That was during the Red Scare. Now, they’re completely entrenched at the highest levels of government, not just overloaded in Hollywood.
Even if Paul’s plan ultimately is McCarthyism, he should wait as long as possible because the Democrats are going to stonewall him every chance they get.
A side note on McCarthy for those who don’t know. (Not you.)
Joe McCarthy was a Senator. So he was not on the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA/HUAC). He was not involved with the Hollywood investigations.