Repulicans are not - republicans that is. Their faith lies with large, central, coercive government. A Jeffersonian "Democrat"cy means a federation of autonomous states. The role of the federation is to protect the interests of these states in relation not only to the larger world, but also, and most importantly, the other states! This principle was defeated by force of arms in a war fought from 1861 to 1865, and we are still seeing the bad consequences of radical "Republicanism".

Republicans are centralist radicals, like the French of 1789-92.