What is Right vs. Political Expediency

When did Republicans stop doing what is right for the nation and start doing only what is politically expedient for them?  Case in point: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that the Republican's biggest priority is to stop President Obama from having a second term.  How does he and the Republicans plan to achieve this end?  By attempting to deny funding for the recently signed health care insurance reform legislation and by vigorous investigations by Congressman Darell Issa in his likely new role as Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Was the beginning of this politically expedient tack in 1994 with the take over of the House by Republicans?  The same Republicans who decided to play chicken with then President Clinton over the budget forcing the government to shut down, not once, but twice?  Maybe it was later when a cum stained dress and the fact that President Clinton had received a blow job from someone other than his wife in the Oval Office ended in Impeachment without the Senate convicting?  Or was it earlier when the Reagan Administration began the Iran-Contra program?  Maybe it all began when then President Nixon decided he needed to win the 1974 election at any cost?

I am not sure when it began but I do know that we as Americans need to stop it.  Stop this political expediency dead in its tracks and the only way to do that is to vote for politicians who do what is right instead of what is politically expedient.  I know, that's a lot to ask for, but one can hope for some change.