I didn't see anyone slamming Sam for his opinions. I did read that Sam found himself unable to contribute because he marginalized himself among the other reps. (One man's opinion.) I've seen quite a few one-term reps who get elected with a great campaign and then become so integrated with that identity that they cannot compromise with the majority.

My opinion is that a great rep can't be an island. If you want to contribute, then move the majority towards your viewpoint with diplomacy. Use small victories. Incrementalism, if you will. That serves your constituency. Planting your flag on one issue/viewpoint/hill results in irrelevance and wastes your election. View the bodies of all the one term reps who served and left dejected and bitter. (That last bit was not about Sam, but at a couple of other buddies/acquaintances who left the MEC bloody with self-inflicted wounds.)