And why is it any less true to say it this way?
"Then don't vote for GOP candidates and expect anything other than a leftward turn for the country."
If we give Republicans our vote, no matter what leftist positions they take, then they have no incentive whatsoever to change their positions. They can have their cake and eat it too - getting votes from mushy moderates and liberals by expanding government, and keeping the conservatives on the planation with vague threats about how much worse it will be under Democrats.
That's not a strategy. At best, it's short term tactics. Well, I'm not in this for the short term. I'm in it to help keep the monster of socialist government off of my grandchildren. If I thought Republicans would help in that effort, I'd be happy to give support. But it's clear, and been clear for years, that they won't, at least not with their current leadership.