I don't know what you remember but what I remember is the attempts of every Leftist to claim Dylan as a fellow traveler and his determined silence outside his songs. Many a anti-war rally advertised his upcoming presence and every one was disappointed when he never showed.
His early songs were of a social protest nature generally associated with Leftism but which also appealed to those who just had a concern about Justice and Injustice eminently American concerns.
Dylan is one of my favorite songwriters. As you said, His early songs were of a social protest nature generally associated with Leftism. He may say that he was doing what good writers do, reflecting the mood of the times, which he was. As a matter of fact, he was doing it so well and even seeing what the rest of us could not see yet, that sure looks like leadership to us uncomplicated types.
The left have tried time and time again to annoint a Pied Piper to bring people over to their side. Why is it any surprise that they tried to co-opt the songs of Bob Dylan when they co-opted Rock and Roll and have rewritten the history of punk rock to say that IT TOO was political; if anything punk was a response against hippie/liberal political correctness.