General Discussion

sop

(20,192 posts)

6. The "socialist' and "communist" labels have been used by Republicans for as long as I can remember.

Sun Jul 5, 2026, 09:48 AM

Jul 5

President Harry Truman said in 1952: "Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years. Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security. Socialism is what they called farm price supports. Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance. Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations. Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people."

When "socialism" wasn't scary enough, Republicans invented the Red Scare and began accusing liberals of being "communists."

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Bayard walkingman dweller Delarage Maru Kitteh questionseverything Jilly_in_VA crimycarny kcoates Jack Valentino SunImp LeftInTX Wednesdays Arrgh Blasphemer area51

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Democrats need to get out in front of this Communist label and fast! [View all] Chasstev365 Jul 5 OP

Have the one who makes such comments, mtairyguy Jul 5 #1

You do know that those fucking idiots who believe Democrats are Communists Autumn Jul 5 #2

You got that right! bluestarone Jul 5 #3

Yes, but there are many gullible, ignorant voters out there Chasstev365 Jul 5 #4

"gullible, ignorant voters' . Key words right there . You can explain Communism to those fucks till Autumn Jul 5 #32

Which also means... regnaD kciN Jul 5 #55

They have been doing it for years. We elect socialists and eventually they will discover that they Autumn Jul 5 #64

+1 leftstreet Jul 5 #21

Yup! Botany Jul 5 #28

100% wrong! A few voters on the margins will determine the election winner. tableturner Jul 5 #30

Dream on . nt Autumn Jul 5 #33

That's how you lose elections. W_HAMILTON Jul 5 #47

20 years ago I regularly wrote letters to the editor in our local red neck newspaper gab13by13 Jul 5 #5

"If you have to debate the nonsense about being oasis Jul 5 #56

The "socialist' and "communist" labels have been used by Republicans for as long as I can remember. sop Jul 5 #6

At least back to FDR and social security, but 31j20b3 Jul 5 #44

I agree completely with your point, but we need to have a wnylib Jul 5 #7

Good Point! Chasstev365 Jul 5 #9

Good idea, but shorter. We need sound bytes. wnylib Jul 5 #12

Those idiots know that and guess what? They are fine with it. nt Autumn Jul 5 #35

How's this? EarlG Jul 5 #11

"trump talked to Communist Putin for nearly 2 hours on our Independence Day" Bayard Jul 5 #20

why take the bait? WhiskeyGrinder Jul 5 #8

I agree, gab13by13 Jul 5 #22

Yes, that could be said about this and a host of other issues where the bait is consistently taken. BannonsLiver Jul 5 #36

I think a Cuba invasion will take place before midterms. NCDem47 Jul 5 #10

I think that you are right. So we need to prepare wnylib Jul 5 #13

It's so obvious the messaging groundwork is being laid. NCDem47 Jul 5 #14

Yes, and Trump is like a reincarnation of Batista to the Cubans. wnylib Jul 5 #19

Ah, that's why! Now it makes sense. betsuni Jul 5 #16

Quite possible. moondust Jul 5 #45

Why do you call me a communist? kentuck Jul 5 #15

Nice! Chasstev365 Jul 5 #18

Real fascists are a greater threat than imaginary communists Raven123 Jul 5 #17

YES! tableturner Jul 5 #48

How Republicans view socialists Raven123 Jul 5 #23

For magats, words are only weapons. That's their only meaning. Fight back visually. usonian Jul 5 #24

You mean a time machine to the Red scare? Johonny Jul 5 #25

Look them in eye, deadpan, "I didn't vote for a fat orange faced putin loving commie". mwmisses4289 Jul 5 #26

lol BannonsLiver Jul 5 #27

Need a huge banner that shows our EYES and say's bluestarone Jul 5 #29

Don't buy into this crap Cirsium Jul 5 #31

Yeah; not getting out a head of attacks worked so well for Dukakis Gore, Kerry, and Hillary Chasstev365 Jul 5 #39

You are 100% correct! Learn from the past! tableturner Jul 5 #50

"Getting ahead of" does NOT equal denying an accusation. It can be attacking. David__77 Jul 5 #54

What does that mean? Cirsium Jul 5 #66

Get walked on? No thanks! tableturner Jul 5 #49

Walked on? Cirsium Jul 5 #63

Reminds me of... tableturner Jul 5 #65

You make my point Cirsium Jul 5 #67

Irrespective of all of that... tableturner Jul 6 #70

Be scathing.. pippenpippen Jul 5 #34

I do not want to debate this because gab13by13 Jul 5 #37

Sure a lot of shitting the bed around here JBTaurus83 Jul 5 #38

This is nothing new. This shit has been going on since the beginning of the Cold War. valleyrogue Jul 5 #58

Nah, you don't say the C word at all. Just paint them twice as hard JCMach1 Jul 5 #40

Democrats need to call this out for what it is: dlk Jul 5 #41

Lets label them. I like calling the Right The HOG party PuraVidaDreamin Jul 5 #42

Socialist democracies snot Jul 5 #43

Every time a Dem is asked about this senseandsensibility Jul 5 #46

Being defensive on that is a loser approach. David__77 Jul 5 #51

McCarthy must be smiling from the sewers. Dave Bowman Jul 5 #52

Trump loves communism when billionaires get the whole pie bucolic_frolic Jul 5 #53

None of these people even know what a "communist" IS. valleyrogue Jul 5 #57

Dems have no "rapid response force" Dems have no "talking points of the day" Bluetus Jul 5 #59

"Democrats need to get out in front of this Communist label" J_William_Ryan Jul 5 #60

Yup... WinningAgain Jul 5 #61

Just turn around and call Trump a communist. LeftInTX Jul 5 #62

Chalk one up for the right wing machine Cirsium Jul 5 #68

Yeah...lay back and let them butcher us up....NOT! tableturner Jul 6 #71

How do you get that? Cirsium Jul 6 #72

Don't worry angrychair Jul 5 #69

There's no reason to address it. CrimsonBight Jul 6 #73

Welcome to DU, CrimsonBight! Lars39 Jul 6 #74

I agree Kaleva Jul 6 #75

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Jul 6 #78

Exactly Stacey Grove Jul 6 #82

Another rebuttal: Mitch McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao (not currently acting in any official capacity AFAWK) Mad_Machine76 Jul 6 #76

Billionaires love Communism, that's how they get their tax breaks and subsidies bucolic_frolic Jul 6 #77

Exactly. Bill Clinton provided the playbook... Blasphemer Jul 6 #79

I missed that, thanks for reminding us all! /nt bucolic_frolic Jul 6 #80

This isn't new. Our party simply doesn't know to respond. We've only had five decades after all to figure it out. msfiddlestix Jul 6 #81