It all reduces to the rich evading taxes, which is redistribution of wealth, and regulation, which enables control of the rich, who crave control of everything by way of their wealth. I do not understand why this clear and simple message is not repeated constantly.
One way to argue against their talking point is to say that a republic is the term for a representative democracy…that is, we elect our policy makers and if we do not like their policies, we vote them out of office. Instead of a direct democracy with a mob deciding all issues and easily swayed by demagoguery and ignorance, we enable selected highly intelligent people with critical thinking skills to devote their lives to the greatest good for the greatest number. That is a republic.
Ice on the Moon 