When I was growing up, I was taught by my parents, my schools, and my community that it was most important to vote for the people and the ideas, not the party. It's a lesson I've followed for 47 years...until now.
The actions and the rhetoric of the Democrats over the last six months has convinced me to go to the polls on Monday and pull the (R) lever, for the first time ever.
I was raised like you, to vote for the best candidate, rather than the party. I last voted for a Democrat in 1974. Since then, I figured out the philosophy underlying each party. Very few candidates cross the party line. It has been straight ticket for me since then.
For a legislator, what he says to voters in his district generally does not matter. He WILL vote how the party leadership tells him too, if he wants to last in DC (or in the state legislature). With executive positions like Mayor, Gov, or Pres, it matters less, but for legislators, it's best to go with the party.
It's at Primary time that you can pay attention to what they say.