This is so typical of the Republicans who still think this is all a big gentlemanly parlor game. They try to outdo each other in seeing who can come across as the most reasonable, temperate sort, and given the dominance of the Democrat-Media Complex the best way to do that is to toss a big turd into the conservative punch bowl. I'm telling you, these sorts are more of a problem than the actual Left.
What it ultimately is, is cowardice masquerading as civility and calm, reasoned intellect. It is no such thing. It's like these guys who are perpetual doormats, obsequious to women and not getting their hair up when some other dude tries to step in. Sometimes it is totally warranted to take a bar stool over someone's head. The Republican establishment is perpetually "that guy", passive to a fault.