Is the U.S. a true democracy?

Websters defines the word democracy like this …

“A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.”

Websters defines a democracy like this …

" The common people, considered as the primary source of political power."

Take this into concideration, in 2000 Gore won the popular vote (democracy), but Bush won the electoral college (republic), and now Bush is the president, something is fishy here. . . also, as far as my 14-year-old mind can remember the pledge of allegiance goes like this “I pledge allegiance to the flag and to the united states of america, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands…” Something is up, why is everyone filling our heads with lies saying that the U.S. is a democracy? Is it because people think that a government run by the people leads to peace, so they tell us we are a democracy just so we can feel more secure? Or am i just crazy? I’m really interested in any comments you guys might have :p: