Yep - the same GOP that ignored Tennessee Senate candidate Van Hilleary in the primary last year, in favor of RINO Bob Corker. Were it not for the fact that the democRAT opponent, Ford, was an obvious crook, they'd have lost that seat as well.
It's the party's favorite tactic - run the conservatives out of the party in favor of "liberal lite". And they wonder why so many have given up contributing to the party.
I could make a long list of other good conservatives treated similarly to the one you mention during the “Rove era.”