McCain Defends Palin, Calls for Political Civility

In the aftermath of the Tucson, Ariz., shootings that wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama is a sincere "patriot" and defends Sarah Palin from criticism generated by the tragedy. In an op-ed for Sunday's Washington Post, McCain also assumes some responsibility for harsh political rhetoric of the past, reports ABCNews.com.

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

Although he doesn't mention Palin by name in the op-ed, McCain seemingly rises to her defense for the way she reacted in a video that she released earlier in the week.

"Political leaders are not and cannot reasonably be expected to be indifferent to the cruelest calumnies aimed at their character," he writes.