[mysterio]

Because I am against zealots and government witch hunts, you concluded that I am not concerned with organized, well funded foreign campaigns to overthrow the American government. Actually, you didn't conclude that. You found that an easy position to attack, so you pretended that it was my position. I find that tedious, so I opted out.

Facts are stubborn things. I suggest that you actually check out the history instead of the NYT version.

I suggest you call Shirley Temple in front of a congressional committee and make sure she's not a communist. And then tell me that's not government overreaching.

[SampleMan]

The House investigations may not have been perfect, but they weren't the Inquisition either.

Shirley Temple wasn't called because they thought that she was a communist, nor was she called in the 1950’s. She was called in 1938 at the age of ten. Likely a move by the Congressmen to publicize the extent to which communist schemes were reaching. A dog and pony show perhaps, but that's about it.

By Soviet records they had very real success using agents and useful idiots, especially writers, to sway American society. The Hollywood 10 were charged with contempt for refusing to answer any questions after being subpoenaed. They specifically tried to put on a show, which their handlers (go figure) had instructed them to do.

The infamous “blacklist” was the result of public outrage and boycotts, not government mandate.