And that is EXACTLY how and why this is a death knell scenario. She and a few thousand like her did exactly that. Declared themselves Republican, infiltrated the Right and did exactly the kind of thins you described at the political level.
My Sister in Law was exactly the same way. They are mentally sick destroyers. And anyone that would help enable their insanity is no conservative. IMO they aren’t truly American is they crap all over everything America is supposed to be about.
Edit...”In that” they crap all over everything America is supposed to be about.