What the GOP is Really Saying

Reflections on the American Experiment in Democracy, #2

“The Democrats talk about how everything they don’t like reminds them of some dictator from the ’30s, or everything they don’t like is a danger to ‘democracy,’ ” Mastriano said with a scoff. “We’re a constitutional republic.”

The above quote is from a speech given by Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania, at a recent campaign rally. You may have heard something similar to this before: America was never intended to be a democracy; it was designed as a constitutional republic. This assertion has become a talking point on the right, and has already been addressed on Medium. In a recent (5/15/22) post, Joel Ombry explains clearly why this argument is a false dichotomy, and why allowing it to go unchallenged is dangerous (The Ominous Rise of “Constitutional Republic” Rhetoric, in Politically Speaking). His analysis is well worth reading.

I am not going to repeat what Joel has already said so well. Instead, I am going to suggest an additional response to those on the right who try to justify antidemocratic policies. Before I do so, however, let me clarify what I mean when I refer to antidemocratic policies.

Democracy Defined