[Tai_Chung]

Was McCarthyism good for the United States?

[walford]

'McCarthyism' is now a smear word for anyone who holds the conviction that Marxism/Leninism is bad.

Let us remember the context of under which the MeCarthy hearings took place. We just got finished fighting a war in Asia because of an expansionist communist state invaded its neighbor. We fought Chinese on the ground and Russians in the air.

Prior to that, after shedding much blood and treasure to prevent a fascist dictatorship from taking over much of Europe, we saw our Soviet 'allies' exploit the situation by installing their own puppet governments from where the Nazis were ousted.

My father tells me that when he was stationed in Germany in the mid-fifties, he and the other dog-faced soldiers were given the impression that tanks from the east could come rolling in at any minute. I'm old enough to remember the hair-trigger tension that existed between us and the USSR back in the bad old days.

What is 'McCarthyism' to you?

[presidio9]

I'm not sure anyone really knows what "McCarthyism" was anymore. But I CAN tell you that Joe McCarthy was good for the United States. Too bad too few people knew this.

[MonroeDNA]

"Was McCarthyism good for the United States?"

Yes.

[BA63]

Was McCarthyism good for the United States?

I remember in my early 20's, after a light study on "McCarthyism", thinking to myself; He did root out some communists.

It was good for America, not so good for Democraps and Liberals. The Gipper said it best "I didn't leave the Democatic Party, they left me"

It seems that America at that point (Late 40's then the 50's & 60's) was tired of reality (protecting and fighting for liberty) and wanted to have their ears tickled by slick politicians (ie: Liberals, Socialists and Communists) promising utopia.

[ThomasMore]

McCarthyism is a word engineered to the liberal agenda. While liberalism's mentors and high priests and priestesses were all covertly supporting Marxism/Socialism, they were all playing the "McCarthy is a bigoted fascist" game, trying to hide their true identity.

Remember, McCarthy was right about the "Ten". (and probably a lot more)

[gedeon3]

Was McCarthyism good for the United States?"

Hell YES!!!

[Jhoffa_]

Was McCarthyism good for the United States?

It was before my time, but what little I know of it seems fine and dandy.

They asked a bunch of people if they were communists.. So what?

A bunch of people said: "No, I am not a communist"

But, a bunch of people refused to answer entirely.

I found that to be odd.

[VOA]

Was McCarthyism good for the United States?

I've not spent time doing hard research, but I will refer you to a PBS NOVA
special titled (IIRC): "Secret, Lies, And Atomic Spies".

The show about gave me a stroke...to hear a showo n PBS admit that there had
been infilitration of the US guvmint, military, and research branches by
HUNDREDS of Soviet operatives/sympathizers.

AND to hear the same show evaluate McCarthy as being right about the "Communist Conspiracy"
in the macro sense, but mostly wrong when he pointed a finger at individuals.

I say "Stay Tuned". Now that writer/lawyer Anne Coulter has cast down the gauntlet
by asking critics to "name one" person who was
1. Wrongly accussed of Communist attachments by McCarthy
AND
2. Was "ruined" by this sort of accusation.

It will be interesting to hear if truly innocent victims of McCarthy will
be trotted out by liberals/leftists in the coming weeks.
I heard Coulter taking callers on one radio show...none of the antagonistic
callers could name a "ruined innocent"...they were just b-tching and griping
about Coulter's previous books.

[AlbionGirl]

Yes, if nothing else it put the communists within the US, whose primary objective was to destroy the US, on perpetual guard.

McCarthy was right.

He may have gone whole hog, I don't know, but in the final analysis he began the process of identifying and ostracizing (sp?) the implacable foes of the United States of America.

Elia (sp?) Kazan knew as much and so do I. Moreover, as an immigrant whose parents suffered under fascism, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.