RINO
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A RINO (Republican in Name Only), describes politicians who claim to be Republican but are in fact liberal. The term is used to characterize an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the Republican Party, but holds views outside the mainstream Republican Party. RINOs and Reform Democrats typically come from New England or West Coast states. A less-used 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 instead of ordering the full-course menu selected by the chef at high-class restaurants.[1]
RINOs
- Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine
- Senator Susan Collins of Maine
- Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who became a Democrat in 2009
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California
- Former Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska
- Former Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
- Former Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, who became an Independent
- Former Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, who became an Independent
- Former Governor George Pataki of New York
- Former Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Whitman of New Jersey
- Former mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York City