I remember seeing his media appearances, with this hardline anti-Trump rhetoric and agreement with Democratic pundits, as coming off as being RINO-esque. He referred to himself as a "Lincoln conservative" on Bill Maher - I chuckled quite a bit there.
Remember this Michael Steele moment on Bill Maher?
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jack-coleman/2016/06/27/paul-begalas-asinine-smear-gop-too-much-even-bill-maherLook at that line from Steele. He has the gall to call himself a Republican, and he doesn't even defend the rank-and-file from that outrageous attack by Begala.