Republicans have a longstanding disdain for "democracy," instead referring to U.S. as a "republic".

[She_Totally_Gets_It]

We live in a representative democracy--no question about it.

However, this issue has always puzzled me:

A longstanding talking point from the political right: I notice that they characterize this country as a “Republic” not a democracy.

Do you think they do it because the word “republic” resembles "Republican" while “democracy” resembles Democratic, hence why they always call the Democratic Party the “DemoCRAT” party?

OR...do you think they really have a disdain for democracy?

Note: I understand that a Republic is simply another way of describing a representative democracy; however, it's almost as if the political right hates using the term "democracy".

[pandr32]

1. Ding ding!

All good questions and points!

[Freddie]

2. They use "republic"

As justification for the Electoral College. Like the Founding Fathers really wanted the loser to win.

[She_Totally_Gets_It]

10. That's a great point. Never thought of it in that way.

[safeinOhio]

3. I got that from a Publican a few months ago,

Told me this is a Republic, not a Democracy. I replied that there are only two kinds or Republics, a Democratic Republic and a Banana Republic. He hung his head and couldn't come up with a response.

[TeamPooka]

9. saving that one for if/when I need it. Thank you.

[She_Totally_Gets_It]

11. They're all on the same talking point. Even black Republicans are saying the same thing...

Republicans been doing this for decades.

[malaise]

14. Perfect

Love it

[ThoughtCriminal]

15. The People's Republic of China

is a "Republic"

"Democratic" is the characteristic that makes this republic different.

[Maeve]

4. Not and either/or but a both

They will also sometimes refer to democracy as "mob rule"---who are the "elitists", again?

[She_Totally_Gets_It]

12. I've heard this before, too. Forgot about that one.

[Aristus]

5. That's it exactly; they want their party name to have some kind of word-recognition

with respect to what is and is not American.

Both party names are essentially meaningless, and exist simply because political parties have to have names.

But the Republicans, as boneheadedly stupid as they always are, try to insist that the USA is a republic (think Republican), not a democracy (think Democratic).

The truth is, we are a democratic republic. We are governed by elected officials chosen through popular vote by the citizens.

It's possible to be a democracy but not a republic; the UK comes to mind as an example.

It's possible to be a republic but not a democracy; pre-Imperial Rome, for example.

We're both. And the republicans need to stop spewing this stupid talking point.

[misanthrope]

7. There was a degree of democracy in pre-Imperial Rome

Weren't the consul members, who in turn appointed senators, chosen by popular vote?

[Aristus]

8. Yes, but they had to already be Senators before they campaign for the office of consul.

And Senators were not chosen by popular vote; they were appointed by an official called the Censor, the same official who kept the role of Roman citizens (known as the census, natch... )

One could only be a Senator if one had an income of at least a million a year, derived solely from the ownership of land. And in the early centuries of the Republic, you could only be a Senator if you came from a patrician family. If you were from a plebian family, you couldn't be appointed to the Senate no matter your other qualifications.

So basically, when an average Roman voter went to the polls, they were voting for the candidates the Senate had already chosen.

[moondust]

16. +1

If it's a "republic" then the "Republican" Party is the real thing unlike other, less authentic knock-offs. Branding: some suckers will fall for it (see: Trump).

In practice the difference has always seemed to me to be "representatives acting on behalf of their constituents (Democratic)" vs. "temporary nobility doing whatever they want (Republican)."

[misanthrope]

6. For some, they are splitting hairs just to be argumentative,

regurgitating what they've heard from others. If you make them reason it out -- "how do those representatives earn their positions?" -- it's unavoidable that they are simply being obtuse.

For others, they are attempting to mask their preference for plutocracy. They often hide behind "original intent" and some go so far as to show disdain for the 17th amendment.

[She_Totally_Gets_It]

13. Ahhh...this is genius response! They use "Republic" because they control two institutions that keep

them in power: (1) The U.S. Senate and (2) The Electoral College.

And that's why:

(a) Democrats could win 1 million more votes in the House and still lose control to Republicans.
(b) Democratic voters are told that we have to increase turnout by at least 5 million to best Republicans in the Electoral College.
(c) Regardless of population, Republicans are guaranteed equal representation in the U.S. Senate.
(d) In the last 20 years, two Republican presidents lost the popular vote but are still in office.
(e) Their obsession with the Census - they know that their numbers are dwindling, and so, they try hard to discourage persons of color from completing the Census. Remember, this was a Tea Party talking point as well. Sadly, there was a vocal contingent of the black electorate that believed the rhetoric. And also, the LatinX community has been terrified and scared away from completing the Census. It's all by design.

Again, your main points are brilliant! Thanks.

[Nature Man]

17. It's because they are vicious and stupid people

who believe in name magic.

[Dirty Socialist]

18. Then they call Democrats "Elitists"

Fucking bullshit projection.
And a lot of them believe that! They must be brain damaged.