They are going to do ANYTHING to stop Trump...ANYTHING.
This is not just about stopping Trump. It is intended as a signal to any Republican officeholder or candidate of what to expect from opposing the GOP establishment. If they can tear down Trump then who believes they can actually stand against them.
Notice too the extreme amount of vitriol and hate the establishment conservative media has thrown at Trump supporters. Yeah, anyone who gets out of line with the establishment must be punished. That includes the rank and file voters because they dared to defy their authority.