Everyone is like this; we'll endorse any semi-reasonable means to achieve our desired ends. Should just be honest about that.

I think in a way, Republican rhetoric ("states' rights", "activist judges", "small government") is simply lagging behind their actual positions and values, rather than it being a totally cynical and hypocritical mask. These are slogans which still sound good and make sense situationally. It's easy to agree with them without really thinking it through.