In this sort of culturally-republican-ish environment, and in this case, that means the instant marginalisation of ideas, regardless of merit and/or reality and/or history (c.f. the Democratic Party leadership, Olbermann, et al). In a more openly authoritarian system, it of course means far worse. Fortunately we are not there yet, various GOP rank-and-file desires to the contrary.

Calling either of the two mainstream American political parties "authoritarian," or even tending toward authoritarian, is partisan prejudice to a point that blinds one to political reality. Neither party is particularly authoritarian, and if you compare our system to real dictatorships you would see this instantly.

Only in the world where Only America Is Real can the claim stand.