His WH has "bent the rules", which by the way is his prerogative regarding flag protocol, for others. There is no flag protocol regarding flying the flag at half staff for former first ladies, yet Mrs. Bush was given the honor of the WH flag at half staff until her burial. And was an appropriate gesture. So he's bent to emotion before.
Despite McCain, the President should have been the bigger man. But the President made and took it personal and in the end, he lost. The flag is at half staff.