RINO
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A RINO (Republican in Name Only), also known as a Reform Democrat, is a disparaging term used by immoderate Republicans or opposition Democrats to characterize an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the Republican Party but comes from a constituancy which votes Republican but may hold views outside the mainstream Republican Party. RINO's and Reform Democrats typically come from New England states where corrupt Democrat politcal machines do not allow dissent and opposition so reformers have difficulty gaining ballot access. A similar term is cafeteria conservative, for a person who picks and chooses which conservative principles to believe, as a person might choose foods in a cafeteria.[1]
Centrists
- Former Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island
- Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine
- Senator Susan Collins of Maine
- Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania
- Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska
- Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon
- Senator John McCain of Arizona
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California
- Former Governor George Pataki of New York
- Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani