You make an excellent point. There is, most unfortunately, a major confusion among many Conservatives, as to how to define a Conservative--or how to define the Left/Right dichotomy.
A measure that defines the divide in terms of commitment to a particular people--as for example the rooted American people, or the landed class in 1789 France--and those who have antagonistic interests, can be just as valid as adherence to a litany of stands on issues that may or may not be recognized as immediately relevant to one's human commitments--to the interests one wants to conserve.
Most of those litany of stands, may not be seen as necessary to sort, by the individual committed to his own people, absent some focusing factor. This does not make a rejection of his standing by the people to whom he gives his loyalty, a rational rejection.
If Americans who want Donald Trump to take stronger ideological stands on certain issues, would first accept his basic loyalty; and follow up by urging his consideration of why those stands are important for the pursuit of the interests of the rooted American population; they might help bring us all better together.
This endless harping on what he did years ago, when he was focused on his personal business, not saving the American heritage, is counter-productive.
Excellent post.