Sic Semper Tyrannis

"So many people seem to think that they are the gatekeepers of what is and is not a "real" Republican."

This is exactly right. Having legitimate differences on issues is not only expected, it is a good thing because it challenges us to think about our own positions and the rationale and underpinnings of them. Further, if it is our intent to party-build, as it should be, then we might consider giving the issue litmus tests a rest.