for later divisive candidates prone to incivility, namecalling, race-baiting, mediabashing and truth-shading — all under the guise of “telling it like it is.”

I fondly remember the moment during the 2008 campaign when a woman at a McCain event referred to Barack Obama as “an Arab,” a conclusion fueled by right-wing media and Trump-fueled questions about Obama’s birth certificate. McCain spoke right to her: “He’s a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign is all about.”

Years later, when Barack Obama first learned of McCain’s cancer diagnosis, he said, “John McCain is an American hero and one of the bravest fighters I’ve ever known.”

McCain made mistakes in his life (Sarah Palin), and insiders note that he had a fierce temper. That said, he had an impish sense of humor, and he developed deep friendships with people on both sides of the aisle. He loved the United States, and he stood up for strong American values, always putting country over party at the end of the day.

Donald Trump was no fan of John McCain, as he considered the Arizona Senator a traitor for his vote against repealing Obamacare and for being insufficiently obsequious. McCain, in turn, was no fan of Trump because of Trump’s lack of respect for the office, for civility and for the Constitution.

McCain planned his own memorial service and, in the process, got in the last word. Neither Donald Trump nor Sarah Palin were invited to attend. The speakers included Democrats, an African- American, a Mexican-American and a Navajo flutist — not exactly the make-up of a typical Trump rally. Their words and music and spirit exemplified the very best of America.

“John understood that America was first and foremost an idea, audacious and risky, organized around not tribe but ideals,” said former Vice President Joe Biden.

Grant Woods, McCain’s first congressional chief of staff, and a former Arizona attorney general said, “He would not stand by as people try to trample the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment.”

Tommy Espinoza, a Mexican American leader, said, “He understood all of us — whether it was white, black, brown, Asian, to him it didn’t make any difference — what he knew is that we all make America.”

Yes, we all make America. And we will all miss John McCain’s leadership in exemplifying American values. Hopefully, some other leaders will step up and follow his example, putting country over party. In next week’s column (“Making America America Again”) I will give my take on some of our shared values.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little

Old” columns. [email protected]