Every RINO’s dream come true.

BURLINGTON, Vt. — President Obama offered some qualified praise for his 2008 GOP rival John McCain, saying that the Arizona senator and onetime presidential rival understood how to work across the aisle and compromise — unlike this year’s Republican contenders.

“In 2008, I was running against a candidate who believed in climate change, believed in immigration reform, believed in reducing deficits in a balanced way,” Obama told about 100 supporters at a fundraiser in Burlington, Vt.

“We had some profound disagreements, but the Republican candidate for president understood that some of these challenges required compromise and bipartisanship.” Obama said.

“And what we’ve witnessed lately is a fundamentally different vision of American and who we are,” Obama said. “It’s a vision that says America is about looking out for yourself, not other people. It’s an America that denies something like climate change, rejects it.”