Why do democrats get upset when someone points out their ideas as communist?

[eunice]

I've read a few headlines in the past 10 years about how a dem. gets upset for having their ideas labeled as communist or socialist. Is it because a republican calls them that? Why can't they just embrace their ideas for what they are? Other countries have embraced their communist and socialist politicians. Why is the word "communist" such a bad word?

[Cheese]

Ask Ozzie Guillen

[Warren]

Why does GOP get upset when called racists, sexist, and stupid?

[Blick Jeffries]

They're liberals. They are too stubborn and they support communist ways themselves!

[Pluto C. Rat]

It's because words can break my bones -- or at least they did in the schoolyard.

Please don't make me cry, you big 'ole bully, you...

Ó¨_Ó¨

[Justin Thyme]

They think of themselves as Progressives,the "politically correct" name for communist.

[Guru Hank]

If you have been able to read for at least 10 years, how is it that you managed to pick up so little knowledge of politics? European Communism only finished in 1989, and there must be at least some folk memory in your part of the woods about what their ideas were. Furthermore, the works of Marx and Engels are out of copyright now, and you can download them as audiobooks free and legally from the internet. You could then put them on your iPod and listen to them a little each day as you sit on the toilet, just like one of those language courses. You would know lots in just 30 days...

Also, you have used the word 'embrace'. I may be wrong on this one, but I think the word has been officially designated for use only when talking about the Islamic faith.

[BASH]

We just think it's sad that the GOP doesn't understand the difference between socialism, communism, Marxism, Maoism, and stalinism, while constantly accusing democrats of being all of the above.

No Child Left Behind failed our republicans.

[Thalia]

Socialists (Social Democrats) and Communists are not the same thing.

My country has both parties and they have very different platforms.

Socialists are the ones which are in favor of regulated free markets and social programs.
Communists are more strictly anti-business, pro unions, etc.

[Owen]

A combination of two reasons.
1. When the word 'communist' is used in American politics, it usually references the USSR, early PRC, North Korea etc -totalitarian regimes. Therefore, calling the democrats 'communists' suggests they are totalitarian- which they are not. No one likes being compared to Stalin or Mao.
2. The democrats aren't communist. Although 'liberal' means something different in Europe (would mean the Republicans), the democrats are less 'american liberal' than most right wing parties in the UK and Europe- the conservatives in the UK and the democrats are very similar parties. Therefore, as democrats are at most centrist in the world political scale, calling them communists is just inaccurate.