A "RINO" is a REPUPLICAN IN NAME ONLY. That doesn't mean someone who isn't 100% far right, it doesn't mean someone who doesn't agree with 10% of the GOP platform, nor does it mean someone you don't like.
The GOP has all kinds of different members, all of whom ARE GOPers!
Lincoln Chaffe was a RINO; so is Ron Paul.
Ron Paul is a Liberterian. See http://groups.msn.com/AMERICASSURVIVAL/yourwebpage.msnw
I agree Chaffee is a RINO, who is no longer in the Senate.
Usually those who attack others as "RINOs" are the same people who threaten to stay home or vote third party if their candidate loses in the primary. Simple case of projection.
I've always voted Republican for President, Governor, Senator, or Representative. I worked on several campaigns when I was younger and had the time; I've supported candidates financially; I never voted third party or stayed home.
So I really don't care if someone wants to call me a "RINO" because I support a Republican candidate they don't like. I suspect in the end you don't care either. I was a Republican before Reagan was elected and I'll be one after Rudy leaves the scene one way or the other -- because the only alternative, the 'rat Party, has no business holding any office above that of dog catcher.
I believe that there are posters attacking Rudy who would rather have Hillary or Obama or some other 'rat in the Oval Office than suffer a loss of influence by losing a primary to someone who has higher priorities than social issues.
Clearly there is a great deal of fear that Rudy will win a fair primary battle. If he does win, there is no law that required primary losers or their supporters to support him. It's a free country. But if they do leave of their own free choice, to whine about being kicked out after losing a fair fight would just be pathetic.