[Lakeshark]

Fwiw, it was William Buckley who labeled them as extremist, and he had his reasons: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/goldwater-the-john-birch-society-and-me/

[BwanaNdege]

Another eye opener!

It looks like Welsh had some looney ideas and some accurate assessments.

However, now we have ended up with a collective impression that everyone in America associated with “anti-communism”, from McCarthy to Nixon to the John Birch Society is anathema. The Left obviously holds this position, but what is troubling is that the Right does also.

Is there a socially acceptable, anti-communist group or individual, either historical or current?

I use the term “anti-communist” a bit loosely. I include opposition to not only Soviet collectivism but also to Socialism & other “Progressive/Liberal” manifestations.