It's "not democratic" in the sense that they don't have a massive circus every 4 years with a minor one every 2 so that the hooting hoards can "pick" a leader. It's far more democratic in the sense of "popular participation" in the government.

Authoritarianism is relative. America has always been a brutal, genocidal police state if you are black or Native, and it's never exactly been nice to immigrants from any race outside of the native white core, which has shifted over time. But hey, our Good Liberals have been fighting like hell to make sure that we all get to participate in the circus!