As usual I’m in late to the party (comes from being 37-years a doctor). Anyway, I went back to the beginning to see if anyone mentioned a common misconception about our political opponents. I see no one has.
Democrats come in two basic flavors: liberal and leftist (many of them too naïve to know the difference – much like the OP). Liberals love America but are wrong on public policy – they are your family, friends and neighbors. They can be reasoned with politically.
Leftists, on the other hand, are globalists that hate America and wish to tear down western civilization and institutions like marriage, religion, male-female distinctions etc, America being the bulwark example of that which they desperately wish to destroy. They are grotesque and dangerous to the American way of life. They must be opposed at all costs.
The difference is that simple.