I would rather shun them while we have leadership, than let a Democrat take their seat.
The Republican party is really bad about giving these guys any influence or authority. Take Spectre and the judiciary as an example.
But letting Dems take their seat does not solve the problem.
What we should do is
a) Give them no authority within the Congress
b) Grow a replacement and then support them in the primary
c) If they still win the primary, their constituency is clearly left leaning so we should let them have the job (graze, not support) and work on the next time around.
You keep saying that you love me then I find you in the arms of another.
We've followed the 'the primary is the only time' mantra long enough and look where it brought us.
I will not vote for any RINO any more than I would a dem. It's the same thing.
BTW, the GOP doesn't have the stones to enforce party discipline. Specter is the prime example as you said. Do you know that he is in line to chair the Appropriations Committee also next term?
BTW2, the only reason that Specter is supporting the GOP cause now is because if we do lose the majority, he loses his chairmanship(s). That's all he cares about.