Sanders is a SOCIALIST. Pointing that out isn't "red-baiting".

[KansDem]

43. Unfortunately, FOX News and right-wing blowhards have been successful...

...in equating "socialism" and "communism," making the two synonymous.

Here's what Sarah Palin said to Seah Hannity about Barack Obama--

"He believes in socialism, in redistributing, in confiscating hard-earned dollars of our small businessmen and women so that they cannot re-invest their dollars and hire more people and grow and expand," Palin continued. "Instead he believes in these failed socialist policies. And I say that not to personally condemn our president, but I say it because I face reality, and I see what's going on, and I see the path that we are on and the fact that Barack Obama has not had a budget in the four years that he's been in office and not been worried about it and continues to spend recklessly other people's money. And that is a sign of that idea of loving socialism."

Pressed by Hannity on her recent warning to Republican "wusses" who might agree to a fiscal cliff deal without massive spending cuts and sweeping entitlement reforms, Palin apologized for name-calling, but encouraged conservative lawmakers to combat a supposed tide of socialism, or perhaps worse, which she appeared to suggest would be brought forth by a fiscal cliff.

“So I say, Republicans, go back to what the planks in your platform represent,” Palin said. “It represents reining in government, putting back the power and the responsibility in the individual, not in the state, not in government. Again, that gets us towards socialism. What goes beyond socialism, Sean, is communism. I know I’m going to get slammed for speaking so bluntly about what’s going on here, but that is exactly what is going on.”

Huffington Post

I've heard right-wing commentators use "socialism" and "communism" interchangeably and it is very misleading.