[The_Victor]

I'm an American first, and a conservative second. Somewhere down the line I'm also a Republican.

I understand you desire to be true to principal in this, and I will not slam anyone making a stand on principal. But if a vote against moderate Republicans gets a democRAT elected, then you've hurt America. The current condition is too tenuous to allow for the left to even gain a temporary foothold in control of his country. We need to guard against short term damage that could throw us completely and irrevocably off course. A RINO is still better than a democRAT, IMHO.

[Vicomte13]

"But if a vote against moderate Republicans gets a democRAT elected, then you've hurt America."

Perhaps.
But then again, perhaps it is the "RINO" who has hurt America, and the vote against him excised the rot.

Yes, it means a Democrat, in the short term, but it may also mean a more conservative Republican Party, in the long term. If conservative values really are minoritarian in America, then they can't win in the end anyway, because America is at root a democracy. But if conservative values really are the majority view, then the vicissitudes of political fortunes will not prevent the return of conservatives to power.

The better solution is for the RINOs to cave here, and not inflict a defeat on the Republican Party and the Republic.

[RavenATB]

"A RINO is still better than a democRAT, IMHO"

You may be right. But then, you may be thinking only "short term."