An anti-Republican is a person who is actively opposed to the United States (US) political party known as the Republican Party. Anti-Republicans may be Democrats, the other major political party in the US, Independents, or any other “third” party that exists in the political spectrum of the US. Regardless of his or her specific political affiliation, the person is likely opposed to much of what the Republican Party stands for, and this may change as Republicans change and refine their stances on various issues.
During the 20th century, the Republican Party came to align its message with members of the conservative movement, often called neo-conservatives or "neo-cons," and much of the party rhetoric established by Republicans came to reflect conservative standards and values. This established a strong link between Republicans and conservativism, which led to many anti-Republicans during the late 20th and early 21st centuries being strongly liberal in their viewpoints. An anti-Republican during that time would likely have liberal leanings on issues such as abortion, capital punishment, government regulations of businesses and banks, and health care.
The divide between Republicans and those who would label themselves as an anti-Republican became even more pronounced following the election of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, and the resulting policies and military actions he supported. Some US citizens ended up feeling ignored and neglected by the Republican-controlled White House, Congress, and Supreme Court. Unwilling to simply be a Democrat or liberal, many of those people instead chose to label themselves as an anti-Republican.
An anti-Republican is typically someone who not only supports non-republican viewpoints and ideas, but is actively opposed to the philosophies and beliefs of those within the Republican Party. They can include US citizens of all walks of life, from celebrities and news show hosts, to retail workers and carpenters. The typical viewpoint of an anti-Republican is that the efforts of the Republican Party are potentially disastrous and ultimately destructive for the US, and that all such efforts should be opposed and stopped whenever possible.
In 2008, the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States was seen by many supporters as a major victory for members of the anti-Republican movement. Obama’s campaign was built firmly on a foundation of fundamental change in the political landscape of the US, and for anti-Republicans it was often viewed as a philosophy built to contrast the previous Republican presidency. The schism between some conservatives and the base of the Republican Party that followed the election led some people to begin referring to themselves as anti-conservative, rather than simply anti-Republican.