RINO
Insufficiently conservative GOPer
RINO is an acronym for "Republican In Name Only," a disparaging label applied by conservatives to Republican politicians they consider insufficiently loyal to party principles.
The accusation suggests someone who wears the party label while voting or governing like a Democrat: The former president called any Republican who voted for impeachment a RINO.
The term reflects intraparty battles over ideological purity.
Lessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
- squishCompress with pressure
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- neoconHawkish right-wing interventionist
globalist · swamp · elite · compromise · accommodation · capitulation · wavering · wishy-washy
One who abandons allegiance
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
crossover · bipartisan · independent · caucus · primary · endorsement
moderate
Lessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
- squishCompress with pressure
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
neocon · globalist · swamp · elite · compromise · accommodation · capitulation · wavering · wishy-washy · lukewarm
defector
One who abandons allegiance
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- apostateOne who renounces faith
renegade · crossover · bipartisan · independent · caucus · primary · endorsement
sellout
Compromiser of integrity
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
hypocrite · fraud · faker · pretender · backstabber · betrayer · phony · deceiver · opportunist · chameleon
- political labelsliberal, conservative, leftist, rightist, moderate
- Political SlangMAGA, Tricky Dick, Dubya, New Deal, Great Society
rhinos, republican, rhinoceros, Republican, rhinoplasty, rhinovirus