America, not "The US"

I regularly use the phrase "the US". Never gave it a thought before. Until I read last Friday's letter to the Irish Times (sub reqd.) from Irene Lynch Fannon, University of Virginia on loan to UCC. She wrote:

No self-respecting liberal in the US, many of whom I count as friends, would ever describe their country as "America", as Dr. Toal does. "The US" is the appropriate and correct political term, particularly in the context of federal and state laws, as the use of the term America is inaccurate and considered to be imperialist and disrespectful, not only to Canada but also to the countries of South America.

So, as a self-respecting conservative I have to make sure I always use "America" when I'm referring to the land of my birth, right?