Is it possible to concede that those with political positions opposite your own might nevertheless be patriots?

I’ve been watching the goings on in the Republican camp in the runup to 2016. This can only be achieved by removing all heavy objects from within throwing range of my disgustingly expensive flat screen. It occurs to me every now and then “what if all of these folks truly believe that they have the best interests of the country at heart?” It’s the sort of thing that can drive you crazy.