What I really mean is that a good number of republicans are happy with socialist/intrusive government programs that could care less about liberty and freedom, And the only thing they care about are economic polices that benefit them at the expense of the strength of our country, they have no loyalty to the country and just want their deduction or tax break or ICE to look the other way
Although I would express it differently and don't agree totally, I do largely agree. However, I wouldn't limit the statement to Republicans. ALL but the rarest politicians care first about entrenching themselves and getting reelected as often as they wish. I think most have loyalty to the country, but have loyalty to their own wallets and prestige first.
Although there have been many betrayals of the limited-federal government ideal, the worst was passage of the federal income tax in the so-called progressive era at the turn of the last century. No other single act increased the power of the federal government as massively as ratification of the 16th Amendment. The states were happy to ratify it, of course, because they also got to grab a portion of their citizens' incomes right off the top.
Sadly, many citizens were also for it, at first because they thought it wouldn't affect them, then later because they thought the government was giving them something for nothing.
It is the income tax which makes possible nearly all of the big government problems we complain about today.