I agree with cgbg here, but it is also true that I did indeed understand what you meant.
I have made a clear distinction personally between “Liberals” and “Leftists” for years. I view the distinction as a necessary degree of granularity, but in “conservative to conservative” discussions, I rarely feel the need to point out that distinction.
I don’t think it is worth getting angry about or losing sleep over. Like I said, I knew just what you meant.
My problem is that “liberals” have virtually disappeared on the political spectrum.
The Democrat Party is hard left—and when we pretend they are warm and cuddly we are asking for a boot to be stomped on our face.