In my eyes, it seems that the Republican Party has repeatedly and deliberately placed its political interests above the interests of this country. For example: compromising national security to discredit an administration critic or inflaming racial hostility to increase GOP votes among the poor.
When GOPers face a choice that will improve their party's political position at the expense of what is best for the country as a whole, it seems they always choose their party, even if it hurts the country.
I have listed some examples below, please feel free to add your own examples.
1) Nixon's Southern Strategy: poisoning race relations to increase GOP votes among poor Southern whites
2) George Bush I: Willie Horton ads- see above, this time to boost white suburban votes
3) Newt Gingrich: laying the groundwork for GOP takeover of Congress by handing out talking points to GOP candidates encouraging them to accuse Dems of being traitors, corrupt etc., thereby poisoning the well of political discourse, the results of which we now see on a daily basis
4) Tom Delay: forcing an impeachment vote in the House through threats & intimidation of his fellow GOPers vis-a-vis primary challenges funded by his PAC
5) Valerie Plame: compromising a national security asset (who was working to secure WMDs no less) to inflict political payback
what am I leaving out?