You can literally use this to excuse any behavior

True, which is why it must be balanced with realistic judgements about the people you support and knowing what issues are truly important compared to what the current buzz is telling us is important.

True, but you can also refuse to excuse any behavior, nor give even an inch, and then look around after a while and realize you've won the wrong contest. You won the never giving an inch and remaining morally unblemished contest, and lost the making allies and getting anything done contest.

I mean wanting to put people in jail for using their first amendment rights is kind of big deal.

and yet a leading candidate for the highest office is promoting exactly this, and has a large percentage of the population in full support.

As long as you are putting “them” in jail, it doesn’t matter