it’s not really “seen as” it’s “labeled as.” most conservative leaders understand it’s not communism, and that it’s not the kind of socialism that people worry about either. instead, that phrasing is deliberately used to close off all argument because those things are “anti-american”
if you read the heather cox richardson reposts, she makes clear that this connection started during reconstruction, and was specifically code for “government helping black people” - an unbroken thread right up and through reagan’s “welfare queens”
the additional modern element is that it also drives some white and non-white immigrants their way too, because of dictators using those labels in their countries of birth
it’s strategy. and while i think the way to confront it is a bernie sanders style “yes!” - most democrats just avoid the conversation by sliding to the right. it works, and will continue to until it’s dealt with head-on
