[Luis Gonzalez]

So you're a RINO.

[hispanichoosier]

As used by most in the GOP, a RINO is one who would sell out the party's core values, such as a commitment to traditional marriage, human life, and the freedom to keep and bear arms. For example, Rudy Giuliani is pro-abortion, pro-gay, and anti-gun. Most GOP activists would have to admit that he's a RINO, despite his noble and brave response to Sept. 11.

Your definition of RINO seems to be different. You apparently believe that a RINO is one who would leave the GOP if the GOP's commitments to core issues changed. Thus, I would be a RINO by your definition because I cannot cave on principles that I believe in.

[Allen H]

Do you even know what a RINO is? You think that hispanichoosier is a RINO because he states he's a conservative first and a Republican second, and he said he wouldn't vote for a democrat, but WOULD vote for a libertarian if the Republican was pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-gay marriage? My GOD! A RINO would be the Republican that he would vote against because that so called Republican who is for abortion, gun control, and gay marriage! THAT'S THE RINO!

I guess that makes me a RINO too huh? And I'm 33, been a Christian since I was 11, registered Republican since the day I turned 18, never voted for a democrat in my life, support the military above all else, hate clinton and what he did to this country, was a delegate at the Texas Republican convention last year, worked on Tom DeLay's campaigns in the past, as well as other conservative Republican's campaigns. I am against all forms of abortion, FOR the death penalty, FOR my right to own guns, FOR traditional marriage ONLY, FOR immigration control, WANT the military on the border to help border control, WANT a larger military, WANT to replace the IRS with a flat tax, WANT to replace the regimes in Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, and others with representative constitutional republics like the United States is, and I have voted for W BOTH times as President and Governor, and voted for Dole, Bush 41 BOTH times, and had I been old enough, Reagan both times, and was 9 years old sitting in my parents living room hoping Reagan would beat Carter because even then I knew the difference. Am I a RINO as well because I put my conservative values and ethice before some party name!? Being a conservative first and a Republican second does NOT make a RINO! That's why democrats are drones who can't think for themselves because they vote democrat even if 90% of the plank is against their personal beliefs. THAT'S pathetic! Not dedication. Being someone who votes according to REAL conservative ideals and convictions is the kind of principle that helps make sure the Republican party stays conservative, because when REAL RINOS come along, who are against traditional marriage, against life, against the right to own firearms, etc, real conservatives like hispanichoosier and myself will vote against them because they are NOT representing conservative Republican values, even if they do claim to be a Republican on the ballot. You really need to think more carefully before you call someone a RINO. That post of yours was supremely insulting in its suggestion that someone who doesn't blindly vote the Republican ticket 100% of the time is a RINO. I'd proudly vote for a real conservative, even if they be the libertarian or constitution party, in a race, if the only Republican running is some liberal pinko like spector or collins running as a Republican who holds little if any of the Republican conservative values. I'd prefer they were a Republican if at all possible, but I'll not vote for someone who is against all the real pillars of modern conservatism but running as a Republican to skim more votes and get a government job. STOPPING THAT is REAL conservatism! Values and convictions ABOVE AND BEYOND any particular political party. I am a conservative Christian first, an American second, and a Republican third. If that makes me a RINO, then someone must have redefined the word since last I checked.